USAF airborne LASER destroys boosting missile

Posté le 12 février 2010 de Toni G.

2/12/2010 – WASHINGTON (AFNS) – Missile Defense Agency officials demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed, successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile Feb. 11 over the Pacific Ocean.

The experiment, conducted at Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast, serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration for directed energy technology.
The Airborne Laser Testbed is a pathfinder for the nation’s directed energy program and its potential application for missile defense technology.

Read further on the YAL-1A, a modified Boeing 747-400F known as the Airborne Laser on: >>>>>

Video below:

Indian Air Force Sukhoi 30MKI – Flanker H

Posté le 26 novembre 2009 de Toni G.

Enlarge by clicking on the picture below:

Â© RIA Novosti

Argentine Air Force A-4AR Fightinghawk

Posté le 8 octobre 2009 de Toni G.

Developped from the A-4M Skyhawk, this ground attack fighter aircraft remains undoubtedly the Argentine Air Force flagship. Its roll-out dates back to 1998. The Fightinghawk is the Argentine government’s main asset in its crackdown on drugs for the A-4AR strike capability would be overpowering:

As far as the bombs are concerned, almost 10,000 lbs can be loaded. The elegant Fightinghawk streamlining features two sidewinders (AIM-9M); a jammer; a chaff and flare dispenser; two 20-mm guns; Sextant Avionique + Thales Avionics S.A. head-up display; a P&W J52 turbojet engine; and last but not least… a 1,700-nautical-mile range (i.e. 3220km)!

That is quite enough for a fighter aircraft deemed fairly light, isn’t it?

You can watch a video of this aircraft hereafter:

USAF officials begin search for new tanker

Posté le 30 septembre 2009 de Toni G.

Today, the department is announcing its acquisition strategy for a replacement aerial refueling tanker fleet for the aging KC-135 and KC-10 fleet, said William J. Lynn, deputy secretary of defense. He termed the search to be a « best value » competition, not one based solely on cost.

READ FULL ARTICLE on www.af.mil

Jim Zwayer and Bill Weaver took off that day – January 25th, 1966 !

Posté le 25 janvier 2009 de Toni G.

SR71 Blackbird – USAF photo by Tech SGT Michael Haggerty – Source: www.af.mil

This unbelievable test flight happened in 1966, and remained top secret for decades given the constraints of the Cold war at that time. You can read this breath-taking story in browsing into Google. Type – SR-71 Blackbird breakup at Mach 3.18 – (or click on this link, then on the first webpage of the Google list proposed). Plant yourself firmly in an armchair, then you can start to read the most amazing aeronautical report I have ever read!