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Reports on methods used to detect military airplanes with stealth capabilities. How two of the United States Air Force's stealth bombers were severely damaged in Kosovo in 1999; Ways to make an airplane undetectable to radar; The impossible nature of hiding an airplane's radiation signature.

The article focuses on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. It states that the use of UAVs in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq for counterinsurgency efforts has increased interest in UAVs. It mentions the leading UAV provider is military contractor General Atomics, which produces the Predator UAV, and comments on military contractor Northrop Grumman's development of Fire Scout and Global Hawk UAVs. It mentions Europe's expansion into UAV development and use.

The article looks at the development of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), cyberoperations, and unmanned aircraft technology. Officials from the aerospace companies Northrop Grumman and Boeing discuss aircraft designed for the U.S. Air Force's next-generation, long-range bomber program. Dave Deptula, former head of Air Force intelligence, examines opposition to networking systems while Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn looks at the need for long-range strike systems.

The article discusses U.S. Air Force efforts to develop boost-phase intercept (BPI) ballistic missile defenses that attack long-range enemy missiles between launch and low space when their air speeds are low and they emit substantial heat for targeting. Raytheon Missile Systems' program manager Philip Pagliara is cited regarding its Network-Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE) anti-ballistic missile. Though U.S. officials will not release operational criteria regarding the NCADE missile, those operational abilities are said to be sufficient to allow for targeting of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) and low-flying satellites.

The article deals with the flight of the U.S. Air Force's stealth unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called the RQ-170 Sentinel from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works over Afghanistan in 2007. It describes the design and features of the RQ-170 UAV. It is said that the aircraft has been created to prevent the application of sensitive technologies. Also noted is the potential use of such aircraft for information gathering on missile tests and multispectral intelligence when flying along the borders of Iran, China and Pakistan.

The article offers updates on the U.S. Navy's EP-X competition. Boeing is developing a design for the P-8A patrol aircraft for the competition to replace the U.S. Navy's aging EP-3E aircraft. Other aircraft designs set for the EP-X include the EA-18G Growler, which is specialized for electronic attack and the Australian Wedgetail for airborne early warning and control. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman would also compete for the EP-X contract.

The article focuses on the budgetary issues surrounding the U.S. Department of Defense. According to the author, combat aviation will likely fare well in the Fiscal 2010 budget, but the major changes directed by President Barack Obama will be included in the Fiscal 2011 spending plan. An overview of Obama's vision for the defense sector of the country is provided, along with his plans for the Air Force. The article also describes the programs being implemented for military aviation.

The article presents a discussion about the continuing development of cyber-weapons and experimentation with digital warfare. As cyber- and electronic attack technologies emerge, it is becoming harder to distinguish between cyberwarfare, directed energy and electronic attack, intelligence gathering and information operations. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated that insurgents have surpassed first-world nations when it comes to cyberwar and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

The article focuses on the challenges faced by the U.S. Air Force in the transformation of its air warfare strategies in South Korea. Technical and operational initiatives span the disciplines of command and control and air warfare. This includes converting the U.S. A-10 fleet from A- to C-models, filling F-16 units with data link-equipped Block 40 aircraft, and tying South Korea's new, networked F-15Ks into a joint network, according to the author.

The article focuses on the Georgian-Russian conflict and the missteps taken by both sides during the military conflict over South Ossetia. Russian forces cut Georgia's main east-west highway in two places between Tbilisi and the port city of Poti. But they did not reach the economically critical oil pipeline that runs from Tbilisi to the Black Sea oil terminal at Supsa, nor did attempted bombing damage the conduit. Early reports indicate that pipelines running through Tbilisi from the Caspian Sea oil fields were targeted unsuccessfully by the Russians.

This article reports on the surveillance being made by the U.S. on the electronic emissions coming from Syria during the attack from Israel. The surveillance is providing clues about how Israeli aircraft managed to slip past Syrian air defenses to bomb the site at Dayr az-Zawr, Syria. The main attack was preceded by an engagement with a single Syrian radar site at Tall al-Abuad near the Turkish border.

The article reports that the Australian Department of Defense is looking for young peoples to combat a growing online network of jihadists and to infiltrate the commercially based wireless networks used by insurgents to control small teams of fighters. The Australian military is demonstrating that a small military can have global impact by leveraging cyber-skills and focusing operations. Such experimentation will underpin the Australian military's full-bore move into strategic-range and network-centric operations.

The article presents information on the development of the Wedgetail aircraft in Australia. It reflects that the actual plan was to develop an airborne radar that could pick out very small targets at great distances. It views that the vision has made a quantum leap into a world of network-centric warfare with the development of the Wedgetail aircraft. Having the Boeing 737-based platform it will become the hub of net-centric operations and conduct a wide range of active and passive surveillance.

This article focuses on new technologies which can be used to propel the development of miniature electronics for tiny aircraft A handful of new technologies expected to drive the transformation include semiconductor materials, tiny circuitry that converts RF energy to light or digital data, and micro-mechanical devices. Steve Hedges, director of the antenna and receiver technology group in BAE Systems PLC's advanced systems technology organization, remarks that these technologies are working the issue of size, weight, power and particularly the thickness of these arrays so that they can be placed in small UAVs and mounted conformally to avoid taking up space. Missiles are expendables; while they are in the air, they basically represent new real estate and their sensors can be exploited to add data to the network. Unmanned vehicles also fold into the military's effort to move sensors farther forward on the battlefield for maximum effect and efficiency.

The article informs that aggressive engine designs with economy, long endurance and massive electrical power is pacing General Electric Co.'s (GE) military planning. GE's weapons will be a stable of flexible engine designs, company-run maintenance programs and transfers of airliner technology into military programs that have already been paid for with commercial investments. Despite the austere prospects for defense spending, company planners see opportunities for new business in shortening development time for new engines, commercial-type servicing of existing engines and providing propulsion systems for unmanned combat aircraft, long-range strike and surveillance platforms and, in a totally new arena, long-endurance, near-space concepts.

This article reports that establishing a KC-135 replacement plan in the wake of the defunct KC-767 lease proposal is going to take longer than first thought and could engulf Boeing, EADS, Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. Two studies are likely to influence the Pentagon's direction — an analysis of alternatives on replacing the KC-135s and a refueling needs study. Both are about to wrap up, but Air Force acquisition chief Marvin Sambur says determining a path ahead "could take a while." Northrop Grumman officials appear split internally. Some company officials are eager to partner with EADS, a company with which Northrop Grumman already has extensive relations. However, others think a tanker offering wouldn't be a good fit from a business perspective, and the backlash from Congress could outweigh any benefits from a few orders.

Complex, integrated air defenses of the future will have a vulnerability in their technological armor that a new electronic warfare (EW) weapon is being designed to crack. That futuristic EW weapon is being packed into a single box that can switch almost instantaneously from deceiving enemy radars about the invading U.S. aircraft's range, speed or location to blasting the foe's receivers with enough energy to blind it or even damage electronic components. Driving development of this advanced EW system is a known weakness in the Pentagon's new fighters and unmanned combat aircraft that carry sophisticated AESA radars. With hundreds or thousands of electronic transmitting and receiving modules, these radars can focus their power on a small area with enough precision to jam enemy radars. However, the jamming capability doesn't extend into the highest frequencies used by some of the most modern air defense radars or into the lowest frequencies used by radars that can detect stealth aircraft. The solution would be supplemental EW packages that are now in research and development.

Sensors that conform to the body of an aircraft, multiband radars, algorithms that peel obscuration and interference from sensor images and the long-sought solution to automatic target recognition are expected to propel network-centric warfare, but only after that technologically ugly duckling has been considerably transformed. Network-centric systems are inching into existence as researchers struggle with the basics of open architecture, broadband communication links and the retrieval of data from a mass of geographically distributed sites. However, the aerospace industry's advanced projects shops are already spinning up programs to make network-centric operations better.

France, for the moment, has only one type of operational unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, but EADS is focusing on becoming Europe's UAV powerhouse and a worldwide supplier of turnkey systems. With at least eight projects underway, the company's goals are being spurred by its post-merger consolidation of all UAV activities under management of the systems and defense electronics division. In addition to aircraft, the company's portfolio also includes unmanned and manned ground and naval vehicles.

The U.S. has weapons that can fly to within 8-10 in. of any three-dimensional coordinate they are fed. A nagging problem has been that the spot warfighters want to hit isn't always the one that gets calculated as the aim point. Pentagon planners are now focused on eliminating that remaining looseness in the targeting chain, and unmanned aircraft, tied into a high-speed communications network, are a key part of the solution. Pentagon and aerospace industry officials say the gap is closing quickly through the fusing of information from packages of sensors on single aircraft like the Global Hawk UAV and through the use of new tools that also fold in information from other aircraft and space-based sensors. Global Hawk UAVs found 55% of the time-sensitive air defense targets, while making up only 3% of the total intelligence and surveillance missions and 5% of those flown by aircraft.

Reports on the Affordable Moving Surface Target Engagement (Amset) capability that enables U.S. warfighters to consistently track and strike moving targets during a combat. Weapons provided in the initial combat capability; Accuracy rate of the capability; Aircrafts for which Amste has been used; Test plans for the capability; Research goals for the year 2003 for Amste; Equipment installed on Amste.

Introduces the innovative products of the aerospace and defense industries in Israel. Advantages of the Elbit/Silver Arrow unmanned aircraft; Production of virtual radar training system from Lahav; Commercialization of Airmor Aircraft Protection Suite from Israel Military Industries.

Reports the operation made by the U.S units against groups of Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the southeast of Afghanistan. Deployment of U.S. helicopter forces; Aim of the U.S. forces on making the Talibans fight or flee to Pakistan; Factors triggering the offensive.

Describes the naval reconnaissance mission of U.S. Navy in the Arabian Sea. Tactics of the group in doing the surveillance explained by lieutenant commander Brett Bonifay; Responsibilities of the aircrews in the entire mission; Use of satellite communications in tapping the airborne sensor information system.

Reports the modernization of the transformation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space and missile defense of the United States. Emphasis of the budget request for defense; Ways of maintaining the current force; Comprehensive strategy and detailed plan to guide the spending.

Focuses on the plans of the United States Air Force to continue high-band programs for aircraft systems. Loss of funding for Joint Avionics Sirgint Architecture project; Continuation of highband development through the upgrade of the Global Hawk airplane; Issues on the budget for the Global Hawk project. INSET: A Few Big Winners Expected To Dominate Sigint Field..

Reports on the humanitarian food drop flights of the United States as its aircrews continue the airstrikes on Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Number of containers in each aircraft; Need for the aircraft to depressurize to dispense the food packages; Accuracy of the airdrop.

Focuses on the aerial bombings lead by the United States government in Afghanistan. Launch of a real-time strike operation designed to attack moving targets; Introduction of additional weapons; Deployment of US army special operations units with the US Air Force tactical control parties. INSET: Japan Sends Aid to Pakistan.

Reports the claims of Russian surface-to-air missile designers regarding improvement of antistealth skills. Identification of state-of-the-art manufacturers of surface-to-air missiles; Factors limiting the full development of air defense systems; Lists of antiaircraft weapons.

Reports on the advances in the design of stealth engines. Improvement of classified low-observable propulsion technology for Joint Strike Fighter; Employment of technology and tactics.

Focuses on the modernization plan of the Israeli Air Force. Perceived threat from Iran and Iraq; Enhancement of the ability of the air force to strike the launch sites of a generation of Iranian and Iraqi ballistic missiles; Arrow missile program; Establishment of an all-weather space reconnaissance and surveillance capability.

Focuses on the capability of the US Air Force's EC-130 Compass Call aircraft to jam the communications of the opposing military force. Demonstration of the Compass Call combat capability during the Green Flag electronic warfare exercise in 1999; Other aircraft complementing the Compass Call; Details of the jamming procedure.

Focuses on the Pentagon's development of intelligence technologies with the ability to quickly collect, analyze and identify non-photographic clues from an enemy's military targets. Handling of the development project by the Central Measurement and Signature Intelligence Organization (CM); Data collection by sensors on aircraft, ships, satellites and the ground.

Reports on the third phase of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) air campaign that calls for the destruction of the Yugoslav military in Kosovo. Aircraft as primarily ground attack, air defense suppression and air refuelers; Use of the tactic of `tank plinking' by the United States Air Force; Use of near-precision, all-weather satellite-aided weapons.

Discusses the factors that have complicated North Atlantic Treaty Organization's air strikes against targets in Kosovo, Serbia. Bad weather; Decline in the numbers of precision weapons; Strict orders to avoid civilian casualties.

Reports on the redesign efforts of Boeing Co. on its Joint Strike Fighter plane. Changes and improvements on the design; Elements of the redesigned plane; Function and feature of the fighter plane.

Focuses on the Royal Air Force (RAF) Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). Flight tests and training at Alaska's Cope Thunder exercise range; RAF enthusiasm about training in the Alaska ranges; United States and Great Britain's participation in the Cooperative Cope Thunder 1998; Details on the performance of the AWACS in training maneuvers; The author's experience during training exercises.

Informs that the Clinton Administration's defense budget further reduces spending on weapons. Breaking of the White House pledge to begin increases in procurement in the Fiscal 1997 spending request; Decision to cut procurement to a new low of $38.9 billion; Questions that the budget cuts raise including credibility of the administration's goal of fighting two simultaneous major regional conflicts (MRC).

Interviews United States Air Force brigadier general Buster Glosson on the air campaigns during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Background information; Misinterpretations; Human intelligence; Decisions made.

Features US built long endurance unmanned spy planes (UAV) programs. Popularity of the spy planes in European and Middle Eastern nations; Interest of Israel and NATO allies in the UAVs; Names of some of the UAVs. INSET: UAV force concept..

Discusses confirmed and unconfirmed reports regarding the black aviation program of the United States Armed Forces. Types, description and number of stealth aircraft projects; Fixed-wing projects; Helicopter projects; Introduction of standoff jamming; Rotor hub configurations.

Reports on the elimination of Northrop Grumman's Pampa 2000 from competition for the US Air Force/Navy's new primary trainer on the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program due to technical deficiencies related to spin recovery. Spins as a standard part of JPATS flight evaluation; Jet-powered S211A and Super Tucano 2 turboprop as candidates in the race.

Features the joint stand off weapon (JSOW) as developed by the United States Air Force/Navy. Description of the JSOW; Operational concept of the JSOW; Fit-testing of aircraft with JSOW; Data on JSOW tests; Operation of JSOW with standard data launchers; Risks involved in foreign participation on military projects.

Says that the three main influences on the missile industry through the early 21st century will be easily obtainable tactical ballistic missiles, dense, lethal air defenses and shrinking defense spending. Decrease in both the quantity and variety of missiles manufactured; Entry of Syria into missile manufacturing business; Possible use of relatively inexpensive missiles to blackmail neighboring countries; Emerging market for defensive missiles.

The article discusses the possibility that the U.S. will use a kinetic bombing attack to destroy nuclear and missile facilities in Iran in 2013. The article looks at topics including politics in the U.S. and Israel, the possible use of Lockheed Martin F-22 jets, joint air-to-surface standoff missiles (Jassms), and B-2 bombers, and cyberattacks.

The article discusses the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) electronic warfare program, looking at the Navy's decision to choose a single contractor for technology development to reduce costs. The use of aircraft with electronic warfare capabilities in conflicts in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq is discussed. Other topics include the use of the NGJ on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the EA-18G Growler aircraft, and work with the aerospace company BAE Systems.

The article reports on fighter planes, as of November 2011, in the context of a U.S. defense budget crisis. Variants of the Boeing F/A-18 are described, such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet which features a stealthy weapons bay and can be used in conjunction with the EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. The question of whether it could serve as a less expensive alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is addressed.

The article discusses the buildup of the Chinese military, foreign relations between the U.S. and China, and U.S. surveillance of Chinese technology development. U.S. government and military officials including Gary North, Letitia Long, and Bruce Carlson examine Chinese relations with North Korea and Africa, concerns about Chinese nuclear and ballistic capabilities, and the use of the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft for military surveillance.

The article discusses the Heterogeneous Airborne Reconnaissance Team (HART) system, a U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) network which would use existing unmanned aerial system (UAS) to monitor areas in the Pacific Rim. Scott Winship of the aerospace company Northrop Grumman and Letitia Long of the U.S. National Geo-spatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) look at the analysis of signals intelligence (sigint), infrared (IR) and electro-optical (EO) images, and other data.

The article discusses the influence of Chinese military forces on the development of U.S. military technology and tactics. Herbert Carlisle of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) discusses intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) forces, long-range strike (LRS) systems, and integrated electronic attack (EA) capabilities. Jim Hvizd of the aerospace company Raytheon discusses active, electronically scanned array (AESA) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology.