warship

F-15e strike eagle aircraft pictures

2009-11-03T01:02:00.000-08:00

From top to bottom,armament AIM-120 AMRAAM, a SUU-20 rack with six BDU-76 training rounds (small blue bomblets) and an ACMI pod; the two LANTIRN pods and finally AIM-9 Sidewinder, another SUU-20 (empty) and another AIM-120 AMRAAM. All the CFTs stations and the centreline are empty

U.S. Air Force - 4th Fighter Wing - Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle

F-15e armament
F-15 weapon system will provide world-class performance and capability while improving reliability
The Eagle can be armed with combinations of four different air-to-air weapons: AIM-7F/M Sparrow missiles or AIM-120 AMRAAM advanced medium range air-to-air missiles on its lower fuselage corners, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder or AIM-120 missiles on two pylons under the wings, and an internal M61A1 20 mm Gatling gun in the right wing root

Navy Harpoon anti-ship missiles

2009-11-01T00:52:00.000-07:00

ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 29, 2009) A Harpoon missile is launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) during the sinking exercise portion of UNITAS Gold. This year marks the 50th iteration of UNITAS, a multinational exercise that provides opportunities for participating nations to increase their collective ability counter illicit maritime activities that threaten regional stability. Participating countries are Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, Peru, U.S. and Uruguay. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Patrick Grieco/Released)

Even as some Navy commanders quietly worry about the potential threat from foreign anti-ship missiles, fewer American warships have gone to sea in the past decade with anti-ship weapons of their own. But that might change.
The Harpoon is a subsonic active homing anti-ship sea-skimming missile. It provides a long-range attack capability against hostile surface targets.

POINTS:
The Harpoon missile has a range of 70 nautical miles at a speed of 0.9 Mach.
The Harpoon is an all weather "fire and forget" missile with it's own internal guidance that takes the missile all the way to the target.
The ship carries 8 harpoon missiles.
The missile is comparable to the French-made Exocet, the Swedish RBS-15, the Russian SS-N-25 Switchblade, the British Sea Eagle and the Chinese Yingji

The Harpoon anti-ship missiles has also been adapted for use on the F-16 fighter plane, in use by the USA, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. It has been carried by several US Navy aircraft, including the P-3 Orion , the A-6 Intruder, the S-3 Viking, the AV-8B Harrier II jet, and the F/A-18 Hornet.
AGM-84G Harpoon Air-to-surface missile for F-16
Wingspan 3 ft (0.91 m)
Operational
range 58–196 mi (93–315 km) depending on launch platform
Flight altitude Sea-skimming
Speed 537 miles per hour (864 km/h)(240 m/s)
Guidance
system Active radar
Launch
platform multi-platform:
RGM-84A surface-launched
AGM-84A air-launched
UGM-84A submarine-launched

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Office of Naval Research issued a $10 million contract to defense giant Lockheed Martin on June 30 to begin work on a “Long Range Anti-Ship Missile.” If the project moves forward, the Navy could begin buying an advanced, high-speed missile that would ride in cruisers’ and destroyers’ Mk 41 Vertical Launch System tubes.

In a statement, DARPA spokeswoman Jan Walker said the goal was to develop a weapon that can think and hunt without much help from its firing ship.

Today, the only anti-ship missile in the surface fleet is the RGM-84 Harpoon, carried in X-shaped racks on the sterns of cruisers and early-model destroyers. The Navy withdrew the anti-ship versions of its BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles in 1995, converting them to the land-attack variant now in cruisers’ and destroyers’ VLS tubes.

Many of today’s newer destroyers have no Harpoon launchers and, as such, no anti-ship missiles. Instead, if the ship needed to sink an enemy ship at long range, it could launch a helicopter armed with Harpoons, AGM-119 Penguins or AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Attack jets also can carry anti-ship missiles.

U.S. commanders became wary of ship-launched anti-ship missiles in exercises in the 1980s, during which they missed or hit neutral ships about as often as they found their targets, naval weapons expert Norman Friedman said. The weapons suffered from the classic problem of needing good information about their targets.

Friedman said he was skeptical about the prospects for DARPA and ONR’s new missile. Although sensors have gotten better in the age of unmanned aerial vehicles and higher-tech satellites, the classic target-finding problem still remains, he said.

“There are constant efforts to make hypersonic missiles — you see claims about them — but they don’t seem to go anywhere.”

Who has Harpoons?
Newly built Navy surface combatants were outfitted with Harpoon anti-ship missiles until 1999, with the commissioning of the destroyer Porter, the last Flight II Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

Starting with the first Flight IIA ship, Oscar Austin, the Navy deleted that feature from new destroyers. So that ship through the as-yet-unnamed DDG 115 do not or will not carry Harpoon missiles.

All 22 cruisers carry Harpoons.

anti-ship missile upgrades ANZAC frigates

2009-11-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

The Australian government has signed a 260 million-dollar (200 million US dollars) contract for the first phase of a major upgrade to the anti-ship missile defenses in Navy's ANZAC class frigates.The first batch of the upgraded ANZAC frigates will be delivered to Navy in 2008, and the remaining ships will be upgraded over the period of 2009 to 2012, according to the statement. Enditem
Announcing the contract, Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said the ability to provide warships with protection against anti-ship missile attack was an essential element of Australia's maritime capability.
"The anti-ship missile defense upgrades will ensure the ANZAC frigates have improved defenses against modern anti-ship missiles," Hill said Tuesday in a statement.
"The contract is the first phase of the 500 million dollars (390 million US dollars) ANZAC Frigates Anti-Ship Missile Defense project announced in December 2003," he said.
Under the contract with The ANZAC Ship Alliance, which covers defense company Tenix and Saab Systems, the alliance will upgrade the ships' command and control system and install an infra-red search and track system which will provide improved detection and indication of low level aircraft and anti-ship missiles when closeto land.
The work will also complete the core platform design changes and studies.

frigate INS tabar repulses Somalia pirate attack

2009-11-01T00:20:00.000-07:00

“INS Tabar encountered a pirate vessel in south west of Oman with two speedboats in tow. This vessel was similar in description to the 'mother vessel' mentioned in various piracy bulletins. INS Tabar closed in on the vessel and asked her to stop for investigation,” Indian Navy spokesperson Neerad Sinha said.
An Indian Navy ship successfully repulsed a pirate attack and fired at their 'mother vessel' in the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, an official said on Wednesday, even as the world's largest supertanker Sirius Star remained hijacked by Somali sea bandits.
INS Tabar (F44) (translated as battle axe) is the third of the Talwar-class frigates of the Indian Navy. The frigate was commissioned on 19 April 2004 in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tabar is the first vessel in the Talwar class to be armed with supersonic BrahMos (PJ-10) anti-ship cruise missiles. She is also equipped with Barak missiles.
The stealth frigate INS Tabar, which is currently in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy Surveillance and Patrol Operations, was fired at by pirates on board a ship suspected to be the 'mother vessel' late on Tuesday.

Another ship hijacked off Somalia

Following repeated calls, the vessel threatened to blow up the INS Tabar if it closed in. “Pirates were seen roaming on the upper deck of the vessel with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers. The vessel continued threatening calls and subsequently fired upon INS Tabar.

“On being fired upon, INS Tabar retaliated in self defence and opened fire on the mother vessel. As a result, fire broke out on the pirate vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel,” Sinha said.

Amidst all the action, two speedboats broke off to escape. “INS Tabar chased the first boat which was later found abandoned. The other boat made good its escape into darkness,” Sinha added.

The INS Tabar had last week in a daring rescue mission foiled an attempt by pirates to hijack two ships - one Indian and a Saudi Arabian merchant vessel.

An Indian Naval helicopter with marine commandoes had reached the spot immediately after receiving an SOS. The rescuers noticed at least four or five high-speed attack boats with around five-armed pirates each who were attempting to capture the Indian ship and the Saudi vessel.

INS Tabar has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since Nov 2. During this period, she has successfully escorted approximately 35 ships, including a number of foreign flagged vessels, safely during their transit through pirate-infested waters of the Gulf of Aden.

Sirius Star, which was sailing under a Liberian flag, had been seized Saturday by Somali pirates. It is 330 metres long and can carry up to two million barrels of oil.

The latest incident comes a few days after the Japanese merchant vessel Mt Stolt Valor was released Sunday. It had been hijacked by Somalian pirates Sep 15 and had 22 crewmembers on board including 18 Indians.

military helicopters in Iraq

2009-11-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

The loss of five military helicopters in Iraq from insurgent fire hasn’t stopped the Air Force from flying its helicopter and airplane missions there, the commander of Central Air Forces, Lt. Gen. Gary North, said during a Feb. 16 press conference.

“We still fly helicopters. We still do our mission,” North told reporters.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force flies HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters for search-and-rescue missions and the larger MH-53 Pave Lows for special operations taskings. Both helicopters are equipped with missile-detection systems that automatically dispense flares and activate other countermeasures.

The Air Force steadily works with the Army and Marine Corps to evaluate tactics and flight procedures and decide what changes need to be made, North said.

As of mid-February, the Air Force hadn’t lost any helicopters in Iraq or Afghanistan in 2007. In earlier years, the service lost two Pave Lows in Iraq and two Pave Lows and Pave Hawks each in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan crashes were announced to be accidents while the causes of the two crashes in Iraq were not disclosed.

The Army has lost 29 helicopters to enemy fire in Iraq since March 2003, an Army official said. The majority of the attacks involved machine-gun and heavy-machine-gun fire, categorized as up to 23 mm. Some surface-to-air missiles, such as SA-7s, SA-14s and SA-16s, were used.

In the past four weeks, two Army UH-60 Black Hawks and two AH-64 Apaches have been shot down, killing 16 soldiers; a Marine CH-46 Sea Knight went down outside Baghdad on Feb. 7, killing all seven Marines onboard; and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed Sunday in Afghanistan, killing eight service members, including airman Scott Duffman, and wounding 14

SU-37 berkut vs F-22 raptor

2009-10-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

The Russian seem to think their SU37 is the superior aircraft to the F22A Raptor, the only way to prove this one way or the other is to see which one survives in aeriel combat.
The f-22 is a 5th generation fighter, the SU-37 is 4.5 generation. They're not really comparable, the f-22 is the most advanced fighter in production right now.

My gut feeling is it will be the F22A over the SU37, The F-22 is the best air superiorty fighter flying today. The Russians make good aircraft, many of them better then our own. Where we win is in the computers and components inside the aircraft. The SU-37 could probably outfly a F-22. If it could find it before the F-22 shot it down. Both the f-22 and the f-35 incorporate stealth features and supercruise. the su-37 is an updated su-27 flanker, a fighter from the f-15/f-16/f-18 generation. the f-22 is superior in almost every aspect to the su-37. the f-35 is designed as a lower cost alternative to the f-22. it is also slated to replace the f-18 hornet and super hornets. youre basically comparing 2 different generations of air superiority fighters. and the su-37 is a generation behind. the su-37 does not have the same stealth, supercruise or beyond visual range interception capibilities. its like comparing an f-4 phantom to a f-15 eagle. its not even close!

Since the SU-37 wasn't stealth, the F-22 would probably defeat it with an AMRAAM missile shot. In an actual dogfight, I think they would have been comparable.
The F-22 is technologically generations ahead of the Berkut. The Raptor has Stealth capability and better radar, longer range and superior avionics. There is a reason Raptors cost so much more: Quality does not come cheap

As far as the performance characteristics of the aircraft both are excellent aircraft. The F22 would have the edge of stealth and maybe just slightly better handling. But in the end you really need to look at who is in the pilots seat.only 50% chances of victory depend on the aircraft itself.
the rest depends on the pilot,the climate,the location of the fight.
raptor might win but it can be closer than you suppose

Mig 29 vs F16 in a Dogfight

2009-10-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

There is a surprising amount of parity between the aircraft. They both have their pros and cons and, aside from the MiG-29 being a great deal sexier than the F-16, it is certainly interesting to compare the two.
While the F-16 inarguably has better electronics, the MiG-29 has frequently bested the Viper in exercises. Unfortunately the MiG-29 has little combat exposure, and what little it does have is not positive. Whether this can be contributed to superior opponents, inferior pilots, inferior electronics, is debatable.

Mig 29 was actually designed to be a frontline jet, able to operate from unpaved runways and with limited maintenance, on the other hand it suffers from short range.
the mig-29 was designed to replace the MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-15..

the new variants of the mig-29 such as MiG-29M2, MiG-29SMT and MiG-29UTB, incorporate a number of design changes. These include updated avionics, Western-style cockpit equipment, new, powerful radars and, most importantly, enlarged fuel capacity giving the aircraft considerably extended range
Speaking of air-ground armament, the F16 is generally more suuited for attacking the ground targets with guided weapons. most of the non-Soviet units did not use the guided AG ammunition, such as anti radiolocation missiles, or antishipping missiles like Kh 35 etc.MiG 29 has never been flown in actual combat by equally trained personell so far, so any comparisons about how many kills vs kills do not say anything. Let alone the numbers deployed through operations Desert storm or during the NATO offensive against Serbia.

F-16:
Huge power, usable, light-weight design with a ton of mulit-role capability. It is also relatively inexpensive. This fighter can fight it's way in, drop death all over the enemy, and fight it's way out, day or night. It's fast and can sustain some of the highest G loading in the inventory if necessary. It's most noticeable departure from the Hornet's capabilities is in its lower high-AOA performance, but it more than makes up for it in power. A single engine, however, is always seen as a reliability problem. The maneuverability and power of this jet really gives no ground for a MiG-29 to use in a fight. Also, it's a combat-tested design on the winning side of every battle it has fought. The Dos Gringos guys called it that everyone wishes they could fly the Viper at some point.

MiG-29:
It is a maneuverable and 4th generation fighter that is comparable on every level with the American fighters but falls short in weapons, flight controls, avionics, and range. It's power-to-weight ration is awesome and it can sustain G with the F-16. Yet, the type is actually floundering in the Russian fighter market while the bulk of funding and major purchases go to Sukoi. The only items worth mentioning as advantages are inclusion of the IRST and helmet mounted sight. However, the helmet sight is primitive, defeat-able, and the more-advanced US Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing System/AIM-9X is finding its way to more and more deployed Viper and Hornet units in the USAF/USN fleet which counter the threat. It is a great jet to operate from unimproved surfaces and is relatively inexpensive. In comparison with western fighters, the aircraft is poorly manufactured, the engines are somewhat unreliable and have short life spans, the fuel capacity/fuel burn is such a huge disadvantage that the jet can barely reach the fight let alone participate, the cockpit and navigation systems are crude and clunky, the engines are dirty and visible for miles, and the air-to-ground capabilities are so miniscule and primitive as to not even be considerable as an effective multi-role fighter. The MiG-29 is basically a MiG-21 on steroids when it comes to air-to-ground and the '29 pilot had best be attacking tents lest he go up against anything more substantial or defensive. UAVs are also a good target for the MiG-29. It might have looked overwhelming when it first showed up, but like every Russian fighter program, time (without adapting) has degraded it so much that it probably can't keep up much longer.

the Mockup dogfights of these two are reffered to be roughly equal or with a slight advantage of miG29 at short ranges / helmet mounted sights, envelope etc../
When the Germans inherited some MiG 29s with East Germany they found they were surprisingly effective, until they found out how fast they got through spare parts. But when both are working? I'd expect the lower wing loading and higher power to weight ratio of the MiG 29 would give it an advantage in a close in fight. Beyond visual range the F16 weapons and electronics are better but the MiG 29 carries more, so in the right hands it would probably have the advantage.

Fulcrum's pilot aircraft/weapons interface leaves lots to be desired. requires lots of time "head down" operating switches.
engines smoke waay too much. I was appalled the first time I saw them go.
range is horrible, typical of Russian engines.
Its great to watch what the mig-29 can do but its mainly eye candy. the performance of the f-16 is more than enough to take on other 4th gen fighters.

i read from Jane's than the mig-29 is lots more maintenance intensive than f-16s as well. engines are harder to get to, and many parts need frequent inspection and replacing. 29's engines require, if I remember correctly 150% more work per flight hour than the f-15 or something.

F-16: Mach 2, service ceiling: 50,000+ feet
MIG 29: Mach 2.3, service ceiling: 59,000+ feet

usaf f 16 pictures gallery

2009-10-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, day-time Visual Flight Rules (VFR) fighter.
While the F15 and F16 are no longer the final word in air dominance, they will remain among the worlds top fighters for years to come.

Their airframes are decades old, but the avionics and weapons systems are continually upgraded as new technologies become available. These systems are state of the art and will remain so as long as upgrades continue. The airframes too are still viable and are superior to 99% of existing combat planes. Very few air forces will be able to acquire better technology any time soon.
The F-16 (Fighting Falcon) has a maximum speed of 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at sea level). . Even though designed and built in the mid 70's (over 30 years) is is still considered the most maneuverable fighter in the sky, able to structurally pull 9G's without sustaining any damage. It has a ferry range of about 2000 miles, but more importantly it has the capability of flying fully loaded 500 miles, loiter there for a while, deliver it's weapons with pinpoint accuracy, and return. It is the cheapest fighter in our inventory by far also.
F-16 built by LockheedMultirole fighter
Contractor: Lockheed
Crew: F-16C: one
F-16D: one or two
Unit Cost: F-16A/B: $14.6 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
F-16C/D: $18.8 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
Powerplant
F-16C/D: one Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or one General Electric F110-GE-100/129
Dimensions
Length: 49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)
Wingspan: 32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Weights
Empty: 19,100 lb (8663 kg) -- F-16C
Maximum Takeoff: 37,500 pounds (16,875 kilograms)
Performance
Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)

AV-8B Harrier wallpapers

2009-09-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

AV-8B Harrier II Plus cockpit

The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a family of second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing or V/STOL ground-attack aircraft of the late 20th century. British Aerospace rejoined the project in the early 1980s, and it has been managed by Boeing/BAE Systems since the 1990s.

Developed from the earlier Hawker Siddeley Harriers, it is primarily used for light attack or multi-role tasks, typically operated from small aircraft carriers and large amphibious assault ships. Versions are used by several NATO countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and the United States.

The aircraft is known as the AV-8B Harrier II in United States Marine Corps service and the Harrier GR7/GR9 in British service. Though it shares the designation letter-number with the earlier AV-8A/C Harrier, the AV-8B Harrier II was extensively redesigned by McDonnell Douglas. The AV-8A was a previous-generation Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1A procured for the US Marine Corps. These models are commonly referred to as the "Harrier Jump Jet".

United States Army AH-64 attack helicopter

2009-09-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

AH-64s are scheduled to deploy in the early phase of most scenarios, especially when the U.S. forces may confront an armored or mechanized threat.

the AH-64 is the United States Army‘s most advanced attack helicopter and is armed with an array of firepower that includes a 30mm machine guns and the capability to carry up to 16 Hellfire anti-armor missiles or a combination of rockets and Hellfires. Under high demand for their versatility, precision, and lethality, the AH-64 is a tried and proven day and night tank killer with excellent tactical range, target standoff and loiter time. Its capabilities enhance, complement, and support air to ground platforms, that can carry a wide array of air-to-ground ordnance.

These missions include attacking tanks under trees or in partial hull defilade--meaning that only the turret, or a portion of the turret, can be acquired or engaged. Other missions include precision engagements of targets with high collateral damage potential, engaging mobile targets, and operating in weather conditions that would strain the capabilities of USAF air-to-ground platforms. When employed symbiotically within AEF strike packages, the AH-64‘s tactical advantages can be maximized and it vulnerabilities reduced. By integrating the AEF‘s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms into a package of deep strike interdiction aircraft and other air-to-ground weapons, such as the A- 10, the AH-64 can attack targets based on its unique capabilities.

There are many similarities between Air Force and Army Aviation tactics for conducting ground operations. For example, AH-64s best support Army ground combat forces by establishing the operational conditions that will either preclude a close fight or severely degrade an adversary‘s combat power prior to his closure with the friendly ground force. Much like USAF interdiction platforms, Apaches are best employed in an interdiction role, massed against enemy formations or other targets that facilitate enemy maneuver, when they are most vulnerable to attack in space and time. Apaches can perform a close air support role but optimally, Army Aviation planners should strive to employ them in ways that mitigate the need for last minute close air support missions.

area of operations December 1998 is one clear example. For Desert Fox and for the deployments and contingency plans that preceded it (such as Desert Thunder in January 1998), AH-64s were an important aspect of the plan. A CONUS based battalion was alerted and deployed to the theater prior to the execution of contingency operations to counter to any Iraqi reaction threatening Kuwait. Much like during Operation Desert Storm the Apache, and its 16 Hellfire anti-armor missiles would have proven highly lethal against enemy forces massed in the desert. Minimal combat ground forces were initially deployed for either Desert Thunder or Desert Fox. The intention was to use AH-64s for interdiction attacks, rather than close air support during ground combat operations. If ground operations had been necessary, the AH-64s would have been integrated into the ground tactical plan, but in the initial phase of the operation were allocated to support air operations.

us army helicopters pics

2009-09-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) "Stingers" is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters

US Army - Bell Helicopter AH-1S Cobra

PAKISTAN: ABBOTTABAD: Dec18 US soldiers attach relief supplies provided by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to a US Army Chinook helicopter at Abbottabad.

US Army - Hughes Helicopters OH-6A Cayuse - Loach - and US Army - Bell Helicopter UH-1D Iroquois

US Army - Bell Helicopter UH-1D Iroquois

MiG 29 intercepts Air France plane

2009-09-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

An Air France plane was intercepted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG 29 aircraft over Amritsar on Thursday morning as it crossed into Indian airspace.The Air France Airbus-343 had entered India above Amritsar,
IAF scrambled two
MiG-29 fighter jets to intercept an "unidentified aircraft'' after it entered Indian airspace from Pakistan on Thursday morning
IAF radars picked up the aircraft, flying at a flight level of 37,000 feet, as it entered Indian airspace on an established border entry point on the ATS route. The aircraft was not in communication and also the secondary radar response code or the Squawk code of the aircraft, was not correct. The aircraft was then identified as 'Unknown'.
Immediately, an IAF MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept and investigate the identity of the 'unknown' aircraft. It was only later that the aircraft started transmitting correct secondary radar response code and was picked up and identified by AD radar as civil airliner airbus a340 300 of Air France,which was on its from Paris to Bangkok.
The MiG-29 fighter aircraft was given instructions to break off and return to base. A formal report of the incident has been forwarded to Airports Authority Of India (AAI).

Flight Simulator x F-16 X Mission Pack

2009-09-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

Designed for our F-16 Fighting Falcon X (required) this Mission Pack makes full use of the possibilities to make FSX far more interactive then any version before. Fly 10 custom missions representing the typical workload of an F-16 pilot.
In 10 missions you will be asked to intercept other aircraft, refuel in flight, assist in a simulated attack and where needed to safe yourself when things go wrong. Made for the pilot who likes to be challenged, the F-16 Mission Pack makes a great aircraft even better!
All missions are introduced with a detailed missions briefing and will come with all the scenery and objects that are needed. Of course there is full audio so you will hear the controllers and pilots.
Features:
All 10 missions with sound effects and voice files
English voices and subtitles
Full details of the missions in the briefing files
Additional scenery to match the missions

http://itbux.com/games-download/7469-microsoft-flight-simulator-x-addon-aerosoft-f-16-fighting-falcon-mission-pack-addonia.html

mi 24 hind gunship wallpapers

2009-09-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

modernized Mi-24 with thermal sights, rotor elements from Mi-28 and double barrel cannon 23mm GSh-23

Mil Mi-24D "Hind D", Czech Air Force

Mi 24 carries more firepower then any other attack helicopter and in different variety as well, rockets, AT missiles, cannons, bombs etc etc. Also it's much more heavily armored/protected then any other western "gunship" helicopter. Especially from the frontal aspect is virtually impervious to 12.7mm or .50BMG and all critical areas are protected against 23mm AP rounds including rotors and two front windshields. No other "gunship" has titanium and ceramic armor in such platform.Mi 24 will continue to serve in Russian armed forces well into the future even when there will be other attack choppers in service. The design team that developed Hind created a chopper that is nearly perfect and they couldn't even imagined back then that it would become such a successful platform.

Mil Mi-24a

Hungarian Air Force Mil Mi-24E Hind helicopters

The Russians used the mi 24 Hind extensively in their invasion of Afghanistan until the U.S. started providing Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to the Afghani resistance fighters.Hind was designed for speed..... sleek, retractable lading gear, large wings to provide 20% lift, more powerful engines etc.
It was designed to strafe targets like WW2 airplanes did. Speed is somewhat essential for this task so is heavy armor. Unlike Apache that is best suited to fly at night and shoot at the targets far away, It's a flying Armored Personel Carrier/Gunship,Mi 24 is the fastest combat helicopter in the world with the maximum speed of 335 km/h, for a comparison AH 64D maxes out at 276 km/h
its fast, maneuverable, fairly heavily armoured, and can put down very heavy firepower if needed. the cabin can carry 8 soldiers
The Super Hind is produced by Ate Aerospace a South African company. It has only been sold to Algeria so far. It has a South African Vekor 20mm gun and Mokopa anti-tank missiles.

ssn Akula class submarine pics

2009-09-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Project 971 Shchuka-B, NATO reporting name "Akula" is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) first deployed by the Soviet Navy in 1986. The class is sometimes erroneously called the "Bars" class,
Displacing 12,000 tonnes, the Akula II class submarine is believed tobe quieter and deadlier than any other nuclear attack submarine in the Russian fleet

Specifications, Akula class, Project 971:
Designed by G.N. Chernyshev at Malakhit, some 110 meters long, the Akula is double-hulled with considerable distance between the outer and inner hulls to reduce the possible damage to the inner hull. The hull is constructed of low magnetic steel, and divided into eight compartments, and features a distinctive high aft fin.

Displacement (srf/sub tons): 7,500/9,100
Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 360'1*45'9*34'1
Propulsion: 1*190MWt OK-650B Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR), 1*OK-7 geared steam turbine 43,000hp, one shaft 7 bladed propeller
Speed (sub knots): 28+
Range (srf/sub miles@knots): not relevant
Diving depth (feet): 1,475 (450m)
Complement: 25-31 officers 26-31 enlisted
Missile: SLCM sub-launched cruise missiles, Reduga SS-N-21 Sampson/Granat (1,620 n/miles nuclear warhead 200kT)
SSM sub-launched anti-ship missiles, SS-N-15 Starfish/Tsakra (24 n/miles nuclear warhead 200kT), Novator SS-N-16 Stallion (54 n/miles nuclear warhead 200kT), SS-N-27 Alfa (97 n/miles conventional warhead 200kg)
Torpedo: 4*21" (533mm) bow torpedo tubes, 4*25.5" (650mm) bow torpedo tubes, Improved Akula and Akula II: additional 6*21" external bow torpedo tubes, total mixture of 40 missiles or torpedoes

Mi-35 helicopter gunship pics

2009-09-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Sylvester Stallone destroyed one of these in Rambo III

Afghan Air Corps
MI-35 attack helicopters from the Afghan Army Air Corps

Mil Mi-35 M

MI-35 starting its take off. From the Venezuelan army
Mil Mi-24D/35 Mi-35 Crocodile twin-engined combat helicopter Export Mi-24V is a large helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport

su 27 fighter jet pictures

2009-09-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter was developed to meet the F-15 on equal terms
At the 1989 Paris Air Show, Sukhoi Chief test Pilot Victor Pugachev cheekily unveiled "his" now famous "COBRA" manoeuvre, a dynamic deceleration achieved by pulling the aircraft's nose away from the direction of flight and momentarily reaching or exceeding an angle of attack of 90 degrees.This was a manoeuvre which could not be emulated by any Western fighter

Su-27 Sukhoi Flanker Front Line Fighter Aircraft

France Air Force - Dassault Mirage F1C-200 and Russian Air Force - Sukhoi Su-27S Flanker B - Сухой Су-27

Chinese Su-27 Flanker fighter

China is one of the main customers for Russian aircraft and today the Chinese Air Force has in service over 200 Su-27 Flanker and Su-30 Flanker-C jet fighters .

Su-27 cockpit

AH-64D Apache Longbow pictures

2009-09-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

british army Apache AH1 attack helicopter , The Apache Gunship has all the latest mods added to the fleet including the HIDAS defensive aids located on the nose either side of the sights - some aircraft are not fitted and I suspect that the fit is rotated around aircraft that are due to serve in Afghanistan. Quad Hellfire rails and CRV-7 rocket pods are pretty much standard.

A US Army (USA) AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter, armed with AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and 2.75-inch rocket pods hovers during flight test conducted at the Boeing/McDonnell Douglas facility, located near Mesa, Arizona (AZ). (USAF PHOTO

A U.S. Army AH-64D Longbow Apache, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell Ky., provides ground forces with air support from Forward Operating Base Speicher Iraq, Oct. 21, 2005, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo

Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Q-24 CN DN024 Netherlands Air Force 301 Squadron Gilze-Rijen
The
AH-64D Apache cockpit pictures
back office with a broadly similar set up to the front cockpit
gunner cockpit

MFD's and central display in the gunners/co-pilot front seat. The British Army crews it's Apaches very differently to the US Army, where it is usual practise to have aircrew qualified in specific positions and the pilot in the rear seat being the aircraft commander. AAC crews are cross trained to both seats as quickly as possible and operate on a equal footing

Much better looking than those daffy ones the Marines have retrofitted to their Whiskey Cobras

AH-64D Apache Longbow is an advanced all-weather anti-tank and ground support combat helicopter
The Apache AH64 comes equipped with four major weapons: M230E1 Chain Cannon, Hydra Rockets , Hellfire anti armor guided Missiles and 5-inch (127-mm) Zuni rocket

This picture of a Boeing AH-64D 'Saraf' was published in Combat Aircraft and used as the header photo for a feature on the 60th Anniversary of the Israeli Air Force.

ah 64 wiki

AH64 Specifications
Crew: 2: pilot, CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)
Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m)

Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)
Loaded weight: 17,650 lb (8,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 and later upgraded to T700-GE-701C (1990-present) & T700-GE-701D (AH-64D block III) turboshafts, -701: 1,690 shp, -701C: 1,890 shp, -701D: 2,000 shp (-701: 1,260 kW, -701C: 1,490 kW, -701D: 1,490 kW) each
Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
Rotor systems: 4 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor in non-orthogonal alignment
Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire.Performance

Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h)
Maximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h)
Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
Combat radius: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km)
Ferry range: 1,024 nmi (1,180 mi, 1,900 km)
Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
Disc loading: 9.80 lb/ft² (47.90 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (310 W/kg)
Armament

Guns: 1× 30x113 mm (1.18x4.45 in) M230 cannon, 1,200 rounds
Rockets: Hydra 70 FFAR rockets
Missiles: combination of AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, and AIM-9 Sidewinder

F4 Phantom fighter jet pictures gallery

2009-09-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

US NAVY PHANTOM

Royal Navy Phantoms

RAF Phantom FG.1

Seen at RAF Wattisham, this F-4J (UK) Phantom of 74 Sqd has now been painted in the correct shade of grey for the RAF. Armed to the teeth with Sidwinders, the F-4 was still a potent weapons system right upto its retirement from RAF service

f4 Phantom Cockpit.

upgraded F-4E 2020 Terminator ground attack bombers

US NAVY McDonnell Douglas A-4E Skyhawk VC-1 and Marines McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II VMFA-235

A Fighter Squadron 74 (VF-74) F-4J Phantom II aircraft lands aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CVA-66).

Japanese Phantom

USMC - McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II

On board the USS Midway Museum, an F-4 Phantom II in VF-51 circa 1974-5 colors.

Lieutenant Colonel Charles "Tuna" Hainline, an F-4 Phantom pilot from Holloman Air Force Base, and Lieutenant Colonel Michael "Dozer" Shower, an F-22A pilot from Langley Air Force Base, fly in echelon formation over the mountains of Tucson, Arizona during the final portion of the Air Combat Command Heritage Conference held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base March 5, 2006. This year's conference inaugurates nine years of flying old warbirds with modern day fighters to include the Air Force's newest stealth fighter. (U.S. Air Force Photo by TSgt Ben Bloker)

Originally developed for the US Navy, the Phantom proved to be superior to the Sir Force's F-106 and was adopted by that service as well. It was the top US fighter during the Vietnam War, and continued to serve as a fighter-bomber and wild weasel (air-defense suppression) into the 1990s

USS Wisconsin bb64 battleship pictures

2009-09-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

Battleship BB64 USS Wisconsin in late 1952 early 1953
The The Iowa-class battleship Wisconsin (BB-64) off NorfolkUSS WISCONSIN (BB-64) fires a round from one of the Mark 7 16-inch/50-caliber guns in its No. 3 turret during Operation Desert Storm. The ship's target is an Iraqi artillery battery in southern Kuwaiti. This was the first time Wiscosnin's guns had fired in anger since 1952, and would mark the start of her participation in the ground war during Operation Desert Storm

A bow view of the battleship USS WISCONSIN (BB 64) with its Mark 7 16-inch/50-caliber guns trained to port prior to a fire power demonstration in the Gulf of Mexico

USS Buck (DD-761), USS Wisconsin (BB-64) and USS Saint Paul (CA-73) Steaming in close formation during operations off the Korean coast

Battleship USS Wisconsin, in harbour at Norfolk, Virginia
permanantly tied up in Norfolk. It is worth the trip

Ship's Specifications
Length: 887’ 3"

Beam: 108’ 2"

Draft: 37’ 9"

Displacement: 58,000 tons fully loaded

Boilers: Eight 600-PSI Babock & Wilcox

Main Engines: Four geared Westinghouse turbines

Horsepower: 212,000 shaft horsepower (total all four shafts)

Propellers: Two Five-bladed 17’ 5" (inboard) Two four-bladed 18’ 3" (outboard)

Speed: In excess of 33 knots

Tank Capacity: 2.2 million gallons of fuel oil 37,000 gallons of aviation fuel 210,000 gallons of fresh water

Anchors: Two anchors, port and starboard bow, each weighing 30,000 pounds. Each anchor chain is 12 shots or 1,080 feet long and each link weighs about 120 pounds.

Armor: The main armor belt of the hull is 12.1" tapering vertically to 1.62". To protect the propellers and shafts aft, the armor is 12.1" thick.

Other armor thicknesses are:

Turret faces 17"
Turret tops 7.25"
Turret backs 12"
Turret sides 9.5"
Second deck armor 6"
Conning tower sides 17.5"

mh 53e sea dragon helicopter pictures

2009-09-11T10:09:00.001-07:00

US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon

An MH-53E Sea Dragon prepares to take off from aboard multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1)

Arabian Gulf (April 16, 2007) - An MH-53E Sea Dragon assigned to Helicopter Mine Counter Measure Squadron (HM) 15 conducts a mine sweeping exercise. HM 15, currently deployed to the Central Command area of responsibility, is homeported at Corpus Christi, Texas.

An MH-53E Sea Dragon assigned to the Blackhawks of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 prepares to land on the flight deck of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5)

From bottom to top:
MH-53E
RH-53D
RH-53D
From HM-12 Sea Dragons during the MH-53 OPEVAL process

Military Transport Helicopter The Sikorsky MH-53 Sea Dragon is a long-range minesweeping helicopter

A 58th Special Operations Wing, Special Operations Squadron, MH-53J Pave Low IIIE flies a training mission near Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The MH-53J's mission is to perform low-level, long-range, undetected penetration into denied areas, day or night, in adverse weather, for infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces. The MH-53J Pave Low III heavy-lift helicopter is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Air Force inventory, and the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world. Its terrain-following, terrain-avoidance radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, along with a projected map display, enable the crew to follow terrain contours and avoid obstacles, making low-level penetration possible

MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the Navy's need for long range mine sweeping or Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) missions, and perform heavy-lift duties for the Navy

Interiors of the MH-53 Sea Dragon

blackhawk helicopter pictures

2009-09-11T07:16:00.001-07:00

The cockpit of a UH-60 M Blackhawk helicopter

International superstar Jessica Simpson relaxes in front of an Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter at Camp Buehring, Kuwait on March 10, 2008. Ms. Simpson visited with troops on the flight line before performing at Operation MySpace, a concert in support of American forces overseas

A United States Army Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk lifts a jeep across the airfield during the Combined Arms Demonstration

Sikorsky UH-60L Blackhawk s/n 98-26805, 2-227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division

Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk - United States - US Army

Blackhawk in Mountains of Afghanistan

Three HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., depart from Hoedspruit Air Force Base, South Africa, after being delivered by a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxys two days prior. The helicopters and support personnel are headed to Beira, Mozambique, where they will be the only American helicopters based in the flood-ravaged region, and will provide humanitarian support and perform rescue operations

Sikorsky S-70A-42 Black Hawk

hh 60g pave hawk helicopter photos gallery

2009-09-11T04:12:00.001-07:00

HH-60 cockpit

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Capt. Tamar Hassan, an HH-60 Pave Hawk pilot, runs through his preflight checks on the aircraft prior to a training mission at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 20

Panning the Hindu Kush mountains Parwan, Afghanistan - April 2009

A 33rd Rescue Squadron HH-60G takes off from the USS Juneau during ship landing training in the Pacific.

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- An Air Force pararescueman drops from an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter

In flight air refueling between an HH-60g Pave Hawk

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91105 descend from a U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk

Pararescue men from the 48th Rescue Squadron climb up a rope ladder attached to a HH-60 Pave Hawk

The wiki Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program. The HH-60 is a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family

The HH-60G's primary wartime mission is combat search and rescue, infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces in day, night or marginal weather conditions.
The HH-60G is equipped with an all-weather radar which enables the crew to avoid inclement weather.
To extend their range, Pave Hawks are equipped with a retractable in-flight refueling probe and internal auxiliary fuel tanks. Pave Hawks are equipped with a rescue hoist with a 200-foot (60.7 meters) cable and 600-pound (270 kilograms) lift capacity.
All HH-60G's have an automatic flight control system to stabilize the aircraft in typical flight altitudes. They also have instrumentation and engine and rotor blade anti-ice systems for all-weather operation.
The non-retractable landing gear consists of two main landing gears and a tail wheel. Aft sliding doors on each side of the troop and cargo compartment allow rapid loading and unloading. External loads can be carried on an 8,000-pound (3,600 kilograms) capacity cargo hook.
Pave Hawks are equipped with folding rotor blades and a tail stabilator for shipboard operations and to ease air transportability. The Pave Hawk is equipped with two crew-served 7.62mm miniguns mounted in the cabin windows. Also, two .50 caliber machine guns can be mounted in the cabin doors. The Pave Hawk can be equipped with the external stores support system. The aircraft can also carry eight to 10 troops. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

ch 46 sea knight helicopter pictures

2009-09-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

An CH-46D Sea Knight from Helicopter Support Squadron Eleven (HC-11/Det 8) attached to USS Sacramento (AOE 1) transfers cargo during an underway replenishment

A CH-46 helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (HMM 263) lifts off from the flight deck of USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3), transporting equipment and Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit ashore to begin their mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedm

ch 46 helicopter interior

Ch-46, USMC, Marble Mountain LZ, Golf Company 21/, Vietnam 1970.

The amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2) prepares to launch a CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Super Stallion from it's flight deck

A Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (HMM-165) CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter prepares to land aboard the battleship USS WISCONSIN (BB-64).

CH-46F Improved version of CH-46D, electrical distribution, com/nav update BUNO 154845-157726. Last production model in the United States. 174 built.

Boeing CH-46E Sea Knight BuNo 153975, HMM-161 Greyhawks, USMC

Two CH-46E Phrogs approaching the landing zone during the MAGTAF Marine Air Ground Task Force demonstration at the Miramar Airshow 2007 Thunder over Miramar

The CH-46 Sea Knight was first procured in 1964 to meet the medium-lift requirements of the Marine Corps in Viet Nam

CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter in a Marine Medium Helicopter (HMM) squadron is to provide all-weather, day/night, assault transport of combat troops, supplies, and equipment during amphibious and subsequent operations ashore. Additional tasks are: combat and assault support for evacuation operations and other maritime special operations; over-water search and rescue ; support for mobile forward refueling and rearming points; aeromedical evacuation of casualties from the field to suitable medical facilities

Primary function: Medium lift assault helicopter
Manufacturer: Boeing Vertol Company
Power plant: (2) GE-T58-16 engines
Thrust:
Burst: 1870 shaft horsepower (SHP)
Continuous: 1770 SHP
Length:
Rotors unfolded: 84 feet, 4 inches (25.69 meters)
Rotors folded: 45 feet, 7.5 inches (13.89 meters)
Width:
Rotors unfolded: 51 feet (15.54 meters)
Rotors folded: 14 feet, 9 inches (4.49 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 8 inches (5.08 meters)
Maximum takeoff weight: 24,300 pounds (11,032 kilograms)
Range: 132 nautical miles (151.8 miles) for an assault mission
Speed: 145 knots (166.75 miles per hour)
Ceiling: 10,000 feet (+)
Crew:
Normal: 4 - pilot, copilot, crew chief, and 1st mechanic
Combat: 5 - pilot, copilot, crew chief, and 2 aerial gunners
Payload:
Combat: maximum of 14 troops with aerial gunners
Medical evacuation: 15 litters and 2 attendants
Cargo: maximum of 4,000 pound (2270 kilograms) external load

A129 mangusta helicopter pictures gallery

2009-09-10T00:18:00.000-07:00

Mangusta is a light scout/attack comparable with the AH1 COBRA armed with anti-tank and area-suppression weapons systems, is intended primarily as an attack helicopter to be used against armored targets. the A129 Mangusta anti-tank helicopter, T129 attack helicopter (designated as the T129, a Turkish version of the A129 Mangusta

a129 mangusta combat helicopter

Military Attack Helicopter
Italian army operates 45 Augusta A 129 Mangusta lightweight attack helicopters

Agusta A129CBT (EC-1) Mangusta Italian Air Force

USS BOXER LPH 4 wallpapers

2009-09-09T23:26:00.001-07:00

Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group/13th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting maritime security operations,on the deck are ah-1w attack helicopters

The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), right, is underway with the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), bottom, and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45). Boxer, Comstock and New Orleans, all ships of Amphibious Squadron 5, are returning to their homeport of San Diego after a deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility

USS Boxer (LHD 4) high speed turning

US Navy Helicopter Carriers

USS BOXER LPH 4 and USS BONHOMME RICHARD LPH 6

on the flight deck are CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter CH-53E Super Stallion UH-1Y Huey helicopter MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21

Mi-28 attack helicopter photos gallery

2009-09-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

Mil Mi-28 at MAKS-2009 aeroshow

modernized Mi28 with new avionic with thermal sights and new weapon system including top mounted Milimeter wave radarfro centre to outside: 30mm cannon (the same on infantery fighting vehicle BMP-2) withAP (armour piering) and HE (high explosive) bullets, B-8 rocket pod for 20 unguided 80mm rockets and "ATAKA" anti-tank missiles on outside stations

russian "flying tank" Mi-28N 1024 768 wallpapers

The Mi-28 combat helicopter can be armed with a mixture of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, unguided rockets, and podded guns

(NATO reporting name 'Havoc') Russian all-weather day-night military tandem two-seat anti-armour attack helicopter.

Ми-28

Mi28N 'Havoc' (the most advanced version of the Havoc), with night attack capabilities: the russian equivalent to the AH-64D Apache Longbow. The usual ordnance for this bird is B-8V20 rocket pods for S-8 80 mm rockets and a pack of 9M120 Ataka anti-tank missiles. In the nose, a 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon with 300 rounds

legendary workhorse of Russia's Air force. Both sturdy and maneuverable, The Mil Mi-28 Havoc attack helicopter has a conventional helicopter gunship layout with the pilot in the rear and gunner in front,Mi-28A/N Havoc Attack Helicopter can fly at a maximum speed of 324 km/hour , can fly rearwards and sideways at speeds up to 100km/h, and is able to hover turn at 45? per second.

AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter photos gallery

2009-09-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Bell AH-1Z Viper 166774 HMLA/T-303 at the Miramar Air Show 2008

1024 768 wallpaper

the new Cobra Radar System, tasked with directing "fire and forget" weapons to their targets

the crew have Top Owl helmet mounted sights. Also a Lockheed Martin TSS Targeting Sight System with a third generation FLIR

USMC - Bell AH-1Z King Cobra differ significantly from previous versions with its new 4-blade composite rotors, T-700 engines, and a stronger transmission improved power, maximum altitudes reliability and survivability

AH-1Z blades aboard Amphibious assault ships

U.S. Marine Bell AH-1 Viper Attack Helicopter

landing of an AH-1Z Super Cobra attack helicopter from the aviation combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).

The Cobra is a proven mission capable helicopter that requires less maintenance and less tax payer money. The Apache (AH-64) is a great war machine but very expensive on initial cost and up keep
the Apache wouldn't stand a chance against the new Cobra with air to air capability. The Zulu can take out an Apache with a sidewinder. The Apache doesn't have an air to air missile capability.

The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the US Army's AH-1 Cobra. The twin Cobra family includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra. The AH-1W will be replaced in service by the AH-1Z Viper upgrade in the next decade.

The AH-1 Huey Cobra was the world’s first attack helicop-ter. It proved its worth in the Vietnam War . Bell Helicopter continued to develop, refine, and improve this versatile machine from a single engine, 1400 horsepower, two-bladed helicopter to today’s AH-1Z, a twin engine, 3250 horsepower
the H-1 Upgrade Program began. The four-bladed AH-1W (or 4BW) design had been productionized to become the AH-1Z. The new four-bladed helicopter weighed in at 18,460 pounds, but used the same engine as the AH-1W

UH-1Y Huey chopper photos

2009-09-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

USMC - Bell AH-1Z King Cobra and Bell UH-1Y Venom
Bell UH-1Y Venom chopper HMLA/T-303 Atlas MCB Camp Pendleton CA Miramar Air Show 2008
They sure have done a lot of upgrades to the old UH-1,both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z share commonality about 75% same engines main and tail rotor and other internal things
optical turret, rocket launcher, 4 bladed prop, Cobra-style rotor mast Longer fuselage, all glass cockpit. Intergrated FLIR, dimples are DIRCM Defensive Infared Counter Meaures

U.S. Marines with 3rd Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force prepare to fast rope from a UH-1Y Huey helicopter on Camp Margarita at Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 11, 2009. The Marines are training with a new variant of the helicopter and faster extraction methods

The new Bell UH-1Y Huey helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 163 (REIN) flies toward the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4).

The UH-1Y Huey make its first operation deployment in January with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit

A crew chief assigned to the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 163 (REIN) prepares the UH-1Y Huey helicopter after taking on fuel aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Pilots with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare to land a UH-1Y "Huey" belonging to the squadron, during confined area landing training aboard the base Aug. 28. The squadron is the first in the Marine Corps to train air crew and maintainers for the UH-1Y

CH-53E super stallion helicopters wallpapers

2009-09-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

Two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters receive fuel from a C-130 Hercules airplane while each carries two High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles during an aerial refueling exercise

Marine Capt. Erick Min, pilots a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter during an in-flight refueling with an Air Force KC-130 aircraft

ch53e cockpit

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion (Sikorsky S-80E), is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. Sailors commonly refer to the Super Stallion as the "Hurricane Maker" because of the downward thrust the helicopter generates. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the Navy's need for long range mine sweeping or Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) missions, and perform heavy-lift duties for the Navy

While flying over the USS Wasp (Landing Helicopter Deck-1), two CH-53E Super Stallions prepare to take fuel from a KC-130 Hercules

CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter embarked onboard the forward-deployed amphibious attack ship USS Essex (LHD 2) prepares to lift an M777105-mm lightweight Howitzer as a part of exercise Talisman Saber 2009

launch of a CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex

USMC CH-53E Sea Stallion high speed pass

CH-53E Super Stallion Heavy Lifter lifting a Hummer

Helicopter Air Refueling

on the flight deck of helicopter carrier

A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) as a landing craft utility vehicle approaches to enter the well deck.

Blackburn Buccaneer fighter jet photos

2009-09-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

XW547 Blackburn Buccaneer the cold war fighter jet RAF Lossiemouth

S.2B XX894
royal navy Blackburn Buccaneer XX894 with wings folded at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, England, UK

This Blackburn Buccaneer took part in the first Gulf War in 1991 and flew several combat missions

'020/R' of 809 NAS aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1978

The Buccaneer was a mid-winged, twin-engined aircraft with a crew of two seated in tandem under a sliding canopy. Designed and initially produced by Blackburn Aircraft it was later known as the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer when Blackburn became a part of the Hawker Siddeley group.With the introduction of the Martel air-to-surface missile, some Mk 2 aircraft were converted to carry it, and became S.2D. The remainder became S.2C. 16 aircraft were built (and 15 delivered) for the South African Air Force as the S.50. When the FAA's fixed-wing operations ended in 1978, 62 of the 84 Buccaneer Mk 2s were transferred to the RAF as S.2A, joining 26 aircraft built by Blackburn's successor, Hawker Siddeley for the RAF as the S.2B. These aircraft were not navalised and, like the S.2A, had RAF-type communications and avionics equipment. They were able to operate the AN/AVQ 23E Pave Spike laser designator pod for Paveway II LGBs and act as target designators for other aircraft. From 1986 No. 208 Squadron RAF used them with the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile. The Buccaneer entered service in 1962. In addition to conventional ordnance, in 1965 it was approved for nuclear weapons delivery i.e. the Red Beard and WE177 bombs. The Buccaneer saw war service during the 1991 Gulf War when examples were rushed to the area to provide a laser designation capability for British aircraft, and dropping small numbers of LGBs themselves.

Navy EA-6B Prowlers wallpapers

2009-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

VAQ-141 EA-6B #501 in hangar bay #1 on jacks onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt d

An EA-6B "Prowler," armed with an AGM-88 HARM missile, receives the signal to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

Grumman EA-6B Prowler from VAQ-139 Cougars CAG Bird on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

A five-ship formation consisting of two F-15E Strike Eagles, an F-15C Eagle, and an F-16 Fighting Falcon, all from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and an EA-6B Prowler from the 388th Electronic Control Squadron, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., flies over the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho

An EA-6B Prowler, assigned to the “Scorpions” of Electronic Attack Squadron One Three Two (VAQ-132), flies over the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

Arabian Gulf (Apr. 17, 2002) -- An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the ÒBlack RavensÓ of Electronic Attack Squadron One Three Five (VAQ-135) navigates . USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) are on deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

VAQ-133 Wizaeds 532 would typically be XO's aircraft

U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowlers

a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft manufactured by Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) as a modification of the basic A-6 Intruder airframe.The EA-6A "Electric Intruder" was developed for the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s to replace the EF-10B Skyknight. It was a direct conversion of the standard two-seat A-6 Intruder airframe fitted with electronic warfare (EW) equipment. The EA-6A was used by three USMC squadrons during Vietnam War. A total of 27 were built with 15 of those being new builds. Most were retired in the 1970s with the last few retiring in the 1990s. The EA-6A was essentially an interim aircraft.The much more advanced and substantially redesigned EA-6B was developed beginning in 1966 as a replacement for EKA-3B Skywarriors for the United States Navy. The forward fuselage was lengthened for a larger four-seat cockpit and the antenna fairing added to the tip of the vertical stabilizer. The Prowler first flew on 25 May 1968 and entered service in July 1971. There prototype EA-6Bs were converted from A-6As and five EA-6Bs were development airframes. A total of 170 EA-6B production aircraft were built through 1991.The Prowler is powered by two non-afterburning jet engines and capable of high subsonic speeds. Since EW operations are very demanding, the Prowler is a high-maintenance aircraft and also undergoes more frequent equipment upgrades than any other aircraft in the Navy. Although designed as an electronic escort and command and control platform for strike missions, the EA-6B is also capable of attacking surface targets on its own, especially radar antennae, surface-to-air missile launchers, and other enemy defenses. In addition, the aircraft is highly capable of conducting electronic intelligence (ELINT) collection.

Ticonderoga class Guided Missile Cruiser photos

2009-09-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)
U.S. Sailors and Coast Guard teams conduct counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) steams through the North Arabian Sea supporting the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)

USS Port Royal (CG 73),

USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), Ticonderoga class Aegis guided missile cruiser, in New York, USA. Fleet Week. May, 2009

Mark-26 twin-arm missile launcher USS Yorktown CG-48 2002

USS San Jacinto (CG 56) Feb. 24, 1996 -- U.S. Navy's Ticonderoga Class Cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) (center) executes a high-speed break away following replenishment at sea (RAS) operations with the Military Sealift Command Replenishment Oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198)

USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)
A harbor tug maneuvers the guided missile cruiser USS VINCENNES (CG 49) toward a pier at Naval Air Station, North Island.
USS Monterey (CG 61) anchors out in the bay of Naples, Italy, during a recent port visit.
The guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) is shown underway with the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).
Port bow view of the US Navy (USN) TICONDEROGA CLASS: Guided Missile Cruiser (Aegis) USS VELLA GULF (CG 72) conducting a high-speed turn while underway in the Mediterranean Sea.
ARABIAN SEA (July 7, 2009) The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) underway in the Arabian Sea. Chancellorsville is an anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range strike and anti-surface warfare combatant capable of supporting carrier and expeditionary strike groups. The Chancellorsville is currently deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations

Ticonderoga Class Cruiser, USS Normandy entering Portsmouth Harbour
Displacement: approx. 9,600 tons full load
Length: 567 feet (173 m)
Beam: 55 feet (17 m)
Draught: 33 feet (10 m)
Propulsion: 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 80,000 shp (60 MW)
Speed: 32.5 knots (60 km/h)
Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h); 3,300 nautical miles (6,000 km) at 30 knots (56 km/h).
Complement: 33 officers & 327 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems: AN/SPY-1A/B multi-function radar
AN/SPS-49 air search radar
AN/SPG-62 fire control radar
AN/SPS-55 surface search radar
AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar
AN/SQQ-89(V)3 Sonar suite, consisting of
AN/SQS-53B/C/D Active sonar
AN/SQR-19 TACTAS Passive sonar
AN/SQQ-28 Light airborne multi-purpose system
AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite
Electronic warfare
and decoys: Mark 36 SRBOC
AN/SLQ-25 Nixie

Armament: mark 41
2 × 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems
122 × RIM-66 SM-2, RIM-162 ESSM, BGM-109 Tomahawk, or RUM-139 VL-Asroc
8 × RGM-84 Harpoon missiles
2 × Mark 45 5 in / 54 cal lightweight gun
2 × 25 mm
2–4 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) gun
2 × Phalanx CIWS
2 × Mk 32 12.75 in (324 mm) triple torpedo tubes

Slovakian Airforce MIG-29 fighter jets

2009-09-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

A Slovakian Mig-29 in it's new Pixle Camouflage.

The black piant in front of the cockpit should prevent sun reflexion to the eyes of the pilot.The little ball in front of the cockpit is the dreaded TV/-Laser/ and Infrared sensor for the dogfight, which every "enemy" of the German MIG-29 during fighting training around the world must explored

a Slovakian MiG-29 in digi camo Farnborough Air Show 2008

Was modernized by RSKA-MIG.NATO-devices was incorporated, a new LCD was in the cockpit installed and the service life was also increased

AH-1W Super Cobra wallpapers

2009-09-06T23:37:00.000-07:00

An AH-1W Super Cobra from the "Thunder Chickens" of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced) performs a low altitude surveillance pass during a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43

PERSIAN GULF (March 9, 2008) An AH-1W Super Cobra assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 166 (REIN) warms up its engine before taking off from the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1).

Not a lot of rotary-winged color birds out there. I'm a huge fan of -267 as well, as they used to be the RAG for Marine OV-10s

As much as I'm against helo pilots using valuable training time playing fighter pilot (the Marines have scored TWO air-to-air kills since the Korean War, and one of those was an F-15 exchange pilot), I've got to admit that that AIM-9 looks cool as hell on the already mean-looking Whiskey Cobras.
A US Marine Corps AH-1W "Cobra" rests midday on the "TacAir South" general-aviation ramp at Lovell Field my favourite gunship of all time

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 (HMLA-267) "Stingers" is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).

LPD Multi-purpose Support Vessels

2009-09-06T23:19:00.000-07:00

Pacific Ocean An SH-60 "Seahawk" assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four One (HSL-41), flies along side the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD-9), during fleet operations in the Pacific. U.S. Navy Photo
LPDs as Multi-purpose Support Vessels The value of amphibious vessels has been highlighted in earlier conflicts and recently, in East Timor. To enable the deployment of expeditionary forces to areas of potential conflict there are various types of vessels that equip today’s amphibious forces but the requirements, especially those of the smaller nations come in different sizes and with different tasks. Besides peacekeeping operations, amphibious forces are also now involved in counter-insurgency campaigns or anti-terrorist special forces operations. Although they come in different sizes and with different tasks, amphibious vessels have a place even for the smaller naval forces. While there is no precise naval hull form classified as a “multi-purpose support vessel” for a high- capacity, multi-role amphibious/logistical support vessel, the term “multipurpose support vessel” is closer to the intent of its use given the necessarily limited objectives of small naval forces. The existing hull form most suitable for adaptation as multi-purpose support vessels for small naval forces is the LPD for which several designs are available and realised examples are operational today. The designs need only be slightly redefined according to the specific requirements of the user naval force. Examples of LPDs include the Enforcer LPD developed by Schelde Shipbuilding of the Netherlands.

French Transport ship L9011

Another design is the 12,000- tonne Foudre-class LPD by French naval shipbuilder DCN which is adaptable as a multipurpose support vessel for small naval forces. At 7,665 tonnes full load displacement, Fincantieri’s San Giorgio-class LPDs are engines, yielding a top speed in excess of 50 knots (nearly 60 miles per hour) when fully loaded and can be outfitted with jet drives for shallow water operations and beaching. “The M-hull form creates a natural surface effect that not only enhances top-speed performance, but uses the bow wave energy to reduce the overall wake signature,” said Bill Burns, co-founder of M Ship Co, noting that the military is also interested in 40- and 120-foot vessels of similar design. “This makes the boat faster and more manoeuvrable because it remains flat, with almost no heeling, even during high-speed turns. The vessel’s proprietary design also gives it a low-radar profile.”

The M80 Stiletto is also notable because it is the largest US naval vessel built using carbon fibre composite and epoxy building techniques, which yields a very light, but strong hull. M Ship Co leveraged its network of collaborative partners and subcontractors to build the M80 Stiletto in less than one year. Azimuth Inc developed the vessel’s “electronic keel”—a maritime data bus for networked plug and play of emerging technologies such as communications, surveillance and weapons systems. SP Systems provided the carbon fiber technology for the composite hull. The vessel was built by National City-based Knight & Carver Yacht Centre. M Ship Co is in discussions with several major defence contractors to capitalise on the success of the M-hull technology for the emerging military market for vessels that can operate in alignment with the NECC’s new focus on “brown water” operations. smaller than the aforementioned Enforcers and Foudres. The 141-metre, 6,000-tonne STEM 1400 or Endurance-class LST is actually an LPD. It was developed by Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine) to replace Singapore’s five vintage ex-County-class LSTs. All these LPD types can be equipped with extensive communications equipment and organic docking facilities giving it a wider range of roles than the mere landing of and support for marine units and special forces teams. The latter support role is not new. Amphibious assault ships such as LSTs were even used as “mother ships” (not so much as command vessels but more like forward area base camps) during the Vietnam conflict to support counter- insurgency operations by the US forces along the length of the South Vietnamese littoral and far inland.

USS Bainbridge DDG 96 photos

2009-09-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

USS Bainbridge enter the harbour of Mombasa, Kenya, Thursday, April 16, 2009. The sea captain, Richard Phillips, who clashed with Somali pirates and was freed by U.S. Navy snipers is arriving at port in Kenya aboard this American destroyer. The USS Bainbridge was scheduled to arrive yesterday, but diverted to answer a distress call from the U.S. cargo ship Liberty Sun, to rescue the boat and crew after it was attacked by pirates

INDIAN The guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) is underway off the coast of Somalia Sept. 25, 2007 while conducting anti-piracy operations

Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Jan. 10, 2008) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) arrives at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility in Souda harbor for a routine port visit.
Bainbridge departed her homeport of Norfolk, VA in September and is currently on a regularly scheduled six month deployment

Bainbridge honors the outstanding and heroic service of Commodore William Bainbridge who served in the Navy from 1789-1833. Four previous ships have been named in honor of Bainbridge, including the 259-ton brig the USS Bainbridge (1842-1863), the Navy's first destroyer the USS Bainbridge (1902-1920), another destroyer the USS Bainbridge (1921-1945), and the nuclear-powered cruiser the CGN-25 USS Bainbridge (1962-1997).

the hijacking of the U.S. cargo ship Maersk Alabama on April 8.

The Maersk Alabama was on its way to deliver food aid to Mombasa, Kenya when it was taken by four Somalis, who later released all crew members but kept the captain hostage for four days in an 18-foot lifeboat. Two days later a group of SEALS deployed on the nearby USS Bainbridge shot and killed the pirates in an example of marksmanship that drew praise from throughout the United States, including President Obama.
Bainbridge name long-linked to fight against piracy,The USS Bainbridge recalls a 19th century naval war hero who was held prisoner by Barbary pirates and later faced them down to end their attacks in the Mediterranean.

cvn71 uss theodore roosevelt pictures

2009-09-03T05:24:00.001-07:00

aka The Big Stick or TR.

At anchor in Stokes Bay but preparing to set sail
GULF OF OMAN (Mar 11, 2009) USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) navigates through the Gulf of Oman. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier along with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are operating in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility and are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States' commitment to security,

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is the fourth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. launched in 1984, cvn71 take part in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and is currently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Her cost was $4.5 billion in 2007 dollars Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)

USS Nimitz CSG port visit Yokosuka Naval Base

2009-09-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) arrived at Yokosuka Naval Base today for a scheduled port visit as part of their 2009 Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.

Nimitz CSG, commanded by Rear Adm. John W. Miller, Commander, CSG 11, is comprised of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the guided-missile destroyers USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chosin (CG 55) from Commander, Naval Surface Group, Mid Pacific and the Perry-class frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) from DESRON 1. Squadrons from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, include the “Black Aces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, the “Tophatters” of (VFA) 14, the “Warhawks” of (VFA) 97, the “Sidewinders” of (VFA) 86, the “Indians” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 6, the “Black Ravens” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, the “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 and the “Wallbangers” of Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117. Detachments from the “Easy Riders” of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 37, the “Battle Cats” of (HSL) 43, the “Wolfpack” of (HSL) 45 and the “Scorpions” of (HSL) 49. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 and the USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10) embarking the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 also accompany Nimitz CSG.
While in Japan members of the crew will participate in a community service project restoring the historic battleship Mikasa. They will also visit the many attractions and historic places in and around Tokyo while on liberty.
This visit is an outward demonstration of U.S. commitment to the Defense of Japan and to maintaining peace and stability throughout the entire East Asia region

USS Nimitz has a special connection to Mikasa. Chester Nimitz greatly admired Admiral Heihachirō Togo the, “victor of the battle of Tsushima,” recognizing him as one of the world’s greatest Naval officers, preserving a monument of honor for two nations.

After World War II, Admiral Nimitz helped to spearhead a movement to save admiral Togo’s flagship in order to preserve it as a museum. He published an article in the Japanese magazine Bungei Shunju saying, “I do hope that appropriate measures will be taken for the ship, so that the accomplishments of Admiral Togo, whom Sailors all over the world admire, can be remembered.” The payment he received for writing the article became the first donation to the Admiral Togo memorial fund, and thus started a movement that saved the famed ship.

Capt. Michael Manazir, Nimitz’ commanding officer, commented on the importance of the relationship building that continues, “There is a lasting bond between our Navies and preserving the strongest bi-lateral relationship in the Pacific. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz had deep respect for Admiral Togo and in the aftermath of World War II was instrumental in preserving the Japanese battle flagship Mikasa, which we will help celebrate later this week.”

The Nimitz’ port-call will conclude with a reception on the Mikasa co-hosted by Nimitz Strike Group and the Mikasa Preservation Society.
The battle of Tsushima was a major engagement during the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 where 34 of 38 Russian ships were sunk, captured or disarmed.

The U.S. maintains a naval presence in Japan as a reflection of our commitment to our most important bilateral security alliance.

This is the first port visit for Nimitz during her 2009 WESTPAC deployment.

Navy accepted delivery of USS Dewey (DDG 105)

2009-09-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS Dewey (DDG 105) Aug. 17 from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss.
In June, the guided-missile destroyer completed a combined builder's and acceptance trial, also called "super trials," after spending three days in the Gulf of Mexico.
The future USS Dewey is the 57th destroyer in the Arleigh Burke class and is scheduled to be commissioned in December. Designated DDG 105, the new destroyer honors Adm. George Dewey who is best known for his valor during the U.S. victory in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. "This is the second DDG we've delivered this summer," said Capt. Pete Lyle, DDG 51 class program manager in the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships). "That's really a testament to the benefits of serial production." PEO Ships is responsible for the development and acquisition of U.S. Navy surface ships and is currently managing the design and construction of a wide range of ship classes and small boats and craft. These platforms range from major warships, such as front line surface combatants and amphibious assault ships to air-cushioned landing craft, oceanographic research ships and special warfare craft. PEO Ships has delivered 33 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 30 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.

DDG 51 class destroyers are the most advanced, state-of-the-art warships built in the world. These destroyers are equipped with the Navy's Aegis Combat System, the world's foremost integrated naval weapon system. The ship is able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management, to sea control and power projection. USS Dewey is capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and possesses multiple offensive and defensive weapons systems designed to support maritime warfare.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit -www.navy.mil/local/navsea/

Story Number: NNS090825-09 - Release Date: 8/25/2009 4:22:00 PM

GD delivered USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8)

2009-09-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly
owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today delivered USNS Wally
Schirra (T-AKE 8) to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of the fifth
American launched into space, Navy Captain Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, Jr.
Including the Wally Schirra, NASSCO has delivered eight T-AKEs, which are also
known as Lewis and Clark-class ships. NASSCO has construction contracts for
four additional ships and long-lead material contracts for two more ships for
a total class of 14 T-AKE vessels.

Construction of the USNS Wally Schirra began in October 2007. The
689-foot-long ship will serve under the Navy's Military Sealift Command and
will soon begin delivering as much as 10,000 tons of dry cargo and petroleum
products at one time to U.S. and allied ships at sea.

"As demonstrated on the very successful sea trials four weeks ago, the Wally
Schirra is superb in fit and finish, and ready for immediate service," said
Frederick J. Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. "The Schirra and
the other T-AKEs fulfill a vital naval logistics role. NASSCO will continue
to support that critical Navy mission through the timely delivery of these
high-quality, versatile ships in the future."

General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 4,500 people and is the only major
ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to
T-AKE construction, the San Diego shipyard is also building three commercial
product carriers for American Petroleum Tankers, a shipbuilding joint venture
led by the Blackstone Financial Group. More information about NASSCO can be
found at www.nassco.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately
92,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation;
land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding
and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More
information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics NASSCO

US deploy unmanned Drones to Fight Piracy

2009-09-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

The United States is planning to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles in the Seychelles islands in the coming weeks to combat piracy.
The spokesman for the U.S. military's Africa Command, Vince Crawley, says several Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles will be in the Seychelles by late October or November. He says they will be used to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions throughout the Indian Ocean region.
Reapers are designed for long-endurance, high-altitude surveillance, capable of staying in the air for 30 hours and flying at speeds of more than 440 kilometers an hour. They can also carry weapons and ordinance, but African Command says the drones being deployed in the Seychelles will not be armed.

"We have people going in individually for very short trips right now. We plan to start sending some of the teams that will assist in the September-October time frame. And then it would take a month to begin the flights," said Crawley. "It is widely recognized that western Indian Ocean piracy is extremely disruptive to international trade and this is simply a U.S. contribution to the international effort against piracy."

The U.S. Navy has long used ship-based unmanned aerial vehicles in counter-piracy missions. But the UAVs in the Seychelles will be housed at the international airport in the capital Mahe. Dozens of American military and civilian personnel will also be based at the airport to oversee the Navy-led mission for the next several months.

Crawley says the government in the Seychelles requested assistance from the United States earlier this year after Somali pirates began extending their operations more than 1000 kilometers away from Somali shores. Since March, two Seychelles-flagged vessels have been hijacked and several others attacked in waters near the Seychelles and the Comoros Islands.

In addition to the Reaper UAVs, the U.S. military is also considering basing Navy P-3 Orion patrol aircraft in the Seychelles for a limited time. Like the Reaper, the Orion can survey a large region and help deter attacks.

Maritime officials say the vastness of the Indian Ocean and the lack of naval patrols in the area are tempting some pirates to expand their operations further east. The Indian Ocean is considered a safer hunting ground than the Gulf of Aden, a narrow shipping lane to the north that is heavily patrolled by warships from more than a dozen countries.

For nearly a year, the international armada has been successful in keeping many ships from being hijacked. But it has done little to deter pirates from targeting ships.

In the first half of 2009, nearly 150 vessels were attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, compared to less than 30 in the same period a year ago. More than 30 vessels have been taken, with ransom demands now averaging about $2 million for the release of the ship and its crew.

Rough weather conditions have helped keep the number of pirate attacks in the region low for the past few months. But as the weather improves, sailors, ship owners, and maritime officials say they are bracing for another surge of pirate activity.

Raytheon Delivers next-generation Minehunting Sonar to U.S. Navy

2009-09-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Sept. 2, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has delivered the next-generation AN/AQS-20A Minehunting Sonar and AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System to the U.S. Navy.
Considered critical components of the Navy's organic mine countermeasure arsenal, the advanced technologies of these systems have the potential to vastly improve the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of mine countermeasure missions and truly take the sailor out of the minefield.

As stated during an AMNS ribbon-cutting ceremony, "Fielding systems as promised is what makes a great industry partner!" said Donna Carson-Jelley, Navy program manager for Minewarfare (PMS 495).

"With AN/AQS-20A and AMNS, we are delivering a comprehensive, end-to-end solution - detect to neutralize - enabling the Navy to safely and effectively execute its mission without risk to its ships or crews," said IDS' Charles "Tom" Bush, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems.
"I am particularly pleased with the progress that the AN/AQS-20A team has made. I am looking forward to an aggressive schedule leading to a successful operational evaluation," said U.S. Navy Captain Paul Siegrist, program manager for Unmanned Maritime Vehicles (PMS 403). "The advancements of the AN/AQS-20A bring our minehunting capabilities to the next level. The flexibility and adaptability of the system allow us to effectively deploy from both the MH-60S helicopter and also from the Remote Minehunting System, extending our ability to effectively and efficiently ensure the safety of the fleet."
Supporting mine-clearing operations in both deep-ocean and littoral waters, AN/AQS-20A detects, localizes and identifies bottom, close-tethered and volume mines, and AMNS re-acquires and neutralizes mines found by AN/AQS-20A.
Both of the low rate initial production models of the AN/AQS-20A Minehunting Sonar and the AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System will be extensively tested so that when the programs enter full production they will meet all fleet expectations.

Both systems have been integrated into the MH-60S and the MH-53E airborne mine countermeasures helicopters. Additionally, the AN/AQS-20A has also been operated from the AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System, an unmanned surface vehicle. AN/AQS-20A and AMNS are essential capabilities planned for integration into the mine countermeasure mission package for the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship.

The AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to scan the water in front and to the sides of the vehicle as well as below for anti-shipping mines. The system uses sonar and electro-optical sensors to provide high-resolution images of mines and mine-like objects as well as high-precision location information.

AMNS is deployed from the MH-60S multimission helicopter to locate and destroy underwater anti-shipping mines previously detected by the AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar. The system consists of a helicopter-based control console as well as a launch and handling system equipped with four unmanned Archerfish(TM) neutralizer vehicles that destroy mines via remote control from the operator in the helicopter.

Developmental and operational testing of the AN/AQS-20A and AMNS began in 2002. Under the current contracts, Raytheon will deliver a total of 20 AN/AQS-20A systems by January 2011 and five AMNS by December 2009.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities Integration, providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

Archerfish is a trademark of BAE Systems.

Contact:
Carolyn Beaudry
401.842.3550

SOURCE Raytheon Company

Cpl. David R. Hall killed in Afghanistan

2009-09-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

LORAIN — Lance Cpl. David R. Hall, a Southview High School graduate and former Ohio Assembly Plant worker, died Tuesday while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan.

Hall, 31, died of injuries sustained during a blast from an improvised explosive device while in Helmand province, in the southern part of the country, said his father, Delmar Hall. He was the eighth Lorain County man to die while serving overseas since 2004 and the first to be killed in Afghanistan.

He joined the Marines in 2006 after spending the previous six years at the Ford plant in Avon. He spent about seven months training military police officers in Iraq before being deployed again to Afghanistan in June. He was due back home Dec. 17.

“He told my wife, ‘You better have Christmas dinner for me,’ ” Delmar Hall said Tuesday at his home in Lorain before heading off to the airport with his wife and two of his three daughters. The family was heading to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be there when David Hall’s body returned home.

“One of the things he said before he left (for Afghanistan) was he hoped he made it back alive,” said sister, Lora Hall, 36. His other sisters are teachers in the Lorain school district. Terasa Holmes, 38, teaches math at Southview and Wendy Dull, 34 teaches drama at Whittier Middle.

He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

His father said he joined the Marines because he felt it would give him purpose. It was a decision he never regretted.

“He left a good-paying job at Ford, but he loved the Marines,” Delmar Hall said. “He wanted something to be proud of. He used to get picked on in high school because he was 6-foot-3 and 135 pounds. In two to three years in the Marines he was 228 pounds.”

When his military career was over, his son thought of going to school to become a nurse. Although he wasn’t seeing anyone serious, he wanted to settle down and start a family, said Delmar Hall said.

“He was a good kid,” he said.

After an autopsy is performed on his son, Delmar Hall said David Hall’s body will come back to Northeast Ohio and the family hopes to have a celebration for him after the funeral.

Hall’s death was the first for the U.S. in September and comes after the deadliest month of the eight-year Afghan war for American troops. At least 49 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan in August, according to a count by The Associated Press based on official announcements.

Taliban attacks spiked this summer and there is now a record level of American forces in the country — more than 62,000.

President Barack Obama committed 21,000 new American forces to Afghanistan this year, bringing the total U.S. commitment to 68,000 by the end of the year.

A record 100,000 U.S. and NATO troops are stationed in Afghanistan.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Family's tribute to Pte Elliott a soldier killed in Afghanistan

2009-09-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

Twenty-four-year-old Pte Kevin Elliott from Dundee, was killed in Helmand province on Monday along with Sgt Stuart Millar from Inverness.

In a statement, his family said he had lived life to the full and had given his life for his friends. The deaths brings the number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 210.

In tribute to Pte Elliott, who joined the Army in 2002, Lt Col Cartwright said: "He was on the verge of leaving the Army earlier this year, but his inclination to be in the thick of the action was too tempting and he caught the last transport to Afghanistan with his mates. He loved operations and he was a big team player.

"It was no surprise to hear that in this tragic incident, he was the first man on the roof in the defensive position, the first to volunteer to protect his colleagues in a dangerous area.

"That sums up the man; he took life seriously when it was important to do so, and he was a first class field soldier as a result. He would never let his friends down."

The soldier, who previously served in Iraq and northern Ireland, joined the Black Watch in 2002.

The family said: "Kevin was the life and soul of the party who lived life to the full.

"He chose to go to Afghanistan to be with his mates and to give his life for them.

"The whole family loved Kevin and we are devastated by his death."

'Team player'

The MoD said the deaths, thought to have been caused by a rocket-propelled grenade, happened when the men were attacked in the Babaji district of Helmand.

Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth said: "The loss of both of these fine soldiers is a grave loss to the Army and my thoughts are with their families and loved ones at this difficult time."

USS nimitz class aircraft carriers

2009-08-31T21:29:00.000-07:00

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (July 5, 2006) - USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln Class. These ships are considered a different class from the original CVN-68 group. They have different dimensions: the draft is 11.8 meters (38.7 ft), the displacement (light) is 73,973 tons, and the displacement (heavy) is 96,386 tons. The newer ships also have a different radar suite from the earlier ships. The internal arrangements are reported to be significantly different.

The CVN-68 Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are the world’s largest warships, with a full-load displacement of 91,700 tons and an overall length of 1,089 feet. The basic configuration of the class is similar to the CV-63 Kitty Hawk class, with two elevators before the island (superstructure), one aft of the island, and one on the port (left) side at the end of the angle deck. Each elevator is 25.91 by 15.85 meters (85 by 52 ft). The hanger deck is 208.5 meters (684 ft) long, 32.92 meters (108 ft) wide, and 8.01 meters (26.5 ft) high.
Each ship has two pressurized-water A4W/A1G nuclear reactors, compared to the eight pressurized-water A2W reactors installed on the U.S. Navy’s first nuclear carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN-65). This results in a much simpler layout of the engineering spaces, whereas the layout of the CVN-65 was an engineering and maintenance nightmare. For many years, the top speeds of the CVNs were classified information, leading to rumors that they were capable of unprecedented speeds that increased over the years to 40, 50, and eventually 60 knots. Such figures were never taken seriously, and when the real speeds were disclosed, they turned out to be much more prosaic. The latest carrier to run trials, the CVN-75 USS Harry S. Truman, topped out at 30.9 knots.

There are four Mark 13 Mod 1 steam catapults and four arresting wires. Each ship has enough aviation fuel and ordnance for 13 days of unreplenished air strike operations.

The primary functions of aircraft carriers include establishing localized maritime and air superiority, as well as strategic mobility while projecting power and technological prowess in a risk area. Consequently, carriers are equipped with the latest in air and sea control capabilities.
The airgroup on these carriers has been systematically reduced over the last decade and now stands at 12 F-14 Tomcat and 36 F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft with four EA-6B EW aircraft, four E-2C AEWC aircraft, seven S-3A, and seven SH-60F ASW aircraft. The F-14s are progressively being withdrawn and replaced by the F/A-18E/F. This reduced airgroup, approximately 60 percent of the carrier’s strike aircraft capacity, is causing increasing concern.

The USS Abraham Lincoln was commissioned November 11, 1989, four months after the USS George Washington was launched. The original plans called for the Washington to be commissioned in December 1991, but in February 1989, the Navy and Newport News agreed to postpone its commissioning until July 4, 1992. In theory, this gave the yard time to arrange an orderly transition of workers to CVN-74 and CVN-75; the reality was a simple desire to perpetuate tradition. When the Department of Defense released its revised FY90 budget request in April 1989, it announced that the carrier USS Coral Sea would be retired in 1990, about two years ahead of the previous schedule. This change was primarily caused by the ship’s material condition having deteriorated to the point where safe operational practice was no longer possible. Accordingly, the Coral Sea was decommissioned in June 1990.

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), June 21, 2004 - USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) sails through the Straits of Magellan on its way to the Pacific Ocean. The Navyís newest aircraft carrier

The CVN-68 class are an undoubted success, they are the backbone of the U.S. Navy, and a key element in America’s status as a world power. The fact remains though, that the basic design is a product of the 1960s and bears many of the hallmarks of that era. Much of the layout is a result of the class’s original concept as a nuclear-armed as well as a nuclear-power ship. Her magazines, large and centralized, reflect the need to provide adequate secure stowage for nuclear weapons while the system for taking weapons to the flight deck is poorly designed for the ship’s current role.
Another point that dates the basic Nimitz design is that the flight deck arrangements and arming/fuelling provisions are all designed to support surge operations. The operational concept was that the ship would run in from the far sea, launch a series of massive “alpha strikes” against the specified targets, then retreat out to sea again to rearm and refuel. Now, operations have switched to essentially conventional missions and the operational pattern is entirely different. The requirement is to launch a sustained cycle of missions with fewer aircraft in the air at any one time, a constant cycling of strikes through the day and night.
Already, as a part of the natural evolution of the design, there has been a major change in the CVN-68 class. The USS Ronald Reagan is a much more powerful vessel than her ancestor. In terms of fighting capability, she exploits the latest in technology and exhibits significant fundamental changes in structural design. She provides an interesting glimpse into the future evolution of aircraft carriers design. However, for all of that, the changes in her remain incremental rather than revolutionary. The new CVN-77 will take even more incremental steps towards a new carrier design, yet it will be the CVN-78 that will reflect a new design approach that suits the revised role of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers.

US Navy (USN) F-14D Tomcat fighter aircraft are staged in launch position for their departure from the USN Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) to their homeport of Naval Air Station (AS) Oceana, Virginia (VA).
The construction of the Nimitz class carriers has now come to an end with the commissioning of the USS Ronald Reagan. Although CVN-77 George H.W. Bush is officially considered to be the 10th and last of the class, she is so modified that her similarities with the earlier ships are limited and the ship is really a one-ship class of her own.

Price Range. About $4.5 billion each. The price of the last of the series (CVN-77) was quoted as $5.2 billion in 1997.

Jun 1968 CVN-68 keel laid
Sep 1970 Contract defined for CVN-68 and 69
May 1972 CVN-68 USS Nimitz launched
Apr 1974 Option to build CVN-70 exercised
Mar 1975 USS Nimitz sea trials completed
May 1975 USS Nimitz commissioned
Oct 1977 USS Eisenhower commissioned
Mar 1982 USS Carl Vinson commissioned
Oct 1986 USS Theodore Roosevelt commissioned
Nov 1989 USS Abraham Lincoln commissioned
Apr 1992 USS George Washington commissioned
Jun 1994 CVN-76 approved by SASC
Feb 1995 USS Ronald Reagan ordered
Jul 1997 USS John C. Stennis transferred to Pacific Fleet; Theodore Roosevelt in for overhaul
Jul 1997 USS Nimitz in 96-hour sortie exercise for extended sustainability
May 1998 Arrival of USS Nimitz at NNS for 33-month refueling of two nuclear reactors
Jun 1998 CVN-75 Harry S. Truman initial acceptance sea trials completed
Jul 1998 Harry S. Truman commissioned
Sep 1998 Advance procurement, advance construction funds granted for CVN-77
1999 RAM CIWS, SLY-2 intercept system installation begun on all ships
Mar 1999 Arrival of Harry S. Truman at NNS for five-month-long PSA
Dec 1999 USS Nimitz reactor refueling successfully completed
2000 Full construction authorization for CVN-77
2000 ACDS Block 1 upgrade completed on existing CVN-68s
Apr 2000 Decision to backfit seven newest Nimitzes with future MF, volume radars
2000 USS Ronald Reagan launched
Jul 2003 CVN-76 Ronald Reagan commissioned

Dimensions
Length (overall) 332.9 m 1,092 ft
Length (WL) 317 m 1,040 ft
Beam 40.8 m 134 ft
Width at flight deck 76.3 m 256 ft
Length of flight deck 332.9 m 1,092 ft
Flight deck (angled) 237.7 m 779.8 ft
Draft 11.3 m 37 ft

Displacement
Light 78,852 tonnes 73,607 tons
Full load 98,555 tonnes 97,000 tons

Performance
Speed 55+ kmph 30+ kt
Endurance (13 yr reactor core life)
Aircraft elevators 4
Catapults 4 x C-13 Mod 1
Crew 155 officers, 2,981 enlisted
Air wing 366 officers, 2,434 enlisted
Total accommodations 6,500 personnel

Type Qty
Armament
Guns Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS 3-4
Surface-to-air missiles Mark 29 Sea Sparrow 2-3x8

Aircraft
Heavy fighter F-14A/B/D Tomcat or F/A-18E/F 12
Multirole F/A-18C/D Hornet 36
EW EA-6B Prowler 4
AEWC E-2C Hawkeye 4
ASW fixed wing S-3A Shadow 7
ASW rotary wing SH-60F, HH-60H Seahawk 7

USS Stennis CVN 74 pictures

2009-08-31T00:34:00.000-07:00

BUSAN, Republic of Korea - The U.S. Navy's John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and ships from the Republic of Korea (ROK) are moored at ROK Navy Base Oryuk-Do in Busan, ROK. Blue Ridge pulled in March 5; the strike group arrived March 11. USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Preble (DDG 88) are all docked at the base.

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Raptors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 circles the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during flight operations. John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 5, 2009) Two F/A-18C Hornets from the Blue Diamonds of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during an airborne change of command. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

U.S. and Japanese ships steam in formation during a photo exercise with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), left, following a successful Under Sea Warfare Exercise involving the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and other naval vessels operating in the 7th Fleet. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

USS Stennis at Naval Station Everett June 29, 2009. Love the big bad boat with lots of jets onboard.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) pulls into Busan for a scheduled port visit. John C. Stennis is in Korea to participate in Key Resolve 2009, a combined exercise with the Republic of Korea. John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

The Seawolf-class submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21), front, the Japanese destroyer JS Oonami (DD 111), left, and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) steam in formation during a photo exercise Feb. 12, 2009, following a successful under sea warfare exercise in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman/ Released)

Pirates fires on U.S. helicopter off Somali coast

2009-08-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-28 00:38:51 Print

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates holding a hijacked ship off the coast of Somalia fired at a U.S. Navy helicopter, the U.S. Navy said Thursday.

The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement that a group of pirates aboard the M/V Win Far, a vessel hijacked on April 6, fired "a large caliber weapon" at a U.S. SH-60B helicopter, which was conducting a surveillance flight over the ship.

No one was injured and the helicopter, which is based on the USS Chancellorsville, was not hit, according to the statement.
The incident highlights the ongoing piracy problem in that region even as U.S. and coalition ships patrol the waters to deter pirates.
Piracy off Somalia's coast and the Gulf of Aden has become an urgent global concern recently. Many countries have joined an international naval effort to deal with the challenges in the region.

CPT John Hallett III, CPT Cory Jenkins

2009-08-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. they died Tuesday after their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Killed were:

Cpt. John L. Hallett III, 30, of California, joined the Army in 2001. He first deployed to Iraq in February 2005 and served 13-months with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division out of Hawaii. In November 2007, he reported to Fort Lewis.

Capt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30, of Arizona.joined the Army in 2007 and attended the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course before he was assigned to Fort Lewis in March 2009. This was his first deployment and he served as a physician assistant.

Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer, 38, of Trenton, Mo.

Pfc. Dennis M. Williams, 24, of Federal Way, Wash.The Army says a 24-year-old soldier from Federal Way, Wash., was among four members of a Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade who were killed in southern Afghanistan.

Killed Tuesday was Pfc. Dennis M. Williams. Fort Lewis says Williams enlisted in Seattle in October 2007. This was his first deployment.

My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of CPT John Hallett III. Words alone cannot express my debt and gratitude for his service and sacrifice. Thank you for your service and fight for our country. May you forever rest in peace.

russian cruiser peter the great pictures

2009-08-27T19:19:00.001-07:00

Aerial port bow view of the Soviet Kirov class nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser FRUNZE underway.

Project 1144.2 soviet navy Kirov class war ship

Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great" in Cape Town, South Africa

Kirov class heavy cruisers are the largest and most powerful surface warships in the Russian Navy and the largest and most powerful warships in the world.
Armament: 20 P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck) AShM
14 SS-N-14 Silex ASW cruise missiles (Ushakov only)
12x8 (96) S-300PMU Favorit SA-N-6 Grumble surface-to-air missiles (Ushakov, Lazarev, Nakhimov)
96 S-400 (SA-NX-20 Gargoyle) long-range SAM (Pyotr Velikhy)
192 9K311 Tor (SA-N-9 Gauntlet) point defense SAM

By deploying a navy flotilla in the southern Caribbean , including the warship Peter the Great, Russia gets to assert itself as a power that can make itself felt anywhere in the world, even in America's back yard. The deployment of the Peter the Great led flotilla is also seen as a response to a planned deployment of anti missile defense systems in Eastern Europe.Venezuela,
The official line is that the joint maneuvers, which include the Peter the Great, one of Russia's most powerful warships, is simply a good will exercise between two friendly countries.
Russian Warship 'Peter the Great' Arrives at Venezuela
Russian Kirov Class Cruiser Project 1144.2 Peter the Great ( Petr Velikyy )

russian frigate Krivak class photo gallery

2009-08-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

cold war era ,soviet warship shadow american aircraft carrier groups

Gulf Of Pozzuoli ( Napoli) - Visiting NATO Command

Krivak Class frigate- Project 1135

Displacement (tons): 3,420-3,700 tons full load

soviet guided missile frigate ffg Krivak I are anti submarine ships entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1970,A total of 32 ships were built for the Soviet Navy and 8 modified ships for the KGB Maritime Border Guard. Some of the Krivak class frigates remain in Russian Navy service. Ukraine operates one Krivak.

Armament:
2 Osa-MA SAM systems (40 4K-33/SA-N-4 Gecko SAM)
4 URK-5/SS-N-14 Rastrub/Silex SSM/ASW missiles
2 RBU-6000 ASW RL

russian cruiser kara class pictures

2009-08-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

Azov
The big anti-submarine ship on fighting service in Mediterranean sea, 1986

Kerch 08 May 2008 - Sevastopol;
the soviet navy build kara class cruiser to destroy US aircraft carriers and submarines.the kara class were build in the cold war
Nikolayev was transferred to the Ukraine after the fall of the USSR, and was scrapped in India in 1994. Petropavlovsk, Tashkent and Vladivostok were sold for scrap between 1994 - 1996. Ochakov went into reserve in the Pacific in the late 1990s. Kerch went into refit in the late 1990s, and is the only member of the class still nominally in commission, serving as flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.

Azov guided missile cruiser
was the trials ship for the new generation SA-N-6 vertical-launch SAM and its associated 'Top Dome' fire control radar. She remained in the Black Sea after one Shtorm and 'Headlight' fire control radar combination had been replaced by the new systems.

soviet Large Anti submarine cruiser "Kerch"; Flag - Russia;
Project 1134B 'Berkut', NATO Codename 'Kara' class;
Builder: 61 Kommunara SY 445, Nikolayev, USSR; Year: 1974;
Displacement: 8,825 tons full load;
Speed: 30 knots; Crew: 400;
Dimensions: 173.4 x 18.5 x 6.4 m;
Propulsion: 3 cruise gas turbines, 12,000 shp, 18 knots;
4 boost gas turbines, 80,000 shp; 30 knots;
Missiles: 2 x 4 URK-5/SS-N-14 Rastrub/Silex SSM/ASW missiles
2 Shtorm SAM system
2 Osa-M SAM systems
Guns: 2 x 2 76.2mm/59cal AK-726 DP
4 x 6 30 mm AK-630 AA
Aviation: Aft helicopter deck and hangar for 1 Ka-25/26/27 series helicopter

EA-18G Growler wallpapers

2009-08-23T15:45:00.001-07:00

SD551 (EA-18G-1) During Initial Sea Trial on aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower

Boeing EA-18G Growler 166895 VAQ-129 Vikings NAS Whidbey Island WA Taxiing out at NAF El Centro CA

Landing Nellis AFB, Las Vegas

Aircraft: Boeing EA-18G Growler (166897)Unit: VAQ-129 "Vikings"Base: NAS Whidbey Island, WA That is NOT a Super Hornet !! the brand new EA-18G Growler, the substitute of the EA-6B Prowler. Looks like the Rhino, but note the wingtips and the ALQ-99 jammer pods.

AN/ALQ-218 (V)2 wideband receiver wingtip pod detail on a Boeing EA-18G Growler 166893 from VAQ-129 Vikings NAS Whidbey Island at NAF El Centro

russian destroyers Severomorsk pictures

2009-08-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Severomorsk destroyer from Russia's Northern Fleet will participate in FRUKUS 2009 international naval exercises in the northern Atlantic

MIG21 jet fighter fishbed pictures

2009-08-23T13:18:00.001-07:00

North Vietnan Air Force - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 f13

Many of the MiG-21s did not have steerable nose gears, making them difficult to taxi; the sign of a novice Fishbed pilot was the zigzag track he made while moving on the ground.If a pilot put the throttle back on a MiG-21, it would take a long time to spool up again when trying to accelerate. Thus many of those who flew it stayed on afterburners as much as possible.
The MiG-21 was the soviet Union’s first truly modern, second generation jet fighter. Testing began in 1956, and the first version entered service in 1960 as the MiG-21F-13. Soviet designers developed a unique “tailed delta” configuration with a very thin delta wing, which gave the aircrft maneuverability, high speed, good medium-altitude performance, and adequate takeoff and landing characteristics.

Romanian airforce mig21

The MiG-21 could also turn abruptly; you didn’t want to fight one at low speed. Again, the answer was to use the more powerful engines of the US fighters to make it a vertical engagement.

MiG-21 Fishbeds were cone-nosed, supersonic fighters that were somewhat less maneuverable than MiG-17s. They also saw action with the North Vietnamese and became a popular export aircraft, with more than 8,000 produced. Armament:23mm Gsh-23L two barrel cannonOrdnance:Two K-13/AA-2 Atoll or R-60/AA-8 Aphid air-to-air missiles or two 500-kg bombs

Uganda Air Force - Mikoyan-Gurevinch MiG-21Bis

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed and built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. More than 30 countries of the world have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations a half-century after its first flight. Its Mach 2 capability exceeds the top speed of many later modern fighter types. Estimates are that more than 10,000 MiG-21s were built, more than any other supersonic jet aircraft

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron, U.S. Air Force
Tonopah AFB, mid-’80s

During the 1970s, the Foreign Technology Division USAF obtained a number of Soviet-built fighters from various sources, including several MiG-21s. Following their evaluation within the frame of other projects, they gradually entered service with 4477th TES "Red Eagles" at Tonopah AB, in the early 1980s. This formerly Indonesian MiG-21F-13 Fishbed C, was put on display in the VIP hangar of the 4477th TES. It wore the name of the then CO 4477th TES, Lt Col John T "Jack" Manclark ("Bandit #51") on its cockpit rails. A veteran Aggressor pilot with 900 sorties on Northrop F-5E, Manclark flew 301 sorties in the course of Project Constant Peg, the purpose of which was exposure of USAF, USN and USMC figher pilots to enemy technology and tactics. Manclark was CO 4477th TES from November 1985 till November 1987, while this MiG ended in an aviation museum in Eglin, Florida.

Chinese warship visits India

2009-08-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

On the morning of August 8, the PLA Navy’s “Shenzhen” missile destroyer which accomplished the escort task in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast arrived at the Kochi Port, India to start a 3-day-long goodwill visit under the leadership of Rear Admiral Yao Zhilou, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy.
The 6000 ton ship (167 Shenzhen) belongs to China's North Sea Fleet, it is current deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations.Shenzhen is the only Type 051B Luhai-class destroyer with a displacement of about 6,100 tonnes. It has a slope-sided hull designed with a view to minimising radar signature to dodge detection. It took part in the PLA Navy’s first goodwill visit to Africa in 2000, Europe in 2001 and Japan in 2007.

According to the schedule, the navies of the two sides will carry out a multiple of military exchanges, including a discussion on the experience of the escort in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast. The officers and men of the “Shenzhen” warship will also visit the Naval Submarine School and the Naval Aeronautical Engineering Academy of India and have a friendly basketball match with Indian sailors.
　　Located along the coast of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is the place where the Southern Naval Command of India is situated and also a major training base of the Indian Navy.

Kochi is also a major ship-building base and fishery port in India and the first aircraft carrier independently developed by India was built here.
　　In November 2005, the Chinese naval ship formation consisting of the “Shenzhen” warship and the “Weishanhu” comprehensive replenishment ship ever paid a 3-day-long goodwill visit to Kochi.

chinese army first armed helicopter unit

2009-08-23T12:32:00.001-07:00

In mid 1980s, at the time of disarming one million servicemen, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) formed its youngest arm, the army aviation force.
　　An army aviation regiment under the General Staff Headquarters (GSH) of the PLA is the first armed helicopter troop unit of the PLA. Since its birth more than 20 years ago, the regiment has developed into a powerful contingent being capable of making rapid projection, conducting precision attack, effectively controlling the air space and offering timely support.
　　Over the past years, through continuously tempering the capability of quickly setting out in unfamiliar areas and under complicated meteorological conditions, the army aviation regiment has gradually broken up the restriction of implementing combat missions by relying on fixed airport. In such major military exercises as “Sword 2000”, it realized rapid support in the air and became an indispensable important striking force.
　　During the implementation of diversified tasks as flood fighting and disaster relief, security and guard for Olympic Games, test flight of scientific research and disaster relief in the Wenchuan earthquake, the army aviation regiment has made prominent contributions in protecting the people’s life and property.
　　The army aviation regiment ever participated in the searching and retrieving tasks of the previous Shenzhou series manned spaceship. In performing the task of Shenzhou VII manned spaceship, the regiment created a miracle that the helicopter and the re-entry capsule arrived at the landing spot almost at the same time.

china naval ships in waters off Somalia, Gulf of Aden

2009-08-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

Chinese naval soldiers enter a helicopter aboard the Zhoushan missile frigate of the Chinese escort flotilla to protect merchant vessel "Weiyuan" from pirates in the Aden Gulf, Aug. 21, 2009

　　The convoy, the second from China to patrol the pirate-infested area, was sent to the region on April 2 this year. It was made up of guided missile destroyer "Shenzhen", missile frigate "Huangshan" and a supply ship. The convoy amassed 85,000 sea miles in 142 days' voyaging. During that time it escorted 308 merchant ships, conducted regional cover for 85 more and went to the assistance of four being attacked, the source said.In view of the new features of piracy, Li Xinfeng warned the passing ships to strengthen guard against piracy and try to join in or follow the escort taskforce. Should a mishap occur, the victim must promptly send a signal to warships of various countries to ask for help, and quickly change the sailing course and speed to take self-rescue measures and steer clear of pirate attacks as soon as possible. In addition, the vessels should open the “Automatic Identification System” during the sailing and turn on the navigation light at night when following the escort taskforce, so as to receive timely assistance when in distress

russian navy cruiser Moskva wallpapers

2009-08-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

The other vessels, from left to right are cruiser Moskva a Kara-class ASW cruiser, a Ropucha-class LST and a Krivak-class ASW frigate (all NATO designations).

Russian Navy Slava Class Guided Missle Cruiser

widescreen wallpapers of russian heavy cruiser Moskva

Black Sea fleet flagship Moskva, project 1164 Displacing 9,380 tons (11,490 tons full load) The class bristles with weapons systems and sensors, giving it a modern version of the Fierce Face look, so notable in Cold War Soviet warship designs. Overpowering all else are the sixteen P-500 Bazalt Surface to Surface Missile (SSM) canisters with their 4K80 missiles, NATO Code name SS-N-12 Sandbox
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French Jean Bart battleship pictures

2009-08-21T22:42:00.001-07:00

Jean Bart was a ww2 French Dunkerque class battleship,The Dunkerque class was a new type of warship of the French Navy, labelled as fast battleship. Not quite the size of a full battleship, they were designed to counter the threat of the German pocket battleships of the Deutschland class. Their speed, shielding, armament and overall technology were state of the art, Jean Bart's deck protection was perhaps better than that of any other battleship short of Yamato. At the Battle of Casablanca, the Massachusetts successfully penetrated the Jean Bart's armor deck at a range of 25,000 yards.

F-14 fighter jet wallpapers

2009-08-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

Lieutenant West McCall F-14 pilot from Deland, Fla., and Lieutenant Kimberly Arrington, a Radar Intercept Officer from King, N.C., test fire a Phoenix air to air missile as part of an Annual Proficiency exercise.
Pula, Croatia (Oct. 28, 2002) -- An F-14B "Tomcat" Fighter jet flies in formation with a pair of MiG-21 assigned to the Croat Air Force.

2) Northern Iraq (Apr. 11, 2003) -- A U.S. Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), flies a combat mission in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A F-14 Fighter aircraft (VF-143) "Pukin Dogs" receives final maintenance before evening flight operations on the flight deck of USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN73).
An F14B Tomcat assigned to Fighter Attack Squadron Three Two (VF-32) (Swordsmen) Prepares to land on the flight deck of Truman . USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)

An F14D Tomcat assigned to the "Blacklions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213) launches from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

An F14D Tomcat from Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31), the “Tomcatters,” performs a fly by past the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep wing, two-place strike fighter. The Tomcat's primary missions are air superiority, fleet air defense and precision strike against ground targets.(4) U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley

An F14D Tomcat assigned to the "Tomcatters" of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) launches from the flight deck of aircraft carrier

Arabian GulfAboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)Sailors part of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) prepares to do maintenance on an F-14 Tomcat on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight are currently underway on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting maritime security operations.

Arabian Gulf (July 09, 2004) - An F-14D Tomcat fighter jet assigned to the Jolly Rogers of Fighter Squadron (VF 103) and an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight One (VFA 81) makes final preparation for launch from the flight deck of USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). USS John F. Kennedy Strike Group currently on a regularly scheduled deployment, is taking part in Summer Pulse 04.

OVER IRAQ -- An F-14 Tomcat flies through the sky during a combat mission August 14 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lee O. Tucker

F14 tomcat in the Gulf War

2009-08-21T20:30:00.001-07:00

A Fighter Squadron 74 (VF-74) F-14A Tomcat aircraft taxis past three other Tomcats on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60)

An F-14 Tomcat assigned to the "Swordsmen" of Fighter Squadron (VF) 32 launches off the number two steam powered catapult aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Currently, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 embarked on Truman are providing close air support and conducting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in ongoing operations. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and CVW-3 are currently on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

An AIM-54C Phoenix missile and two chaff and flare dispensers sit on skids beside a Fighter Squadron 103 (VF-103) F-14A Tomcat aircraft on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60) during gulf war.

An F-14A Tomcat aircraft refuels from a U.S. Air Force KC-10A Extender aircraft as other Tomcats fly in formation, during Operation Desert Storm. Squadrons represented by the aircraft are, from foreground: Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33), Fighter Squadron 84 (VF-84) and Fighter Squadron 14 (VF-14).
An underside view of a Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) F-14A Tomcat aircraft on a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) during gulf war. The aircraft is carrying four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles under its fuselage and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on each wing pylon.

Three Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) F-14A Tomcat aircraft fly in formation over the desert during gulf war. VF-32 is based aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67).

An F-14 Tomcat aircraft of Fighter Squadron 103 (VF-103) prepares for refueling during gulf war. The aircraft is armed with AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

Action in Desert Storm--
As an air-to-air fighter, the F-14 did not get to see much of the Iraqi Air Force given their destruction and their desire not to fly.Fleet deliveries of Navy F-14D fighters began in March 1990, but the fighters did not have a defensive system to jam signals from radar-guided missiles homing in on the aircraft. F-14's were used to provide combat air patrols over attacking carrier based aircraft and their ships, an F-14A from VF-103 was shot down by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile while on an escort mission near Al Asad airbase in Iraq. A total of 4,124 sorties were flown by the 99 F-14 Tomcats deployed to the Gulf.for a total of 14,248 flight hours.

Canadian Forces CC-177 Airlifter photos

2009-08-21T19:50:00.001-07:00

Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III Aircraft Photos
Going for a tactical take-off: a steep climb at Leeuwarden Air Base (EHLW) on 22 may 2009 of Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster-III 177702 of 429 Squadron.

the strategic and tactical CC-177 Globemasters Airlifter There are 4 of these planes in service with the RCAF

Cargo compartement of the C17

Canadian Forces C-17 (CC-177)

Nice! I like the big Canada label, it's a bit less bland than the USAF counterparts.I'm a big fan of these aircraft. The first time I saw a C-17 up close was right before I boarded one to Iraq -- walking around the nose to the crew door right at sunset on the tarmac at Frankfurt, it was a spectacular scene! I wish I'd been into aircraft photography back then.

Arriving in cloudy weather at Leeuwarden Air Base (EHLW) on 22 may 2009 is Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster-III 177702 of 429 Squadron.

C17 cockpit

CC-177 from 429 Sqn Trenton

P-8A poseidon navy patrol aircraft

2009-08-21T12:44:00.001-07:00

Second P-8A Poseidon for the United States Navy. Line 2814, Cn# 34396. Will flight test with registration N441BA.P-8's markings are a lot more visible than the E-6's.Then again, the E-6 is a "TACAMO" plane and the P-8 is a maritime patrol bird...less secrecy than an E-6.

B737 P-8A Poseidon

US Navy next long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, The P-8A is a derivative of boeing 737-800 and has the wings of a 737-900. The P-8A will carry the MK 54 Torpedo Anti-Submarine weapon

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Anti-Submarine and Anti-surface Warfare
Contractor: Boeing IDS
Date Deployed: First squadron is planned for 2013.
Propulsion: Two high-bypass CFM56 turbofan engines
Length: 129.5 feet (39.47 meters)
Height: 42.1 feet (12.83 meters).
Wingspan: 117.2 feet.
Weight: Maximum gross takeoff, 188,200 pounds
Airspeed: 490 knots.
Ceiling: 41,000 ft.
Range: 1,200 nautical miles radius with four hours on station.
Crew: Nine.
Armament: Torpedoes, cruise missiles, bombs, mines

uss george washington cvn 73 wallpapers

2009-08-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

090522-N-6233C-142PACIFIC OCEAN (May 22, 2009) An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the “Diamondbacks” assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 launches from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward deployed aircraft carrier, is underway conducting a combat operations efficiency evaluation in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Rachel N. Clayton/Released)

PACIFIC OCEAN (July 2, 2009) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) lowers her port anchor off the coast of Fremantle, Western Australia before a port visit. George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward deployed aircraft carrier, is in port and scheduled to participate in Talisman Saber 2009, a series of training exercises hosted by the Australian Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo

The last few days the USS George Washington has been anchored a couple of kilometers off the Fremantle coastline. An impressive sight it is, and has been drawing a lot of attention. If you look closely you'll see the tail fins of one of the blue angels on deck.

military blog link exchange

2009-08-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

i want to exchange links with military related blogs,other theme also accept.please post you blog url in the comment below.

mil mi 24 hind helicopter gunship picture gallery

2009-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

modernized Mi-24 with thermal sights, rotor elements from Mi-28 and double barrel cannon 23mm GSh-23 Russian army attack helikopter Mi-35M HIND

(FILES) Picture taken 27 August 2004 of a couple of Russian-made Mi-24 assault helicopters firing AT missiles during joint Russian-Armenian military maneuvers in Armenia. Venezuela signed at the end of 2006 a contract with Russia to buy 24 Sukhoi-30 multi-rol aircrafts and 53 Mi-24 helicopters, among other weapons. US director of national intelligence Michael MaConnell said 27 February, 2007 that the purchase of weapons by Venezuela may increase the arms race in Latin America. AFP PHOTO / HAKOB BERBERYAN / ARMINFO

Mi 24 Super Hind Helicopter at Ysterplaat Airshow, Cape Town

Georgia Air Force - Mil Mi-24 - Миль Ми-24 - Hind

I think it is one the Hinds that we bought from the former Soviet States. We use to have a hind and a Ka-25 fly through. Awesome helicopter, heavy armor.

Armed to the teeth

The well known MI-24 [think Rambo movies, although I think that the Rambo ones were the big MI-35's]. Russian attack helicopter. South African Vodka : MI-24

Mi-24 helicopters gunship

US navy ship destroyer photos

2009-08-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

USS STERETT (DDG 104)

USS John S. McCain

USS Mason, DDG 87, US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer , Nassau

USS Mahan (DDG-72), Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, United States Navy. New York, USA. July, 2009.

PHUKET, Thailand (June 26, 2009) - USS Gridley (DDG 101) is anchored in Phuket Bay. Gridley is part of Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, which is currently on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of global maritime security. (U.S. Navy ship photo

The USS Halsey was commissioned in 2005. In 2006, the Halsey suffered fire damage during it's maiden run. The Halsey is apart of the Pacific Fleet based in San Diego.

001112-N-2147W-030Arabian Gulf (Nov. 12, 2000) -- An aerial view of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fletcher (DD 992) Spruance-class destroyer operating in the Arabian Gulf in support of Exercise Arabian Shark 2000. U.S. Navy ship photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class David J. Weideman. (RELEASED)

USS Charles Berry destroyer escort. I went aboard at Adak Island, Alaska and cruised around the Bering sea.

USS Emmons (DD-457/DMS-22) was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy,Between December 1943 and April 1944, Emmons guarded carriers during their operations at Newport and in Casco Bay, aiding in the training of aviators. On 20 April she sailed from Maine waters for the Azores, and Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria, arriving 1 May for antisubmarine patrols. On 17 May, her group teamed with British aircraft to sink the German submarine U-616, and the next day, Emmons sailed for England, and final preparations for the invasion of France, 6 June. After guarding preassault minesweeping, she joined in the heavy bombardment prior to the landing. She remained off the beachhead for three days as watchdog for the vast armada of ships lining up with men and supplies, then retired across the English Channel to Plymouth, England, screening Texas (BB-35). Returning to the assault area 11 June, Emmons served in the screen guarding transports and supply ships from submarine attack. After replenishing at Porltand, England, from 21 to 24 June, she kept watch around battleships and cruisers during the bombardment of Cherbourg, 25 June.

USS Nitze. Destroyer - Arliegh Burke class. Operating in support of aircraft carriers, these ships also engage in surface action, amphibious and replenishment groups. Seen here in New York, USA. May 2008. "Fleetweek". Built at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, this bad boy is poised to project American sea power around the globe. As one of many Arleigh Burke class destroyers, this ship has tremendeous speed and firepower.

081021-N-9928E-057PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 21, 2008) The Arleigh Burk-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) steams behind the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) acting as plane guard during flight operations. Stennis and Kidd are part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group conducting a composite training unit exercise off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

US Navy - USS Buchanan DDG 14 Guided Missile Destroyer

The Coontz-class guided-missile destroyer William V Pratt (DDG-44) receiving cargo from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter belonging to the USS Mount Baker (AE-34) in the Mediterranean, during US Sixth Fleet operations. There were 10 ships in the class which is sometimes known as the Farragut class. They were ordered in 1957 and 1958 and all 10 were delivered to the US Navy by November 1961. Each displaced 5,800 tons full load. At 156m long and with a 16m beam they could achieve a top speed of 33 kts. Originally commissioned as guided-missile frigates (DLG), they were redesignated as guided-missile destroyers (DDG) under the fleet realignment in 1975. They were the only ships renumbered under the realignment. They were the only US Navy destroyers to be equipped with the Standard SM-1 SAM.

gulf war fighter aircraft pictures

2009-08-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

An ordnance trailer is parked in front of two F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft of the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon Air Base, Spain, armed with bombs and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as they are prepared for a mission during gulf war Operation Desert Storm. At right are three Coalition F-1C Mirage fighter aircraft.

A Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) F-14A Tomcat aircraft, foreground, flies a joint patrol with a British Royal Air Force FGR. Mark 2 Phantom II aircraft during gulf war. The VF-42 Tomcat aircraft is based aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67).
An air-to-air view of two U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and a Royal Saudi Air Force F-5E Tiger II fighter aircraft during a mission in support of gulf war. The aircraft are armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

An underside view of a Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) F-14A Tomcat aircraft on a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) during Operation Desert Storm gulf war. The aircraft is carrying four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles under its fuselage and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on each wing pylon.

Three Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) F-14A Tomcat aircraft fly in formation over the desert during gulf war. VF-32 is based aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67).

Sgt. Ken Mahaley, crew chief, 17th Avionics Squadron, launches an F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., during the first wave of the air attack on Iraq in support of Operation Desert Storm. The Falcon is armed with Mark 84 2,000-pound bombs mounted under its wings.

Capt. Chris Castleberry, a pilot from the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, gives the thumbs up signal from the cockpit of his F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft as he prepares for takeoff during gulf war

An air-to-air view of a multinational group of fighter jets, including, left to right, a Qatari F-1 Mirage, a French F-1C Mirage, a U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, a Canadian CF/A-18A Hornet and a Qatari Alpha Jet, during Operation Desert Shield.

A ground crew member signals to the pilot of a 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft as it prepares to takeoff on the first daylight strike against Iraqi targets during Operation Desert Storm.

A B-52G Stratofortress bomber aircraft of the 1708th Bomb Wing takes off on a mission during Operation Desert Storm.

Members of the 4th Weapons Squadron load SUU-65/B tactical munition dispensers onto an aircraft as they ready it for a mission during Operation Desert Shield.

A Kuwaiti Mirage 2000C fighter aircraft takes off for an air strike against Iraqi targets in support of Operation Desert Storm.

A 1st Tactical Fighter Wing F-15C Eagle aircraft refuels from a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft while on a combat patrol near the Iraqi border during Operation Desert Shield.

U.S. Marine Corps F/A -18C Hornet strike-fighter jet from Marine Fighter-Attack Squadron 212 (VMFA-212), Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Base, Hawaii, fly in formation during Operation Desert Shield.

A Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 Eagle fighter jet approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 1700th Air Refueling Squadron Provisional for refueling during Operation Desert Shield.

EF-111A Raven aircraft prepare to takeoff on a mission during Operation Desert Shield.

Munitions specialists from the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, England Air Force Base, La., load an AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile onto an A-10A Thunderbolt II attack aircraft prior to a sortie in support of Operation Desert Storm.

An F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is prepared for a strike against targets in Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm

RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance aircraft from the 152nd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Reno, Nev., prepare for a mission during Operation Desert Shield.

A Saudi Arabian Tornado aircraft takes off on a mission during Operation Desert Storm.

A Kuwaiti pilot taxies an A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft toward the runway during Operation Desert Shield. Severed from its leadership and attacked where it lived, the Iraqi
Air Force (IQAF) was largely preempted from fighting. Those few
pilots who did go aloft did not fare well. Capt Steve Tate, the flight
leader of four F-15s from the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, saw solid
streams of tracers over Baghdad—arcing like colored snakes—with
bombs going off everywhere. An E-A AWACS aircraft warned him
of an Iraqi Mirage F-1, which had just taken off and was closing on
the four Eagles from astern. He broke hard, turned behind the Mirage,
fired an AIM-7 Sparrow, and watched it track the Iraqi fighter, which
disintegrated in a huge fireball—one of 35 Iraqi aircraft that
eventually fell to American and Saudi fighters. With runways cratered
and many aircraft destroyed as ground crews readied them for flight,
Iraqi commanders chose to keep their remaining planes sealed in
bunkers, safe until they could be used at a moment of Iraq’s own
choosing. Thus, the IQAF never really got into the air

F-15E Eagle fighter jet from the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., are parked on a desert air field during Operation Desert Shield.

A-4 Skyhawk fighter pictures

2009-08-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Australia Navy - McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk lands on aircraft carrier Melbourne

Israeli Air Force fighter

Scooters! or may I say Skyhawks

Singapoor Air Force jet fighter squadron based at Cazaux Air Base (France) for training

Brazilian Navy - McDonnell Douglas A-4Ku Skyhawk -AF1 Skyhawk - VF1 "Falcoes" on the aircraft carrier São Paulo - A 12 - ex-Foch - R 99 - ex-Richelieu

Singapore Air Force, TA-4SU Skyhawk (Super Skyhawk

McDonnell-Douglas A-4N Skyhawk II N261WL, ATSI/ATAC

Royal New Zealand Air Force - Douglas A-4K Skyhawk

mig 29 fighter jets pictures

2009-08-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

this is the second prototyp of the carrier variant of MIG-29 at soviet union, the tail number is 312, first prototyp 311

MIG-29SMT with modern russian missiles R27Et

This cockpit layout is for the Indian navy MIG-29K, the LCD`s are made in Russia from Ramenskoje Design Bureau

former prototyp of the soviet MIG-29M, tailnumber 156

Cannot identify yet those gray cannisters and the black pod in the left, but in the right we are seeing a Kh-29T air-to-ground missile, two R-27 missiles (AA-10 Alamo, not sure about version, but probably R-27T), a R-73 (the famous AA-11 Archer) and a general purpose FAB bomb (250 or 500, not sure).The left R-27 is the radar homing missile and the right one the IR homing ( to identify with the red safety cap on the head for the IR-sensor eye ).The versions with extended firing range is identify on the thicker last third missile body ( bigger diameter ). This versions carry the letter E in the missile name: R-27ET for IR and R-27ER for radar
Belarus modernized MIG-29BM R27er CH 29t missiles

MIG-29SMT cockpit

mig 29 cockpit

Air Fair 2009 - Bydgoszcz Poland

german mig29 firing AA10 missile

Polish MiG-29UB during RNLAF Open Days 2009 at Volkel

Ukraine, Viktoria Mekotova, MiG-29 Female Pilot

Short-range Soviet heat-seeking air to air missile used on the MiG-23 and MiG-29
Molniya R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid")

Polish airforce MiG-29

flying mig29

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 29

MiG-29 with full weapon load performs an inside ascend

Indian Mig-29KUBs during air refuel practice

03 Red International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2009

czech sexy female soldiers in short skirts

2009-08-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Would you like to join the czech armed forces

I love a country that dresses their female soldiers in short skirts. She is very sexy

FEMALE CZECH PEACEKEEPERS

russian military woman pictures

2009-08-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

More russsian female troops.Note the curious variety of shoes and boots!But they have many beautiful soldiers...

sexy legs,Look at all the different type shoes.But best of all look at the girl in the middle row, third from the right, Look down you willsee she is wearing pants. Now look at her shoes. What Is That ??When I saw Russian Female Soldiers they never looked like theones in this picture. Very Interesting.

Kh-35 air to ship missile

2009-08-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Kh-35 (3M24) Uran (SS-N-25 Switchblade) Following a decision made in April 1984, OKB Zvezda started work on a "universal" (sea-, air- and coastal-launched) anti-ship missile, designated the Kh-35 (air launched) or 3M24 (sea launched). It was almost an copy of the US AGM-84 Harpoon, with the same concept, layout, and similar characteristics. The air-launched missile could be fired from altitudes from 200 to 5,000 m and had a range of 150 km. The missile was designed to engage small and fast vessels, such as enemy missile and torpedo boats and small assault ships. It could also attack transport ships with displacements of up to 5,000 tons. It was then assumed that such types of targets did not require sophisticated missile systems like the Moskit or Oniks, which were designed to engage frigates, cruisers, destroyers, and larger transport ships, especially those in convoys protected by frigates or destroyers. That is why the Uran missile is small and less sophisticated, as well as having a seeker optimized for low-RCS targets and able to track fast-moving objects. It has also low-weight high- explosive, fragmentation/incendiary warhead (believed to weigh 145 kg, though some sources say 90 kg). In the early 1990s, a sea-launched version of the missile, dubbed the 3M24, was tested. This version has a range of 130 km and has a solid-rocket booster with a turbojet engine for cruise. The cruise phase is conducted at 10-15 m in altitude at a speed of up to 300 m/sec. The terminal phase is conducted at an altitude of 3-5 m at the same speed. The missile employs the ARGS-35 active radar seeker The typical sea launcher, designated KT-184, has four angled tubes. Four such launchers (16 missiles) are mounted on modified Tarantul-class vessels. The ships have been exported to Vietnam, and a single ship is used by the Russian Navy for trials and training of foreign crews. Space for four launchers can also be found on a single new Russian "Project 1154" frigate. The ship, the Neustrashimiy , was commissioned in 1993 and serves with the Baltic Fleet, but the launchers have never actually been mounted on it. Also, two "Project 1135" Krivak I-class frigates - the Legkiy and the Pilkyi - were modernized to the "Project 1135.2" standard, receiving two four- tube launchers for the 3M24 Uran system. Through 2002 the ships have not carried any actual missiles, only empty stands for the launchers. The ships also received the MR-755 Fregat (NATO: Half Plate) radar for target designation and the Garpun-Bal (NATO: Plank Shave) radar for fire control. The Garpun-Bal combines quickly switchable active and passive modes. In the active target- designation mode, it operates in I/J band and can detect and track up to 150 targets. The radar's range is 35-45 km. The passive channel searches for pulse and continuous-wave signals. When a signal is located, the radar identifies the hostile emitter from a library of up to 1,000 signatures. The signal's bearing is also measured. The maximum range of the passive channel is over 100 km, depending on the frequency. Aside from Vietnam, the other export customer of the Uran system is the Indian Navy. Four Delhi- class destroyers are armed with 16 Uran launchers apiece. The ships are also equipped with Russian-made MR-755 Fregat and Garpun-Bal radar sets. Other Indian ships on which 3M24 Uran system is used are four P-25A type corvettes. They also have four quadruple KT-184 launchers.

In addition to the anti-ship version of the Uran system, a Glonass-controlled, land-attack variant has also been developed: the 3M24M Uranium (3M24E1 in export). The 3M24E1 system will be introduced into service with the Indian Navy. It carries more fuel, extending its maximum range to 250 km. An imaging-infrared seeker, in place of the active radar seeker, has reportedly also been tested on a basic 3M24 missile. 3M24 (Kh-35) Uran The Kh-35 (3M24 Uran) missile is similar to the US Harpoon. Like the Harpoon, it is deployable on a wide variety of platforms, with ship- and air-launched and coastal-defense versions available. It is an autonomous weapon using an inertial system for initial guidance, followed by an active radar seeker for the final stage. The latter is equipped with home-on-jam and ECCM capabilities. The air- launched version has TV-guided and IR variants, designated Kh-37 Uranium. An air-launched version entered limited service in 1994. The missile's power plant consists of a solid-fuel booster and a turbojet sustainer. Russian Designation 3M24 (ship launched); Kh-35 Uran (air-launched) NATO / DoD Designation SS-N-25 Switchbalde Manufacturer Zvezda Design Bureau Guidance Mid-course autopilot; terminal active/ passive radar seeker (TV and possible IR seeker for some export models) Warhead 145 kg semi-armor piercing incendiary Propulsion one solid-fuel boosters, turbojet sustainer Range 130 km Speed Mach 0.95 / 315 m/sec Length 3.75 m Body Diameter 420 mm Wingspan 930 mm Launch Weight 630 kg Development Start 1984 Date Operational 1993 (ship launched), 1994 (air launched) Launch Platforms Ships: Project 1135.4 (Krivak IV), Project 1454 (Neustrashimy), Project 1166.1 (Gepard) –class frigates, Project 1241.8 (Tarantul IV) -class corvettes. Project 151A (Sassnitz) -class fast missile boats Air: Tu-142 Bear, MiG-29K Fulcrum, Su-27K Flanker, Su-32 Fullback, Ka-27 Helix Users Russia, India, China, Vietnam and Algeria

Moskit SS-N-22 Sunburn anti ship missile

2009-08-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

P-270 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn) In the early 1970s, it became obvious that the P-15 family no longer met the requirements of the current naval battlespace, which called for better penetration capabilities and longer range. To meet the new requirements, a team from MKB Raduga (Dubna) started working on a new, supersonic, sea-skimming anti-ship missile that would be designated the 3M80 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn), which is also referred as the P-270 system in numerous Russian sources.

The P-270 (3M80) Moskit is a medium-range high-supersonic anti-ship missile with sea-skimming capability that came into service in the 1980s and was designed to attack ships with a sophisticated command-and-control system. Earlier versions were designated P-80 Zubr. Its guidance is by an inertial system with final-stage homing by an active radar seeker. The latter has a home-on-jam capability. Associated with the Moskit is the Band Stand radar, which operates over the frequency ranges from D to F and acts as an air and search radar, with a secondary tracking function for anti-ship missiles. As with several of the Russian long- and medium-range missiles, the fire-control system also receives data from the ship's helicopters using the I/J-band Big Bulge radar to provide radar pictures for mid-course guidance updates if necessary. The Moskit is a ramjet- powered missile with a slim forward body, ovoid nose, and a fatter rear half with four divided air intakes. There are four clipped delta-platform wings and four smaller tail surfaces of similar shape, organized in a cruciform configuration around the fuselage. It is a main armament of Sovremenny- class destroyers.

A new active/ passive radar-guidance system was developed by GosNPO Altair. The radar works in switchable modes, from active search to passive track of the target's radar and electronic-countermeasures (ECM) signals (home on jam). The Moskit missile has the typical missile shape, with "X" scheme wings at mid-fuselage and "X" all- moving control surfaces in the rear. The missile is powered by a ramjet-type, liquid-fuel sustainer and a solid-rocket booster, which is used in the first four seconds of flight. The missile's range is 120 km (high-low profile) or 80 km (low profile), or 160 and 120 km, respectively, for the 3M82 Moskit-M version. These ranges include maneuvers, so theoretically a missile could reach longer distances if it flew directly. The missile's speed is Mach 2.6 (2,800 kmph) at high altitude and Mach 1.5 (1,800 kmph) at low altitude. At 10 km from its target, the time until impact is less than 20 seconds, leaving little opportunity for reaction. Also, the passive radar mode enables the missile to detect active jamming sources and use them for homing. This and other features of the missile's radar seeker make it very ECM resistant. Work on the Moskit missile started in 1973, and it was accepted into service in 1981 in its initial 3M80 / P-80 version (93 km range) and in 1984 in the subsequent 3M80M / P-80M (3M80E in export) version (120 km range). The final version of the missile is the 3M82 Moskit-M / P-270 , with the range extended to 150-160 km. It is fired from the KT-190M launcher. Series production of the missile continues at the AKK Progress factory in Arsenyev. The 3M80 and 3M80M missile systems were introduced to service with "Project 956" Sovremenny- class destroyers, while the 3M82 entered service on slightly modified later ships of the type. In total, 18 of both sub- variants were commissioned between 1980 and 1999 for the Russian Navy (one was reportedly stored, incomplete due to a lack of funding). Two more have been built and commissioned in from 2000 to 2001 by the Chinese Navy (with 3M80E systems). Each destroyer is armed with eight launchers, in two KT-190 boxes of four launchers each. The Mineral (NATO: Band Stand) ire-control system consists of a radar set integrated with a passive radio/ radar receiver.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Soviet and later the Russian Navy also received 34 small ships of the "Project 1241.1RZ" Molnya-M class (NATO: Tarantul III), 28 of which remain in Russian service today. One was transferred to Ukraine in 1997, and five were decommissioned due to a lack of funds. The ships are a modified version of the "Project 1241.1" Molnya class (Tarantul II), which were armed with four launchers for P-15M Termit missiles. Under Project 1241.1RZ, these were replaced with four launchers for P-270 Moskit missiles: two KT-152 boxes with two launchers each. The ships also have the smaller Titanit (NATO: Band Stand) fire-control system, also of the active/passive type. The last type of ship that employs the 3M80 Moskit system is the "Project 1239" Sivuch (Bora / Dergach -class) small missile air-cushioned vessel, of which two were commissioned (in 1989 and 1992). The Bora-class is armed with eight launchers, similar to Sovremenny-class destroyers. One of these ships serve with the Russian Baltic Fleet (41st Brigade), and one serves with the Russian Black Sea Fleet (36th Brigade). The 3M80/82 Moskit system is one of the most successful Russian anti-ship missiles. It is designed to be employed against smaller NATO naval groups in the Baltic Sea (Danish and German) and the Black Sea (Turkish) and non-NATO vessels in the Pacific (Japanese, South Korean, etc.). The other main targets were to be NATO amphibious groups. Against the latter, small vessels were to conduct attacks in groups of two to four ships in hit-and-run-type attacks, firing eight to 16 missiles in a coordinated salvo. The Moskit's computerized mission-planning system enables a given salvo, fired over a period of time, to have routes preset so that the entire salvo arrives at the target area at the same moment. Similar tactics were to be used against transport ships in coastal waters, although fewer missiles were to be fired (two to four against a single target). Destroyers armed with the Moskit were intended to operate in larger naval attack groups formed around cruisers. The purpose of such groups during the Cold War was to protect the Northern Area (the so-called "Bastion") against penetration by US submarines and carrier groups, to support Soviet amphibious operations, and - in favorable conditions - to engage trans-Atlantic shipment and disrupt sea lines of communication between the US and Europe. Presently, in the Russian Navy, the Moskit-armed destroyers are intended to fight ships such as cruisers, destroyers, and frigates that are part of a carrier group or, more frequently, operating separately in groups. Although the Cold War is over, the US Navy is still treated as an adversary by the Russian Navy. It is also commonly understood that if the Russian Navy is able to counter US fleet elements, it is able to defeat any other enemy. P-270 Moskit The missile is powered by a ramjet-type, liquid-fuel sustainer and a solid-rocket booster, which is used in the first four seconds of flight. The missile's range is 120 km (high-low profile) or 80 km (low profile), or 160 and 120 km, respectively, for the 3M82 Moskit-M version. These ranges include maneuvers, so theoretically a missile could reach longer distances if it flew directly. The missile's speed is Mach 3 at high altitude and Mach 2.2 at low altitude. The passive radar mode enables the missile to detect active jamming sources and use them for homing. This and other features of the missile's radar seeker make it very ECM resistant.

Russian Designation P-80 Zubr (3M80) P-80M Moskit (3M82) P-270 Moskit-M (3M82M) NATO / Designation SS-N-22 Sunburn
Manufacturer Raduga Design Bureau Guidance Mid-course autopilot; terminal active / passive radar seeker Warhead 320 kg HE semi-armor piercing or 200 kT nuclear Propulsion Solid-rocket accelerator, liquid-fuel ramjet sustainer
Range 93 km 120 km 160 km
Speed Mach 2.6 / 865 m/sec
Mach 3 / 1000 m/sec Length 9.385 m 9.72 m 9.73 m
Body Diameter 1,298 mm Wingspan 1,900 mm 2,100 mm
Launch Weight 3,950 kg n.k. 4,150 kg
Development Start 1973 n.k. n.k.
Date Operational 1980 1984 Mid 1990s
Launch Platforms Project 956 (Sovremenny), Project 1155B (Udaloy II) -class destroyers, Project 1241.1MR (Tarantul III)missile boat, Project 1239 (Bora / Dergach) –class fast missile corvettes Users Russia and China