Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche

Basic Information:

Series Designation: Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche
Classification Type: Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter
Contractor: Boeing / Sikorsky - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Year of Service: 2004
Crew / Accommodations: 2

Armament:

Available Hardpoints: 4 (2 x internal bays; 2 x optional wing stubs)
Available Armament/ Munitions:
1 x 20mm Cannon

6 x Hellfire anti-tank missiles (held in two internal bays)
6 x Stinger air-to-air missiles (held in two internal bays)
4 x Hellfire anti-tank missiles (on optional external wing stubs)
8 x Stinger air-to-air missiles (on optional external wing stubs)

Performance:

Powerplant: 2 x LHTEC T800-LHT-801 turboshafts generating 1,563 shp each and driving a five blade main rotor with an eight blade fan-in-fin shrouded tail rotor.

Maximum Speed: 201 miles per hour | 324 kilometers per hour | 175 knots
Maximum Range: 1,382 miles (2,224 km)
Service Ceiling: 0 feet | 0 meters | 0.0 miles
Initial Rate of Climb: 895 ft/min (272.8 m/min)

Dimensions:

Length: 43.31 feet (13.20 meters)
Wingspan/Width: 0.00 feet (0.00 meters)
Height: 11.06 feet (3.37 meters)
Empty Weight: 20,503 pounds (9,300 kilograms)
MTOW: 12,359 pounds (5,606 kilograms)

Production Notes and History:

The RAH-66 Comanche helicopter was to be the next generation answer for the United States Army in replacing its aging series of UH-1, AH-1 Cobra, OH-6 and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters in full. The RAH-66 was designed as the world's first stealth helicopter and was classified as a light attack. The system was to operate fully-powered internal bays housing anti-armor and anti-air missiles and was to promote the use of stealth materials to further conceal it against enemy radar. Had it been produced, the RAH-66 would have been the world's most advanced combat helicopter in service with any army in any nation.

Developed from the LHX (Light Helicopter Experimental) program of the early 1980's, the design proposal produced by a Boeing/Sikorsky venture won out over Bell/McDonnell Douglas. First flights by prototype 1 were carried out in 1996 while the second prototype flew later that decade. The sharp lines were reminiscent of the design taken to the F-117 nighthawk stealth fighter and featured sharp angles and a low radar cross section.

The RAH-66 featured a large 5-blade composite main rotor system and a smaller tail rotor housed in a protective covering, similar to the French-based Gazelle systems. Internal weapons bays were intended from the beginning as was a retractable powered undercarriage. Optional stub wings allowed the system more flexibility in armament provision at the cost of a larger radar signature. Standard armament was a powered 20mm three barrel General Electric cannon in a Giat turret system. The pilot and copilot/gunner sat in a tandem-seat cockpit with good visibility.

Flight and control systems aboard the RAH-66 were of the state-of-the-art variety with helmet-mounted controls, sidestick cyclic controls, 3D map displays, fly-by-wire with a triple redundancy feature, FLIR and laser designation and the power Apache Longbow-based millimeter wave radar to boot.

On the hypothetical battlefield, the RAH-66 system would have supported battlefield combat by taking out enemy armor and aircraft at range. With the tracking power of the mighty Longbow and the nimbleness of the smaller systems like the OH-58 Kiowa, the RAH-66 helicopter would have been a welcomed addition to the modern and wireless battlefield. The RAH-66 Comanche never came to fruition, however, as the entire project was officially cancelled by the United States Army in the Spring of 2004 mostly due to budgetary cutbacks.

M82A1 Anti-Tank / Anti-Material Sniper Rifle

50 Caliber Weapons are now widely accepted by the armed forces as one of their heavy sniping systems used to target tanks and other equipments like an aircraft engine hundred yards away. This M82A1 sniper rifle, manufactured by FMC-USA, is one of the most popular of them to have ever graced in the battlefield in modern warfare. This weapon has been proven to be very effective against long range high priority targets which requires high precision and greater lethal impact.

Basic Information:

Designation: M82A1
Type: Anti-Tank / Anti-Material Rifle
Manufacturer: Firearms Manufacturing Company - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Operation: Bolt Mechanism
Caliber: 50 Browning
Service Year: 1983

Dimensions:

Overall Length: 57 in (1,448 mm)
Weight (Empty): 28.4 lbs (12.90 kg)
Weight (Loaded): 32.6 lbs (14.8 kg)

Performance:

Rate of Fire, Cyclic: Not Available
Magazine: 10-Round Detachable Box
Maximum Range: 6,000 ft (1,828.8 m)

Lockheed Martin / Boeing F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter

Basic Information:

Series Designation: Lockheed Martin / Boeing F-22 Raptor Classification Type: Air Dominance Fighter Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corporation / The Boeing Company - USA Country of Origin: United States Initial Year of Service: 2005 Crew / Accommodations: 1

Armament:

Available Hardpoints: 4 External and 8 Internal Hardpoints Available Armament/ Munitions: 1 x 20mm Cannon 4 x AIM-9 Sidewinders (side weapon bays) 4 x AIM-120A Amraams (internal ventral bay) 6 x AIM-120Cs (internal ventral bay) 6 x GBU-32 JDAM PGMs (internal ventral bay) 8 x GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (250lbs ea) 4 x underwing hardpoints with a maximum of 5,000lbs (2,270kg) of mission-specific weaponry or fuel droptanks.

Performance:

Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofans generating 35,000lbs of thrust each. Maximum Speed: 1,600 mph - Mach 2.42 (2,574 km/h) Maximum Range: 2,000 miles (3,218 km) Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m) Initial Rate of Climb: Not Available

Dimensions:

Length: 62 .1 ft (18.92 m) Wingspan/Width: 44.49 ft (13.56 m) Height: 16.47 ft (5.02 m) Empty Weight: 32,000 lbs (14,514 kg) MTOW: 55,000 lbs (24,947.58 kg)


Production Notes:

The F-22 Raptor series of aircraft reportedly represents the most advanced aircraft design in the world to date. The system utilizes technology, design and experience to field a system that is designed to be the most potent flying machine ever devised and is part of the new group of "next generation" aircraft currently being fielded by various nations.

The F-22 series is the product of a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin for the next frontline United States Air Force fighter. The platform went head-to-head with the Northrop offering of the equally-unique YF-23 Black Widow II air superiority fighter. The YF-22, and its corresponding newly-designed turbofan engines, were selected for further development and ultimate production.

The F-22 series features a host of advanced technologies incorporated both outside and in the fuselage and cockpit. The advanced F119-100 turbofans allow the aircraft to operate at supersonic speeds without the need for afterburning (or "reheat"), which is basically extra fuel pumped into the exhaust to produce more power and, in effect, more thrust. This optimal flight capability is now termed as "supercruise" and represents the next evolution in powerplant design.

Mk 6 Swimmer Defense Dolphins

Under the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP), the military trains mostly bottlenosed dolphins to perform tasks such as harbor and ship protection, mine detection and clearance and equipment recovery. The program is based in San Diego, California where animal teams are conducting training activities to various animal for sea warfare.

These trained animals are currently deployed in the US anti-terrorism war efforts in the Persian Gulf where dolphins are patrolling the seas protecting piers, harbors, navy ships and other vital equipments.

HSV 2 Swift

Incat constructed another 98 meter craft, hull 061, for US military operations. Military Sealift Command, Washington, DC leased the craft from Bollinger/Incat USA to support US Navy Mine Warfare Command.

HSV 2 Swift, a high-speed catamaran, was chartered by MSC to serve as an interim replacement for the mine warfare command and control ship, USS Inchon. Capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots, Swift will operate as a test platform to fine-tune high-speed vessel technology and tactics. As a bare-boat charter, Swift will use U.S. Navy crews who will transport and launch a variety of small craft and equipment from the vessel in order to explore possibilities in the mine warfare mission.

Concurrently, Swift will be used as a demonstration platform for a series of experiments, exercises and training events for the Naval Warfare Development Center and the U.S. Marine Corps.

On 03 January 2005 the High Speed Vessel Two (HSV-2) “Swift” left its homeport of Naval Station Ingleside, Texas to support Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian operation effort in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia. Swift responded on short notice to meet the needs of the humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

The Ultralightweight Field Howitzer (UFH), designated M777A1 in the USA, was selected in 1997 by a joint US Army / Marine Corps initiative to replace the existing inventory of M198 155mm towed howitzers. The first of five EMD systems was delivered in June 2000. The US Marine Corps is to procure 380 systems and the US Army 273 systems. A Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for 94 systems was awarded in November 2002.

Operational testing with the USMC, during which nearly 12,000 artillery rounds were fired by four production systems, was completed in December 2004. A contract for full-rate production of 495 systems was awarded to BAE Systems in April 2005. In May 2005, the USMC began fielding the M777 with the 11th Marines unit at Twentynine Palms in California.

The first 18 systems were delivered to the US Army's 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery in Hawaii in October 2006.

The M777 will be the artillery system for the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT). The systems will be fitted with the digital fire control system in 2007 to achieve the designation M777A1.

In December 2005, the first four of six M777 systems were supplied by the USMC to the Canadian Army, under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract. The systems were deployed to Afghanistan in February 2006.

BAE Systems has developed a mobile version, the M777 Portee, which is mounted on a purpose-built 8x6 Supacat vehicle. The system is to be offered for the UK Army Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System - Gun, LIMAWS(G), requirement. The vehicle was first shown at Eurosatory in June 2006.

Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) is a light weight weapon capable of firing kinetic energy projectiles and an air-bursting fragmentation munition. It allows soldiers to effectively attack targets at greater ranges. OICW provides enhanced capability for the 21st century infantry soldier which offers higher percentage of lethality and soldier's survivability. Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), otherwise known as the Selectable Assault Battle Rifle (SABR), is a modular weapon system, consisting of the Fire Control System (FCS); a "kinetic energy" component comprised of a short 5.56mm rifle barrel and trigger group from the Heckler & Koch 036 assault rifle; and the grenade launcher consisting of a magazine-fed, semiautomatic 2Omm grenade launcher barrel and an action and recoil absorption mechanism. This incredible weapon has a great potential to replace the older kinds of assault rifles such as M16, M203 Grenade Launcher, and M14 that are currently used by the US Military.

Key Program Capabilities

• 500 percent increase in probability of incapacitation
• New soldier capability to defeat targets in defilade
• Effective range to 1,000 meters
• Day/night fire control; wireless weapon interface
• Substantial weight reduction
• Ergonomic design

System Features

• Lethality Capability: 20MM High Explosive (Air Bursting) projectiles and 5.56MM Kinetic Energy projectiles
• Weapon Length: <>
• Weapon Weight: <>
• Rates of Fire: 20MM - 10 RPM, 5.56MM - equal to M16A2
• Range: 20MM - 1,000 meters, 5.56MM equal to or better than M16A2.
• Combination 5.56mm and 20mm HE
• Single trigger control for both barrels
• Ambidextrous weapon and switches
• Simple red dot day/night sighting system
• Laser adjustment for targets in buildings and in defilade
• Unique recoil mitigation and tactical operational awareness

McDonnell Douglas / Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle Air-to-ground Attack Aircraft

The F-15E "Strike Eagle" expands the role of one of the Cold War's most potent aircraft designs - the F-15 Eagle. Strike Eagle capabilities were introduced in the latter 1980's to provide the F-15 Eagle base aircraft the ability to dedicate services in the air-to-ground strike aircraft role. Since then, the F-15E Strike Eagle has been fielded in a variety of major conflicts, continuing the high sortie success rate found in the original series.

The F-15E Strike Eagle incorporated the latest in air-to-ground capabilities while still retaining the dogfighting prowess of its base predecessor. The addition of a second crew member allows the pilot to concentrate more on the action at hand and makes the F-15E that much easier to operate. Increased payloads and combat radius have all played a role in the development making the "E" model one of the greatest additions to the USAF inventory. Powerful Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines can catapult the F-15 into the Mach 2+ range and in-flight refueling can increase her potentiality even further.

With the arrival of a dual role F-22 Raptor, the F-15 Eagle might be seeing her last decade in service to the USAF, but until then, the system will continue to be used in opening salvos when called upon.

Lockheed F-35 Lightning II / F-35 JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) Advanced Multi-Role Fighter / Technology Demonstrator

The F-35 Lightning II is being developed as a replacement for a number of aging aircraft including the A-10 Thunderbolt, F-111 Aardvark, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and
the Harrier. It will see action with planes like the F/A-18 Super Hornet, EFA 2000 Eurofighter and F/A-22 Raptor.

The F-35 is being produced in three models: A conventional land-based version for the USAF designated the F-35A, a STOVL (short take-off vertical landing) version for the USMC, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy designated the F-35B, and a carrier-based version for the U. S. Navy designated the F-35C.

Both Lockheed-Martin and Boeing produced prototypes with the final contract going to the superior aircraft.

Lockheed-Martin's version was the winner of the contract primarily because they produced an aircraft that was superior in STOVL performance.

Their aircraft incorporated a LiftFan as opposed to Boeing's direct lift system, similar to that on a Harrrier. The combination of thrust vectoring and the LiftFan produced more vertical thrust than the Boeing aircraft, improving maneuverability. Another benefit was lowering of the amount of heat beneath the aircraft during vertical landings, a great benefit on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

From the start, the F-35 JSF has been an international program. The international partners consist of the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia.

Features and Innovations:

The F-35 Lightning II features an all weather weapons system capable of detecting and defeating enemy air- craft at BVR, close range, down low in ground clutter, or high above, at high speeds or slow. All targets will be acquired, locked-on and the threats eliminated.

The F-35A for the USAF meets or exceeds F-16 performance levels. It features stealth, increased range on internal fuel, and the latest avionics.

Because it is stealthy, it has first-look, first-shot capability. It also has an internal laser designator and infrared sensors.

The USMC U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy F-35B has short take off vertical landing (STOVL) capability that uses a shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system.

The STOVL model shares all the electronic gear of the USAF model, except for a lever to level flight and STVOL and flight.

The STOVL model, that will replace the AV-8B Harrier, can fly at supersonic speeds, has double the range on internal fuel, an has internal weapons

The F-35C has larger wing span, wing and tail control surfaces for better low-speed handling during carrier landings. It has a strengthened internal structure to handle the loads of catapult launches and carrier landings.

The F-35 will be the Navy's first stealth aircraft. Range and payload are superior to other strike fighters. Other features are common with the other F-35 models.

The F-35 Lightning II engineers all weapons systems in a single program, rather than having separate systems for different users. It is designed with an open systems architecture so changes and improvements may be incorporated more easily, keeping costs down.

An Integrated Management Framework (IMF) collaborative product computing software management system en- ables F-35 Lightning II associates to review the status of every system anywhere in the world by the Internet.

Over 80 percent of all parts are the same on all models of the F-35.

Critical software is common to all three models.

The F-35 Lightning II should cost between 40 and 50 percent less to operate and support than prior comparable aircraft, according to recent statistics.

Flight Testing:

Flight testing commenced on October 24, 2000, and concluded on August 6, 2001.

All requirements and objectives were either achieved or exceeded.

The X-35A, X-35B and X-35C all broke flight test records.

The X-35A flew the most flights (27), had the most flight hours (27.4), the most pilots checked out (6), the least canceled flights (2) and the highest flight rate (6.3 flights/ week) in its first 30 days of tests.

The X-35C is the first X-plane to complete a coast to coast flight. The flight originated at Edwards AFB, CA and the X-35C landed at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD.

Type 80 Main Battle Tank (China)

The NORINCO Type 80 is based on the Type 69 main battle tank albeit with an entirely new hull design making the Type 80 an entirely new breed of tank in the series. As no automatic loading system is present in the turret, a crew of four is needed to operate the tank - driver, loader, commander and gunner.

The system is fielded with a smaller caliber 105mm primed to fire most standard ammunition types. An anti-aircraft heavy machine gun is mounted on the turret whilst a smaller caliber type is fitted in a coaxial mount. Smoke grenades are standard, as is a laser rangefinder fitted to assist in gunnery. A further development of the Type 80 exists in the form of the Type 85-II, detailed elsewhere on this site.

Like most tanks in the field today, additional equipment can increase armor protection for the crew and allow for deep fording through use of a snorkel. The chassis has also been utilized in a few other limited production / developmental models

Metal Storm - Electronically intiated stacked projectile weapons technology

Metal Storm, an outstanding development in weapons technology which gives the western world a capability never seen before in the battlefield. With the goal to remove the moving parts of a traditional gun, the idea of stack projectiles was created as a concept to achieve a highly sophisticated array of weapons that can theoretically deliver up to one million rounds per minute.

An all electronic firing control mechanism that can include fingerprint user identification, this weapon is highly versatile which can adapt different rounds for different situations. With 180 rounds fired in less than a hundredth of a second, the sound can only be perceived as one enormous noise. Metal Storm has a wide variety of selection of weapons, from area denial systems to missile defense to assault rifles which soldiers and the military can use in different situations. As the breakthrough technology, developed by Metal Storm Limited in Australia, gained much attention in the US Military speculations have raised that these kinds of modern weaponry will be available in the field as US continues to battle in its war on terrorism.

Objective Crew Served Weapon (OCSW)

This incredible and integrated machine gun is an ultra light, two man portable, crew served weapon system incorporated with a state-of-the-art electronics, advance materials, small arms technology. The system includes a 25mm cannon capable of firing airbust and armor piercing ammunitions and a .50 Cal Variant(XM312).

This amazing weapon can fire up to 260 25mm per minute in either automatic or semi automatic mode. With its light weight, the crew can easily mount the weapon in few minutes and can be very effective to suppress soldiers, light skinned armored vehicles water craft, and slow-moving aircraft beyond 1000 meters up to 2000 meters away.

Electronic Spy Fly

ELECTRONIC SPY FLY - SMALL MACHINE FLY that can literally fly and look like a bug, yet lets the controller know what is happening.

As U.S. Military pouring considerable amount of money into MAV (micro air vehicle) projects, it's likely that these robotic bugs will be used as spy flies. DARPA envisions this can be used by soldiers in their reconnaissance missions as they can be remotely controlled from the ground. This spy flies would not only relay images of troop movements, guidance to enemy targets, but it could also be used to detect weapons of mass destruction may it be biological, chemical or nuclear.

In the recent development, scientists from Harvard successfully invented a robotic fly which can be used in reconnaissance missions, search missions, and in many other military intelligence gathering activities . The researchers, headed by Professor Robert Wood, took seven years to complete the development with the backing of US Military.