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The article considers the attempts of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to pressure the Air Force to develop a new unmanned aircraft system (UAS) soon. Although the DoD is attempting to maximize the production of Predators and Reapers, the acquisition office of Dyke Weatherington, deputy director of the DoD's UAS Task Force, is trying to encourage the Air Force to create an MQ-X or initial capabilities document. According to the Air Force Safety Center, of the 55 Class A accidents, 50 were Predators and five were Reapers.

The article reports that six out of nine partner nations of F-35 development program for Lockheed Martin F-35 multirole fighter will substantially maintain, repair and overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) work on the single engine and stealthy fighter. It presents the views of U.S Air Force Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan regarding the construction of heavy airframe maintenance in the U.S. It mentions that the much of the MRO&U work in Italy will be managed by Italian aerospace company Alenia.

The article discusses the U.S. government's plans to develop a replacement Air Force One at the end of 2014, focusing on the competition between aviation corporations Boeing, Airbus, and Raytheon. Other topics include the design and technological components of Air Force One, the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) acquisition program, and decreased production rates of Boeing's 747-8.

The article discusses contract negotiations between aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Defense Department. According to the article, development of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes has fallen behind schedule and both organizations believe the other should be responsible for the resulting overruns.

The article discusses the potential shutdown of the production run of the F-16 jet fighter by the aerospace company Lockheed Martin. Deals with countries including Oman, Iraq, and Taiwan have been delayed due to concerns about the ability of pilots to operate the system, unrest in the Middle East, and objections from China. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) does not plan to procure more F-16s, but it waiting for the introduction of the F-35 fighter plane.

The article discusses the key drivers in the fighter aircraft market. An overview of some of the marketing techniques used by various aerospace companies, such as U.S. company Boeing, to ensure their economic welfare is presented, which includes upgrade offers on fighter planes, electronics, and financial incentives for the construction of fighter planes.

The article discusses the negotiations between manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the U.S, and Israel regarding the price restructuring of the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as part of the F-35 program. Topics include an overview of the F-35 program, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Defense, and cost overruns that prompted Israel to buy less than they previously agreed.

The article reports that the U.S. Air Force is planning to start a competition for a Next-Generation Unmanned Aerial System (NG-UAS) to handle a mix of intelligence gathering and attack missions by 2015. Some Air Force officials refer to this effort as a replacement for the MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers currently in production. But the service is also looking for improved performance.

The article reports on the Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) development project. The MRTT is the first Airbus A330-based tanker for Australia. Although the MRTT will differ from the U.S. KC-45, much of the work on it and its CASA-designed refueling boom will provide risk reduction to the U.S. version of the program. A Northrop Grumman/EADS North America team won the $1.5-billion U.S. tanker development contract on February 29, 2008, the same day EADS announced the passage of fuel to an F-16 receiver in flight using the new boom on an A310 testbed.

This article reports that two recent measures in the U.S. Congress could breathe new life into production and sales of the Lockheed Martin Corp.-built aircraft. U.S. Representative Kay Granger, who represents Lockheed Martin's massive Fort Worth, Texas production facility, sponsored the amendment last week that repealed an earlier law prohibiting F-22 sales internationally. Representative David Obey proposed the restrictive language in 1997. It has been law since and will remain so until U.S. President George W. Bush signs the Fiscal 2007 defense spending bill.

The article focuses on the wiring problems faced by aircraft manufacturer Boeing on the commercial derivative platform housing the KC-46A refueler. Topics covered include the milestones achieved for the KC-135 replacement such as the installation of functional wing aerial refueling pods on the first developmental tanker, the decision by the U.S. Defense Department to approve production of the tanker and the problems designing wiring harnesses in accordance with Air Force requirements.

The article reflects on the competition among the aerospace companies Alenia Aermacchi, Boeing/Saab and Northrop Grumman/BAE to build the U.S. Air Force's T-38 follow-on advanced pilot jet trainer. It mentions the shift of contenders for the T-X program due to the Air Force's schedule delays. It presents the views of Dawn Dunlop, director of requirements, plans and programs for Air Education and Training Command (AETC), on the same.

The article focuses on the advocacy of defense firm Lockheed Martin for high flying U-2 aircraft due to the U.S. Department of Defense shift towards Global Hawk unmanned aircraft upgrade program. Topics include the reduced cost plan of the firm to optionally man U-2 due to the same, the disadvantages of Global Hawk outlined by U-2 advocates like lacking of defense systems, and lower high flying than U-2 , the design of upgraded U-2 which includes a center wingbox and a space behind the cockpit.

The article discusses aerospace company Northrop Grumman's development of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for the U.S. Air Force. The classified aircraft, known as the RQ-180, is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) flights and may be available by 2015. The article discusses development of the project and speculates about features of the craft.

The article reports that the U.S. Navy adds new sea trial to its X-47B demonstration aircraft, but an actual assemblage and passing of gas through an automated aerial refueling (AAR) system stays a difficult goal. Topics discussed include the use of a Learjet surrogate aircraft to test end-to-end the operations of X-47B AAR, the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) project, and the electromagnetic interference which is the cause of a control issue.

The article discusses the development of the F-35 jet fighter plane. A May 31, 2013 report to the U.S. Congress by the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy on their planning for initial operational capability (IOC) of the F-35's active service is discussed in relationship to problems in the design and construction of the information display system in the helmets of air pilots of the plane.

The article discusses the testing of a redesigned tailhook on F-35 aircraft from the manufacturer Lockheed Martin and describes the ongoing development of the aircraft as of September, 2012. Topics include helmet performance, the Autonomic Logistics and Information System management tool software, problems with tailhook damper device design, and the pace of F-35 aircraft construction and testing.

The article discusses the impact of the relationships between the aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Department of Defense, and stakeholders on inhibiting an F-35 fighter aircraft development program, focusing on the comments of U.S. Air Force Major General Christopher Bogdan in a speech delivered in September, 2012. Topics include contract negotiations, project financing, and anticipated cost of the fighter's maintenance program.

The article discusses the design, testing, and specifications of weapons bays for the F-35 jet fighters developed by aerospace company Lockheed Martin in 2012. The thermal and acoustic properties of the bays need to be tested against different types of weapons, such as the ground attack GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Design margins, jet weight, and the Raytheon AIM-120C7/D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (Amraam) are also mentioned.

The article discusses near-term goals for the U.S. Air Force in 2012 for projects such as designing weapons against buried targets, developing Long-Range Standoff Weapons to replace Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs), and switching to stealth fighters. F-22 and F-35 jet fighters from aerospace defense company Lockheed Martin are discussed, as well as Hard-Target Void-Sensing Fuze weapons contracted to Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs).

The article discusses a partnership between the aircraft manufacturers Embraer and Boeing to submit the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for possible use by the U.S. Air Force as a Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft in Afghanistan. According to the article, Boeing will help Embraer install Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) technology on the aircraft. The competitor Hawker Beechcraft is mentioned.

The article focuses on the development of the F-35 fighter plane model by the nine-nation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. It says that a delay in production is due to the strike at aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth. It states that the introduction of Block 2A software in low-rate-initial-production (LRIP) 4 aircraft is intended for flight training. It adds that program officials focuses in flight trials which is a requirement to reduce costs in flight testing and production.

The article examines a plan by the U.S. Air Force to develop a long-range bomber plane with stealth capability to replace existing bombers. The difficulty imposed on development of such an aircraft by the goal set by the Department of Defense that the costs of purchasing finished bombers should not exceed $550 million per airplane is discussed.

The article discusses the end production of the F-22 Raptor fighter plane by Lockheed Martin. The F-22 program was funded by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the Raptor was sold only to the USAF, since international sales were forbidden. Jeff Babione of the F-22 program discusses the storage of tooling, the use of Lockheed Martin's facility in Marietta, Georgia for producing the C-130 and the C-5, and the use of multimedia resources to record the methods of line workers.

The article discusses the high sustainment cost of the F-35 aircraft, a jet fighter developed by aerospace company Lockheed Martin and in use by the U.S. military. Vice Admiral David Venlet, who oversees the program, is running deep-dive studies, virtual wargames, and other forms of analysis to fully understand the maintenance costs of the aircraft. He says that reducing the price of the jet will reduce part costs for consumers.

The article discusses the possibility that aircraft manufacturer Boeing will create a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft family due to the lack of international success of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The V-22 is expensive due to folding wings and electromagnetic hardening, while a new VTOL family could be more affordable because of a reduced per-unit cost. Greg Masiello, the V-22 program manager, says that operational expenses have been reduced.

The article looks at the competition that the Firebird optionally piloted aircraft, designed by aerospace company Northrop Grumman, may provide for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which previously had a lead in the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) market. The Firebird was entered into the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Empire Challenge experiment of the U.S. military. Rick Crooks of Northrop Grumman discusses the design of the aircraft.

The article analyzes photographs from the May 1, 2011 U.S. raid against terrorist organization Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, discussing the stealth enhancements to rotorcraft exposed during the raid. The article speculates that a modified Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk transport helicopter was used by Navy Seals in addition to two Boeing HH-47 Chinook helicopters. The upgrades include changes to the tail-rotor hub fairings, an infrared suppression finish, and other aerodynamic modifications.

The article discusses U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' fiscal year 2012 budget request, examining the development of tactical aircraft (tacair), military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, and long-range bombers. Gates' budget includes funds for the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) version of the Global Hawk aircraft, an optionally manned nuclear-capable aircraft, and the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (Uclass) program.

The article examines the development and production of the F-35 jet fighter plane by the aerospace industry company Lockheed Martin. Additional flight testing and computer software development needed to produce the F-35 are discussed. It is noted that flight testing of the final software standard for the aircraft is not scheduled until June, 2015.

The article considers contracts between the defense industries firm Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of Defense for the construction of the F-35 jet fighter plane. The per-unit price targets for various versions of the plane, all of which are over $100 million, are considered, and it is noted the prices are declining as more orders for the plane are being placed. A Defense Department official responsible for procurement says that additional cost reductions for the F-35 are necessary.

The article examines production management by aerospace industries firm Lockheed Martin of the construction of the F-35 jet fighter plane. The U.S. Department of Defense's 2010 decision that the company was not qualified to use is Earned Value Management System (EVMS), a production management computer software tool for scheduling and cost control, is discussed.

The article looks at budget cuts in the U.S. defense budget, focusing on the curtailed spending on the development of Lockheed Martin F-35 joint strike fighter jets. The author comments on the financial decisions of the U.S. Defense Acquisition Board, run by Ashton Carter. Additional defense projects proposed for termination are reviewed.

The article discusses the U.S. Army intelligence-collection program called the Enhanced Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) and plans to select a winning contractor by the end of 2010. While EMARSS is effected, the Army will continue using its Constant Hawk intelligence technology in Afghanistan.

The article looks at the development of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter plane, focusing on the difficulties of finding funding for the project. The author notes that U.S. defense spending may be restricted in 2011. The proposition of developing a F136 alternate jet engine using F-35 funding is discussed.

This article reports that Lockheed Martin is releasing classified information about the maintenance costs for the stealthy Joint Strike Fighter plane. Lockheed Martin is attempting to deflect criticism about cost overruns and schedule delays in the production of the aircraft. The plane is made of low-observability material called fiber mat.

The article examines the negotiation between Alenia Aeronautica and Northrop Grumman over a possible partnership for stateside final assembly of the C-27J airlifter. Prior to the negotiation, Alenia has worked with other U.S. companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing and L-3 Communications. According to Finmeccanica chief executive officer (CEO) Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, the negotiation could be finalized within months.

The article reports on the discussion between Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy regarding the X-47B unmanned combat aircraft program. Despite protests from company officials that they only wanted to talk about the project to demonstrate launches and recoveries at sea, they soon turned to the operational potential of its X-47B design. The flying-wing design will offer wide-band, low-observable protection against all radar bands, says Scott Winship, program manager at Northrop Grumman.

The article deals with the efforts of Northrop Grumman in the development of the first KC-30 tanker for the U.S. Air Force and its partner EADS North America. Northrop plans to deliver the first A330 aircraft in late November 2007 if the team wins its duel against Boeing. The U.S. Air Force plans to buy 179 new tankers at a cost of $40 billion to replace its oldest KC-135s. Since the 100-tanker lease with Boeing collapsed, schedule has been paramount.

The articles reports that aerospace and defense technologies firms Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have formed teams for the sixth-generation fighter competitions to win the contract for U.S. Air Force's long-range strike bomber.It presents views of Tom Vice, president of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, on the issue. It also mentions the bomber contract won by Northrop Grumman for the B-2 bomber.

The article reports on the hopes of the aerospace and defense company Lockheed Martin on the implications of the China's hypersonic re-entry strike vehicle testing on its dormant plan to create a design for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) air defense system. The topics discussed include the amount spent by the U.S. government on diverse missile defenses and the hopes of Lockheed to obtain funding from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to finance its development program.