#Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

[usafphantom2]

F-15D Eagle Spotted with Unusual Infrared Measurement Pod

Stefano D'Urso

F-15D IR pod

The pod appears to be previously unseen but closely resembles the Airborne Turret Infrared Measurement System III (ATIMS III), which is used to perform airborne IR signature measurements.

A U.S. Air Force F-15D has been recently spotted flying in a very unusual configuration, usually seen only for very specific tests. In fact, the aircraft was carrying on its station #2, instead of the usual external fuel tank, what appears to be a large InfraRed pod.

The pod appears to be previously unseen but closely resembles the Airborne Turret Infrared Measurement System III (ATIMS III), which is used to perform airborne IR signature measurements.The IR-measuring podsATIMS IIIThe other pods

The photos, kindly shared with us by aviation photographer @arizona_planespotter, shows the aircraft, sporting the markings of the 144th Fighter Wing from Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, taking off from Morris ANGB in Tucson, Arizona, together with an F-15C. The two fighters apparently took part in a mission with local F-16s.

Upon closer inspection, the single-seater Eagle appears to be aircraft 83-0026, which sports on its tail the markings of the Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve Test Center. The unit is based at Morris ANGB and primarily supports F-16 operational flight program (OFP) testing, although it is tasked also with testing of other aircraft.

The large pod, which is half the length of the F-15’s external fuel tank, appears to be equipped with a ball sensor turret in the front. While some argued this might be a prototype of a directed energy weapon, the most plausible identification is an infrared measurement pod which is usually carried by twin-seater F-15Ds.

The F-15D with the unknown pod takes off from Morris ANGB. (Image credit: @arizona_planespotter)

In fact, the OT- and ET-marked aircraft are able to employ a range of highly specialized pods to accurately measure infrared signatures while airborne. This capability is usually employed during the development of IR seekers or sensors, as well as IR countermeasures.

We reviewed the available imagery of the known pod, but we were not able to find a 100% match, given the nature of these pods. While the unknown pod shares similarities with the SARIS and SATIRS pods, the closest match is the ATIMS III pod, although there are some differences.

The overall shape and dimensions of the two pods appear to be the same, however there are some differences in the sensor turret and some fairings on the body of the pod. We should note that the most recent info about the pod dates back to 2020, so we cannot exclude the possibility of a newer variant.

The IR-measuring pods

According to The War Zone, which published in 2020 an in-depth report about the unusual pods, both the Air Force and Navy use these specialized pods. While the Navy’s pods, usually seen on twin-seater F/A-18s, are also used by F-15Ds, the Air Force’s ones appear to be exclusive to the F-15D.

The choice of the F/A-18 and F-15 is due to their ability to carry large and heavy loads. The latter has been particularly used throughout the years to carry outsized loads during testing and operational missions.

At the time of the 2020 report, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) maintained two podded systems, the Airborne Turret Infrared Measurement System III (ATIMS III) and the Threat Infrared Generic Emulation Radiometer (TIGER). Four more pods are available for the Air Force, with 96th Test Wing employing the Beam Approach Seeker Evaluation System (BASES), the Calibrated IR/visible/UV Ground and Airborne Radiometric Spectrometer (CIGARS), the Supersonic Airborne Tri-Gimbal Infrared System (SATIRS), and the Spectral/Spatial Airborne Radiometric Infrared System (SARIS).

The ATIMS III pod (top) and the unknown pod (bottom). (Image credit: The Aviationist using photos by Brian Lockett/Goleta Air And Space Museum and @arizona_planespotter)

ATIMS III

ATIMS III has been defined in 2020 as the latest generation of a system that dates back to at least the 1970s. The system was originally integrated aboard the A-3 Skywarrior, before being later developed into a podded variant, the ATIMS II, employed by the F-4 Phantom II.

The system, which allowed greater flexibility and more ease of use compared to the original one, had an articulating turret with various cameras and sensors installed that a single operator could point at the desired target. Today’s ATIMS III was acquired in the 1980s and offers even greater capability.

The pod’s sensor turret can hold up to four different infrared seeker types at once. The system is also equipped with one middle wavelength infrared (MWIR) imager and three visual spectrum video cameras, as well as a laser rangefinder. This allows to collect a multitude of data from multiple sensors at the same time.

The available photos show that the pod can be installed either with the turret facing forward or facing backwards, depending on the test’s requirements. TWZ reported that the pod’s design is highly modular and adaptable and features a digital data recording system.

The report included a mention of a statement from Ampex Data Systems Corporation which provided solid-state recorders to capture the full spectrum of infrared data measured by the pod as part of an upgrade program. According to the statement, which uses the alternate Airborne Infrared Countermeasure Evaluation System (AICES) name, the pod can possibly transmit collected data to the ground via datalink.

The F-15s returning to Morris ANGB. (Image credit: @arizona_planespotter)

The other pods

The second pod operated by the Navy is the Threat Infrared Generic Emulation Radiometer (TIGER), which is designed for more general aerial infrared signature measurement of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as decoy flares. TIGER carries three MWIR cameras and a long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) camera, in addition to a separate infrared tracking camera and an MWIR spectrometer, along with three visual spectrum video cameras and a laser rangefinder.

TWZ reported that the spectrometer allows to verify how the infrared radiation from the test subjects interacts with the surrounding environment, enabling the pod to gather data on an object’s temperature, how that heat is distributed and how the resulting infrared signature might fluctuate under different environmental conditions and at extended distances.

Similarly to ATIMS III, the pod can be carried with the turret either facing forward or backwards. TIGER is usually seen on F/A-18s, however there are instances when it was employed by F-15s, sometimes together with ATIMS III in the same flight.

Another pod is the Spectral/Spatial Airborne Radiometric Infrared System (SARIS), focused on infrared spectroscopy. More specifically, a scientific article published online mentions that SARIS uses an Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (IFTS), which permits the determination of the surface temperatures of distant objects and, combined with imaging capability, allows rapid temperature mapping.

The document says that SARIS, first delivered to Eglin AFB in 2003, is used to characterize infrared targets, such as aircraft, missiles and flares, from the air. The pod is equipped with a co-registered, high-definition infrared camera and two internal blackbody sources for performing in-flight radio-metric calibration.

There are limited freely available details about the BASES, CIGARS, and SATIRS pods, but they are understood to have general capabilities very similar to those of ATIMS III and TIGER.

Thanks again to @arizona_planespotter for the photos he sent us! Make sure to follow him on Instagram for more!

@The Aviationist.com

[glowing-wasteland]

Dade-County Factions

What was Miami-Dade is now but a shadow of what it once was. The Dade-County area has been mostly reclaimed by The Glades and Wilds. The area’s total population is much less than its Central Florida counterpart. It’s isolated from Orange County due to The Wilds separating the two areas. Trade with the rest of the country’s wastelands is harder to establish because of the dangers of The Wilds, leaving spiked prices and short supply for import goods. While there are many smaller, lesser known tribes in the area there are nine major factions of varying sizes.

Black Dust Gang | BDG

HQ |  Piña Health Hospital {Baptist Hospital}

Leader | Lorenzo Myers

Although the Black Dust Gang could be labelled as raiders, they are actually neutral and not outwardly violent to the other factions and smaller tribes. The Black Dust Gang is the second largest faction, however that’s mostly due to the fact it handles a lot of the trade and importing of exotic and rare goods. The gang is best known as chem dealers and chem manufactures. A lot of Black Dust Gang members live and operate in New Law Order under treaty agreements. 

Brotherhood of Steel | BoS

HQ | Florida International University

Leader | Julia Roberts

A medium sized faction, that what sent to settle in the Glowing Wasteland. However, due to the factions already established in the Orlando area, The Brotherhood of Steel had to relocate to Dade County. If the Brotherhood had tried to establish a base in the Orlando area, they would quickly be wiped out by the much larger factions such as by the Caspian Company. The Brotherhood have some knowledge about the existence of the Eclipse Republic, however that information is labelled as classified. The core purpose of preserving and reclaiming advance technology still is maintained. 

Eclipse Republic

HQ |  NAVAIR { Naval Air Systems Command Interim Supply Support Facility}

Leader | Eclipse

The Eclipse Republic is an all synth based faction, founded and led by pre-war synth Eclipse. The faction is secretive and not widely know, preferring to work in the shadows and focus on infiltration and sabotage. A small few members originated from The Institute in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The main belief is that humanity has degraded over time and that synths are the path forward. They aim to free all synthetics from humanity. Most Eclipse Republic synths are heavily modified to achieve “perfection”. Despite being made of different generations of synths, the faction is medium size-- rivalling that of The Brotherhood of Steel due to the continued production of developing new synths. 

Gator Wings

HQ | US Armed Forces Military Base {Doral}

Leader | Enrique Gomez ; Gatorhead

A small, but widely infamous, raider tribe that is know as slavers and conquering standalone smaller tribes. They are extremely aggressive and merciless, and are to be avoided at all costs due to their complete savage behaviors and tactics. The gang is lead by its leader, Gatorhead. 

New Law Order | NLO

HQ | Miami International Airport

Leader | Gino Balliol

The New Law Order is the largest faction in Dade County. They maintain justice, and enforcement of the law among majority of the settlements. They provide protection for citizens of the NLO. They often prefer not to get involved with other factions, and try and maintain neutrality. They accept anyone into their settlements as long as there is no malicious intent and remain peaceful. The NLO allow settlements to function independently, as long as peace is kept. 

New World Syndicate

HQ | Vault 55 ; Lil Havana

Leader | Sabina Gomez

A small faction base in an open trade Vault 55. All of the members are vault dwellers, not just of Vault 55 but other members of other vaults. They are rather puritan and while they preach about the new age of Vault-Tec, the New World Syndicate still practice Vault-Tec’s inhumane human experiments. While they hold belief that vault dwellers are still ‘pure’ compared to the parasitic wastelanders, they still practice open trade and establish it’s own caravans. 

The Cleansed

HQ | Bythel Memorial Hospital {Jackson Memorial Hospital}

Leader | Lola Martinez ; The Enlighten One

The Cleanse originally was a branch of the Children of Atom, however broke off when there were conflicts of beliefs. They still are rad eaters and are a religious movement around radiation and nuclear weapons. However the Cleanse believe that radiation can cleanse the body, enlightening one to a new pure form. The faction is very militant, and are solely made of ghouls-- most are self-made ghouls, as in they turned themselves into ghouls by voluntary over-exposure to radiation. Those that survived being turned without dying or becoming a feral ghoul, have been considered ‘cleansed.’

The Flock

HQ | Seasons Surfside Club

Leader | Sera Oliver ; Overseer Oliver

A very small, but dangerous settlement that is isolated from the rest of the world. The Flock is self-sufficient settlement, and not much is known about it. It is rumored that The Flock hold cult-like behavior and increases its population by buying slaves and condition them to accepting the faction as home and family. 

Warheads

HQ | Riton Grove {The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove}

Leader | Adrian Samuels

A faction that is made up of bounty hunters, and mercenaries. They’re neutral, in that they won’t attack or provoke other factions unless they have been wronged in someway or are paid enough to cause trouble. While they are known to be the best of the best, and high efficient, commissioning a Warhead is far from cheap. 

[militaryleak]

Airbus Awarded US NAVAIR Contract to Develop US Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Airbus U.S. Space & Defense a Phase I Other Transactional Authority Agreement, through Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, in support of the United States Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector. The award is part of a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping Program which aims to provide the USMC with prototypes to demonstrate the aircrafts capabilities to the warfighter through a series of operationally experiments. The Airbus U.S. UH-72 Unmanned Logistics Connector, a variant of the proven Lakota platform, is intended to provide logistical support during expeditionary operations within contested environments. The unmanned autonomous helicopter is the low risk, affordable solution for the contested logistics problem. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak #hrlicopter

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Airbus U.S. Space & Defense a Phase I Other Transactional Authority Agreement, through Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, in support of the United States Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector. The award is part of a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping Program which aims to provide the USMC with prototypes to demonstrate the aircrafts…

[aresdifesa]

Altri due MQ-25 Stingray per la US Navy La Marina degli Stati Uniti ha assegnato a Boeing una modifica del valore complessivo di 657,1 milioni di dollari al contratto già in essere per sostenere la produzione e la consegna di altri due velivoli MQ-25 Stingray System Demonstration Test Article. La modifica include anche le modifiche relative agli strumenti e ai sistemi di comunicazione del M1-25 per il rifornimento aereo e punta a definire gli interventi per risolvere le di obsolescenze nonché di ingegneria non ricorrente a supporto della fase di produzione iniziale a bassa rateo del programma. A tal fine, il Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) ha stanziato

[defpost]

GE Aviation Awarded $111.9M Contract for Additional T408 Turboshaft Engines

#GEAviation awarded $111.9 million contract for additional #T408 turboshaft engines.

GE Aviation has been awarded a $111.9 million contract with the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for fourth lot T408 turboshaft engines to power the U.S. Marine Corps’ (USMC) Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter. This latest contract of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) engines follows three previous LRIP contracts for this program, the most recent being in August 2019. GE…

[coochiequeens]

“There should be no barriers to thinking you can succeed in the military and there are many women who have. As my parents told me, ‘you can do it, and should do it, because you are independent, smart and skilled.’”

That quote by Leslie Taylor, vice commander of Naval Air Systems Command – the first woman to hold that position – is one of a number of inspirational quotes by women whose careers, both military and civilian, are featured in a new exhibit at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum (PRNAM).

Titled “Women in Aviation: Exploring their Diverse Contributions to NAS Patuxent River and Beyond,” the permanent installation includes a few of the women who have served at, worked for, or passed through Pax River, recognizing their impact onboard the installation and throughout naval aviation.

Seven of the women in the exhibit, some of whom still work at Pax River, were on hand at the museum Nov. 12 for a grand opening ceremony followed by a ribbon-cutting to officially introduce the display to the public.

“We really wanted to share the stories of women who have been pioneers and trailblazers in aviation; women who have broken barriers and found success within the STEM and STEAM fields,” said PRNAM Exhibit and Program Coordinator Bailey Rios, during her welcome speech to the crowd in attendance. “More specifically, women who have contributed to the aviation field here at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.”

One of the impressive women featured is retired Navy Reserve Capt. Colleen Nevius, first female aviator to graduate from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and one of the first two naval pilots assigned to and deployed with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 6 flying the H-46 Sea Knight in the Vertical Replenishment mission, after the U.S. lifted the ban on women aboard Navy ships. Her advice is “Do the hardest things you can possibly envision yourself doing, because those are the most rewarding.”

Another H-46 pilot who was the first aboard a ship was Tracy Barkhimer, retired Navy captain and former program manager at Pax River with Air Combat Electronics (PMA-209).

“In 1994, her squadron embarked on our ship getting ready for deployment and they were bringing aboard women,” explained Eric Barkhimer, who was there on behalf of his wife, who was unable to attend. “The Navy was transitioning, and USS Camden (AOE-2) was one of the ships to transition. The two pilots – and that’s how we referred to them, as ‘the two pilots,’ – were coming onboard and I remember they had to wipe out part of the ‘officers country’ to make room for them because it was the only head, or restroom, they could partition off for the women.”

Back then, Barkhimer, assistant program manager for procurement for PMA-207 and 271, was a surface warfare officer on Camden and he admitted it took some of his shipmates time to get used to the new normal.

“People were uprooted and moved, and of course they blamed whoever was new,” he said. “But once the deployment happened and people were doing their jobs, it wasn’t a big issue. The bigger issue was when the rest of the crew started transitioning. It wasn’t about the women, it was that the ships weren’t configured for a mixed crew and that’s what created most of the concerns. But I met [my wife] there, so I’m happy. It all worked out.”

Naval aviator, Capt. Molly Boron, currently with the NAVAIR Inspector General Office and former program manager at Aerial Target Systems (PMA-208), was the first woman to command a fleet P-8 squadron. She has said she understands the gravity of the rank she’s wearing; that she’s a female officer in the Navy. The quote on her exhibit panel reads “Be prepared for any opportunity, work hard, have a thick skin, be competent, have fun, and most of all, be a good teammate.”

Barbara Bell, a retired Navy captain who approached Capitol Hill in 1993 to repeal the combat exclusion laws for women, now works to end the gender gap in STEM fields. She notes that, “It’s not a matter of if you are going to meet challenge or resistance, but a matter of when and how you deal with it.”

In addition to the informational panels on each woman, there are video interviews that run on a loop and personal artifacts on display from their careers in naval aviation. There is also an additional online component to the exhibit at https://paxmuseum.com/women-in-aviation/ that delves deeper and offers suggestions for further reading.

“What makes this exhibit so special for us here at the museum is that we get the chance to tell a human story,” Rios noted. “It’s meant to share the success of women who have served this country in one way or another, from their perspective, and in return we hope to inspire others.”

[airmanisr]

VX-30 F-14D Tomcat BuNo 163415 by G. Verver Via Flickr: A Tactical "Tomahawk" Block IV cruise missile is escorted by VX-30 Bloodhounds F-14D Tomcat BuNo 163415, BH-201, during a controlled test over the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) western test range complex in southern CA, 10 November 2002. During the second such test flight, the missile successfully completed a vertical underwater launch, flew a fully guided 780-mile course, and impacted a designated target structure as planned. The Tactical "Tomahawk", the next generation of Tomahawk cruise missile adds the capability to reprogram the missile while in-flight to strike any of 15 preprogrammed alternate targets or redirect the missile to any Global Positioning System (GPS) target coordinates. It also will be able to loiter over a target area for some hours, and with its on-board TV camera, will allow the war fighting commanders to assess battle damage of the target, and, if necessary redirect the missile to any other target. Official U.S. Navy photo.

[photos-mdx]

F/A-18 - sonic boom condensation cone - Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

[davi2206]

NASA image of the day, November 01, 2022: Teams at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, recently completed stress testing on the Navy’s F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Maryland.

[wafifi]

Stress Testing Super Hornet’s Wings via NASA Teams at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, recently completed stress testing on the Navy’s F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Maryland. https://ift.tt/zrmIDB4

[usafphantom2]

B-2 Stealth Bomber Demoes QUICKSINK Low Cost Maritime Strike Capability During RIMPAC 2024

The U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit carried out a QUICKSINK demonstration during the second SINKEX (Sinking Exercise) of RIMPAC 2024. This marks the very first time a B-2 Spirit has been publicly reported to test this anti-ship capability.

David Cenciotti

B-2 QUICKSINK

File photo of a B-2 Spirit (Image credit: Howard German / The Aviationist)

RIMPAC 2024, the 29th in the series since 1971, sees the involvement of 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel. During the drills, two long-planned live-fire sinking exercises (SINKEXs) led to the sinking of two decommissioned ships: USS Dubuque (LPD 8), sunk on July 11, 2024; and the USS Tarawa (LHA 1), sunk on July 19. Both were sunk in waters 15,000 feet deep, located over 50 nautical miles off the northern coast of Kauai, Hawaii.

SINKEXs are training exercises in which decommissioned naval vessels are used as targets. These exercises allow participating forces to practice and demonstrate their capabilities in live-fire scenarios providing a unique and realistic training environment that cannot be replicated through simulations or other training methods.

RIMPAC 2024’s SINKEXs allowed units from Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Korea, and various U.S. military branches, including the Air Force, Army, and Navy, to enhance their skills and tactics as well as validate targeting, and live firing capabilities against surface ships at sea. They also helped improve the ability of partner nations to plan, communicate, and execute complex maritime operations, including precision and long-range strikes.

LRASM

During the sinking of the ex-Tarawa, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet deployed a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). This advanced, stealthy cruise missile offers multi-service, multi-platform, and multi-mission capabilities for offensive anti-surface warfare and is currently deployed from U.S. Navy F/A-18 and U.S. Air Force B-1B aircraft.

The AGM-158C LRASM, based on the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER), is the new low-observable anti-ship cruise missile developed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets.

QUICKSINK

Remarkably, in a collaborative effort with the U.S. Navy, a U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber also took part in the second SINKEX, demonstrating a low-cost, air-delivered method for neutralizing surface vessels using the QUICKSINK. Funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the QUICKSINK experiment aims to provide cost-effective solutions to quickly neutralize maritime threats over vast ocean areas, showcasing the flexibility of the joint force.

The Quicksink initiative, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, is designed to offer innovative solutions for swiftly neutralizing stationary or moving maritime targets at a low cost, showcasing the adaptability of joint military operations for future combat scenarios. “Quicksink is distinctive as it brings new capabilities to both current and future Department of Defense weapon systems, offering combatant commanders and national leaders fresh methods to counter maritime threats,” explained Kirk Herzog, the program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Traditionally, enemy ships are targeted using submarine-launched heavyweight torpedoes, which, while effective, come with high costs and limited deployment capabilities among naval assets. “Heavyweight torpedoes are efficient at sinking large ships but are expensive and deployed by a limited number of naval platforms,” stated Maj. Andrew Swanson, division chief of Advanced Programs at the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. “Quicksink provides a cost-effective and agile alternative that could be used by a majority of Air Force combat aircraft, thereby expanding the options available to combatant commanders and warfighters.”

Regarding weapon guidance, the QUICKSINK kit combines a GBU-31/B Joint Direct Attack Munition’s existing GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance in the tail with a new radar seeker installed on the nose combined with an IIR (Imaging Infra-Red) camera mounted in a fairing on the side. When released, the bomb uses the standard JDAM kit to glide to the target area and the seeker/camera to lock on the ship. Once lock on is achieved, the guidance system directs the bomb to detonate near the hull below the waterline.

Previous QUICKSINK demonstrations in 2021 and 2022 featured F-15E Strike Eagles deploying modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs. This marks the very first time a B-2 Spirit has been publicly reported to test this anti-ship capability. Considering a B-2 can carry up to 16 GBU-31 JDAMs, this highlights the significant anti-surface firepower a single stealth bomber can bring to a maritime conflict scenario.

Quicksink

F-15E Strike Eagle at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. with modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions as part of the second test in the QUICKSINK Joint Capability Technology Demonstration on April 28, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo / 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin)

SINKEXs

“Sinking exercises allow us to hone our skills, learn from one another, and gain real-world experience,” stated U.S. Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, the RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force Commander in a public statement. “These drills demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a safe and open Indo-Pacific region.”

Ships used in SINKEXs, known as hulks, are prepared in strict compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations under a general permit the Navy holds pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. Each SINKEX requires the hulk to sink in water at least 6,000 feet deep and more than 50 nautical miles from land.

In line with EPA guidelines, before a SINKEX, the Navy thoroughly cleans the hulk, removing all materials that could harm the marine environment, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), petroleum, trash, and other hazardous materials. The cleaning process is documented and reported to the EPA before and after the SINKEX.

Royal Netherlands Navy De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate HNLMS Tromp (F803) fires a Harpoon missile during a long-planned live fire sinking exercise as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. (Royal Netherlands Navy photo by Cristian Schrik)

SINKEXs are conducted only after the area is surveyed to ensure no people, marine vessels, aircraft, or marine species are present. These exercises comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and are executed following permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

The ex-Dubuque, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, was commissioned on September 1, 1967, and served in Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield, and other missions before being decommissioned in June 2011. The ex-Tarawa, the lead amphibious assault ship of its class, was commissioned on May 29, 1976, participated in numerous operations including Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom, and was decommissioned in March 2009.

This year marks the second time a Tarawa-class ship has been used for a SINKEX, following the sinking of the ex-USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) during RIMPAC 2006.

H/T Ryan Chan for the heads up!

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

@TheAviationist.com

[militaryleak]

Textron Aviation Special Missions Begins Deliveries of US Navy Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi Engine Training System (METS) Aircraft

Textron Aviation today announced it delivered the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft contracted by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on January 25, 2023, following a full and open competition. The Beechcraft King Air is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company. The aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A, replaces the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. A variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 260, the T-54A will modernize the fleet and be more representative of follow-on fleet aircraft. The T-44 has been in service for more than 40 years. The T-54A includes an updated avionics suite and automation qualities to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet.

Textron Aviation today announced it delivered the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft contracted by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on January 25, 2023, following a full and open competition. The Beechcraft King Air is designed and manufactured by?Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc.?company. The aircraft, which will be known as the…

[aresdifesa]

GA-ASI prova il sistema di distribuzione Sonobuoy con l'MQ-9B SeaGuardian General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) ha comunicato di aver condotto in collaborazione con il Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR una serie di prove sul Sonobuoy Dispensing di GA-ASI System (SDS) utilizzando il sistema aereo senza pilota MQ-9B SeaGuardian (UAS) sul poligono di prova W-291 della Marina degli Stati Uniti nel sud della California. Il SeaGuardian di GA-ASI ha effettuato l’intero evento di volo di prova configurato con il pod SDS ed il radar multiruolo SeaVue di Raytheon, un’azienda RTX. Durante il test, il pod SDS ha lanciato otto boe sonore AN/SSQ-53 e due AN/SSQ-62. Al momento dell’espulsione, le boe

[ultrajaphunter]

(via Navy demos new mine countermeasure prototype on MQ-8C Fire Scout | NAVAIR)

MQ-8C Fire Scout demonstrates a new mine countermeasure (MCM) prototype technology in May 2022 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, proving a capability that could allow the warfighter to rapidly detect and respond to threats. (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy demos new mine countermeasure prototype on MQ-8C Fire Scout

Published:Jul 7, 2022

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md.--

The Navy recently demonstrated a mine countermeasure (MCM) prototype technology aboard the MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, proving a capability that could allow the warfighter to rapidly detect and respond to threats.

The objective of the demonstration was to gather performance data for both the MQ-8C Fire Scout and Single-system Multi-mission Airborne Mine Detection (SMAMD) System to inform future MCM integration efforts.

“The team successfully demonstrated that the prototype SMAMD System effectively operates as designed aboard the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter in relevant real world environments,” said Capt. Thomas Lansley, Fire Scout program director. “This cutting-edge technology could really enhance Fire Scout’s capability going forward.”

The team conducted operations from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) utilizing drifting, tethered, and moored mines throughout beach zone to deep waters. They gathered data day and night, across all water depths and in mild to difficult weather conditions.

The demonstration also proved the reliable and repeatable high performance of the MQ-8C Fire Scout. The air vehicle handled the dual podded system with ease, being the first MCM capability flown on the MQ-8C as well as the heaviest payload carried to date. Fire Scout successfully operated in restricted and unrestricted air space alongside other aircraft platforms.

The SMAMD System, developed by BAE Systems under a Future Naval Capability (FNC) Program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is an airborne optical sensor suite that, in a single pass, detects and localizes mines and obstacles on land and at sea. With a low false-alarm rate, SMAMD provides real-time detection sent via data link enabling warfighters to respond much quicker to threats than the current MCM technologies allow as post-mission analysis is required.

This effort, led by ONR, included support from multiple organizations across the Navy and industry including the MQ-8 Fire Scout program office, the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Aircraft Prototype Systems Division (APSD), Webster Outlying Field (WOLF), the Digital Analytics Infrastructure and Technology Advancement Group Prototyping, Instrumentation and Experimentation Department, and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Four (UX-24).

ONR and PMA-266 engaged NAWCAD AIRWorks to manage the demonstration taking advantage of AIRWorks’ project execution expertise and ability to connect warfare center resources.

“The AIRWorks SMAMD Team was proud to be a part of demonstrating a future naval capability which provides real-time threat detection to the warfighter,” said AIRWorks’ project lead Kristina Hewitt-Thompson. “Through this effort, we were able to assist in risk reduction and provide critical data for future integration.”

Throughout the project, the team facilitated execution of a complex demonstration including airworthiness and cyber certifications, design, fabrication and hardware integration along with flying qualities testing prior to the final demonstration at Eglin, she said. They assured close coordination between the U.S. Air Force, ONR, NAVAIR, NAVSEA and other stakeholder organizations to successfully achieve their objectives in less than 24 months and at a reduced cost.

AIRWorks is NAWCAD’s office focused on rapidly and effectively delivering fast, affordable, quality solutions to meet immediate and emergent warfighter needs working with government and industry partners to deliver services including aircraft modification, prototyping, additive manufacturing, system integration, sustainment, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and rapid contracting.

MQ-8C Fire Scout gathers performance data during a mine countermeasure (MCM) prototype technology demonstration in May 2022 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. (U.S. Navy photo)

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U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has indicated that it intends to modify another 45 Super Hornets to the Block III configuration.