Electra.aero’s Post

Come by next week to Booth #2003 and ask me how RIX Industries can solve your critical systems and support needs!

On April 26, 1962, the Lockheed A-12 took to the skies for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the history of covert aerial reconnaissance. This aircraft was the 12th in a series of internal design efforts for the "Archangel" project, Lockheed's internal code name for the program. In 1959, the A-12 design was selected over Convair's FISH and Kingfish proposals as the winner of Project GUSTO, a highly classified initiative to develop a new generation of high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance aircraft. The A-12 was then further developed and operated under the even more secretive Project Oxcart. #military #defense #defence #aerospace #aviation #aircraft #aircrafts #airplane #airplanes #aviationlovers #militaryaviation #militaryaircraft #fighterjet #engineering #technology #militarytechnology #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation #defenseindustry #airforce

I find it fascinating how the abilities of the MicroVCS addition can enhance the stealth and overall durability of an aircraft. By reducing the weight and thermal signal of the aircraft, it seems to be a fast track to a higher mission success rate for the aircrafts that implement it. Check it out!

The world of aviation is about to witness a game-changing technology! The 'Son of Blackbird,' also known as the SR-72, is being developed by Lockheed Martin, and it's set to become the world's fastest aircraft ever built. The SR-72 is expected to fly at an incredible speed of Mach 6, which is equivalent to a staggering 7,400 kilometers per hour. The SR-72 is the successor to the legendary US supersonic reconnaissance aircraft, the SR-71. Lockheed Martin has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, and the SR-72 is no exception. The aircraft's development will bring significant advancements in the field of aviation and defense. #military #defense #defence #aerospace #aviation #aircraft #aircrafts #airplane #airplanes #aviationlovers #militaryaviation #militaryaircraft #fighterjet #engineering #technology #militarytechnology #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation #defenseindustry #SR72 #LockheedMartin #AviationIndustry #CuttingEdgeTechnology #GameChanger

#DisruptiveTech As I research a commissioned piece on future naval strategies; the vulnerability of 'capital' ships is a theme that is resonating increasingly and no longer drowned out by stock sound bites, including the well rehearsed argument of 'power projection'. Technology innovation - not least autonomous systems on, above and under water - demands constant re-thinking and that causes headaches for navy planners who have to factor-in interminable build schedules. For example, the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth Class carriers have a 50 year service life. The first steel was cut in July 2009, exactly five years before the launch of HMS Queen Elizabeth and the design began in 1999 (that's 25 years ago). Meanwhile, the US Navy (USN) boasts the world's largest fleet with 11 aircraft carriers (not including helicopter carriers), with around three or four deployed at any one time. As of June 2024, there are 47 active aircraft carriers in the world operated by 14 navies. It seems that 'bigger is better' will continue as a main plank of naval strategic thinking, until (we hope not) a Tora! Tora! Tora! moment (the code that signalled the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) jolts conventional wisdom, despite the signposts from current action in theatres including the Black Sea and Red Sea. Echoing a stubborn adherence to flat top power, Justin Meyer the Executive Director for the USN’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Carriers told the Surface Navy Association annual symposium in Arlington, Virginia earlier this year "The US Navy is ramping up delivery of its new Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers just as there is demonstrable increased strategic and operational need for the capability an aircraft carrier provides." Meyer has oversight across a $50 billion portfolio that includes design and construction of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, execution of mid-life Refueling Complex Overhauls (RCOH) for Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, inactivation of ex-USS Enterprise (CVN 65), and life cycle support for all in-service aircraft carriers in the fleet. ➡️ Check out earlier earlier posts: 🎯 The US Navy's aircraft carrier nightmare has just begun 🎯 Going the way of the ironclads? The Mighty Aircraft Carrier Is Now Just a Floating Graveyard? Some Say Yes https://lnkd.in/eec6vmSg 🎯 The rise of the UAV Carrier (Naval Gazing) by Trevor Hollingsbee https://lnkd.in/dguEUbnh 🎯 Damen shipyard in Romania to build drone aircraft carrier for Portuguese navy https://lnkd.in/dYyHkBdm 🎯 US Navy envisions ‘hundreds of thousands’ of drones in the Pacific to deter China. https://lnkd.in/emprD5dS 🎯 A Northrop Grumman unmanned aircraft system is indispensable to the US Navy’s future ability to monitor actions around the world https://lnkd.in/e-95BwBA #aircraftcarriers #navy #seapower #battlespace Campaign Catapult, Pravo Consulting

The F/A-18 Hornet was the first tactical airframe designed to perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. Designed by McDonnell Douglas, the fighters can carry 16,000-pound thrust General Electric F404-400 engines and encompass full mission spectrum capabilities including reconnaissance, air superiority, close air support and other abilities. The Super Hornet variant is able to carry more fuel than its predecessors and feature a smaller radar cross-section, which makes it very difficult for enemy aircraft to detect.  The E-2D Hawkeye Northrop Grumman’s E-2 Hawkeye is also a formidable airframe. The carrier-capable, tactical airborne early warning airframe was initially conceptualized more than six decades ago. As detailed by Naval Technology, the latest E-2D Advanced Hawkeye variant possesses a new radar system, multi-sensor integration and theatre missile defense capabilities. Additional enhancements include: “True 360-degree radar coverage provides uncompromised all-weather tracking and situational awareness. Open architecture compliant, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based hardware and software enables rapid, cost-wise technology refresh for consistent leading-edge mission tools. A true FORCEnet enabler – A force multiplier through network enabled capability, Advanced Hawkeye is the gateway to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael G. Mullen’s vision for a “1,000-ship navy.” The F-22 Raptor Other than the F-35 Lightening II, the F-22 Raptor is perhaps the most recognizable fifth-generation fighter on the planet. Since its introduction to the Air Force several decades ago, the Raptor’s unparalleled capabilities has wowed military officials and aviation buffs alike. The fighter can reach speeds of Mach 2.4 and is able to do so without using an afterburner. Notably, the F-22’s tiny radar cross section makes it nearly impossible to detect, a critical capability when it comes to traditional dog fighting. 

📰 The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $3.4 billion contract to begin manufacturing 14 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force and three additional P-8s for the German Navy. Last year, Boeing and CAE signed teaming agreements to expand multi-mission platform collaboration in Canada, Germany, and Norway. These agreements use the complementary capabilities of each company to provide superior management, technical, and cost-effective training solutions for the P-8A Poseidon program. Currently, 200 P-8s are in service or on contract across nine countries including the United States, Australia, India, United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Germany, and Canada. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gWe-yNMe #beckwoodpress #manufacturing #manufacturer #industrial #industrialmanufacturing #engineering #technology #innovation #maintenance #metalforming #hydroforming #hydraulicpress #metalstamping #aerospace 

Time for the RAAF and Defence Department to fess up.. what are the mission capable figures for Australia's new fleet of F-35A's? New aircraft do take time to settle into operational life, but things change, and we need to have a better handle on these sorts of situations . Do we need to buy additional aircraft, perhaps more Super Hornets to provide greater reserves of redundancy? https://lnkd.in/gqpd7_xZ

🛡️ Reinforcing Naval Defense: A Leap Beyond Kinetics. How I see it: The potential of Gallium Nitride is vast. Gallium Nitride technology elevates our defense capabilities. In this dynamic naval landscape, the US Navy is advancing its non-kinetic capabilities by integrating Gallium Nitride-based active electronically scanned arrays. In the dynamic landscape of naval defense, SEWIP Block 3 emerges as a revolutionary force, propelled by advanced Gallium Nitride technology. Leading the charge is the USS Pinckney, showcasing the cutting-edge AN/SLQ-32(V)7—an unequivocal testament to the pinnacle of defense upgrades. In the realm of airborne defense, Lockheed Martin's AN/ALQ-248 AOEW seizes the spotlight as a game-changer for MH-60S/R helicopters. Operating independently or harmoniously synchronized with SEWIP, it stands as a formidable force multiplier, heralding a new era in electronic warfare capabilities. Transitioning from air to sea, the USS Chung-Hoon and USS James E. Williams eagerly gear up for the transformative SEWIP Block 3, poised to amplify their electronic warfare prowess. The anticipation builds as the FQT-1B testing success propels us forward, with Lockheed Martin gearing up for AOEW LRIP deliveries in 2024. Excitement mounts as we approach 2026, a pivotal year for the US Navy's initial operational test and evaluation of these groundbreaking technologies. Northrop Grumman takes the lead in pioneering SEWIP Block 3, while Lockheed Martin, in tandem, soars with the AN/ALQ-248 AOEW system. This self-contained pod promises a new era of coordinated defense against the ever-looming threat of anti-ship missiles. Yet, industry commitment to naval defense goes beyond the known horizons. The LEED project assures extended EW capabilities. This endeavor aligns seamlessly with ONR's Long Endurance Airborne Platform project, fortifying our naval defenses and promising a secure future on the horizon. In 2026, the US Navy plans initial operational test and evaluation, marking a pivotal moment in naval defense evolution. As industry partners, we must join DoD and the Navy in shaping the future of naval defense. Let's collaborate to enhance our capabilities and ensure the security of our seas. Together, we can achieve greater milestones and safeguard maritime interests for generations to come. #DefenseTechnology #GalliumNitride #SEWIP #NavalInnovation #ElectronicWarfare #Honeywell #RockyResearch #DirectedEnergy #Navy #DOD

The Convair XB-46 stood as a unique and pioneering experimental medium jet bomber from the mid-1940s. Despite its innovative design and capabilities, this aircraft never transitioned into production or operational service. It was part of a competitive landscape that included counterparts like the North American XB-45 and the Martin XB-48. However, following the successful development and deployment of the groundbreaking Boeing XB-47, these other designs, including the XB-46, saw limited utilization and ultimately did not fulfill their potential in the evolving landscape of military aviation. The XB-46's legacy lies in its contribution to the technological advancements and experimentation that paved the way for future developments in jet bomber aircraft. #military #defense #defence #aerospace #aviation #aircraft #aircrafts #airplane #airplanes #aviationlovers #militaryaviation #militaryaircraft #fighterjet #engineering #technology #militarytechnology #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation #defenseindustry #airforce