FORT WORTH, Texas — The Bell V-280 Valor recently completed flight demonstrations ahead of schedule of its low-speed agility key performance parameter in the U.S. Army-led Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR TD) program, Bell Helicopter announced. The V-280 Valor, which…
Marine AV-8B Harrier Attack Jet Crashes Near Cherry Point; Pilot Ejects Safely
ARLINGTON, Va. — An AV-8B Harrier II based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, crashed May 20 near Cherry Branch, according to May 20 and May 21 releases from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Strategic Communications. The pilot…
Navy, Boeing Studying Block II Version of EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft
ARLINGTON, Va. — Boeing is in the wrap-up stages of a trade study and architecture assessment of an upgrade — called Block II — to the Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. The upgrade is an effort to enable the…
RE2 Robotics Receives $3 Million to Develop Dexterous Underwater Robotic Hand for U.S. Navy
PITTSBURGH — RE2 Robotics, developer of human-like robotic manipulator arms, has received $3 million from the Office of Naval Research to develop a dexterous, underwater robotic hand with tactile feedback, the company said in a release. The program, called Strong…
Boeing Garners Second U.S. Navy Contract for F/A-18 Service Life Modification
ST. LOUIS — Boeing has received a one-year contract to continue modernizing the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 fleet under the Service Life Modification (SLM) program, the company said in a May 17 release. The $164 million contract for fiscal 2019, which…
Contract Awarded to Sikorsky for 12 CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helos
WASHINGTON — Naval Air Systems Command has awarded a $1.3 billion contract to Sikorsky for 12 U.S. Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, the command said in a release. “The Marine Corps is very appreciative of the efforts by the…
Navy Mk38 Gun Systems Gaining Co-Axial Small-Caliber Machine Gun
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy is installing a co-axial 7.62 mm machine gun on the mounts of its Mk38 chain gun systems, a Northrop Grumman official said. The Mk52 7.62 mm is gas-operated and uses recoil to eject spent cartridges…
Former Pacific Fleet Intel Director Warns of Widening Gap Between Chinese, U.S. Fleet Buildup
The Chinese navy already is larger than the U.S. Navy and is building ships four times as fast, with a firm goal of achieving sea control by 2030 and naval superiority by 2039, a former Pacific Fleet director of intelligence…
Naval Research Lab Debuts Newly Acquired Aircraft for Airborne Research
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Navy’s premier science and technology research squadron, Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), unveiled on May 11 the UV-18 “Twin Otter” as the newest addition to the squadron’s fleet of aircraft…
First Navy CMV-22B COD Aircraft Delivery Set for Late 2019
ARLINGTON, Va. — The first two fuselages for the Navy’s CMV-22B Osprey carrier-onboard-delivery (COD) aircraft have been detailed for final assembly, the aircraft’s program manager said. “First delivery is later this year,” said Marine Col. Matthew Kelly, joint program manager…
