AirPower (MIL-STD)
@mil-std.bsky.social
Old radar types never die; they just phased array!
Aerospace, Defense and NatSec related content
#OpenSource. No affiliations to govt., media or industry
Aerospace, Defense and NatSec related content
#OpenSource. No affiliations to govt., media or industry
As captured by @CCFOC1, #AIM260 GS equipped a/c can be seen flying alongside a F35 on May 9. Both aircraft are participating in exercise Black Flag 25. Black Flag is an operational test-focused ex. that evaluates the suitability of emerging capabilities & tactics in operationally relevant scenarios
May 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
As captured by @CCFOC1, #AIM260 GS equipped a/c can be seen flying alongside a F35 on May 9. Both aircraft are participating in exercise Black Flag 25. Black Flag is an operational test-focused ex. that evaluates the suitability of emerging capabilities & tactics in operationally relevant scenarios
Our closest look at the AIM-260 #JATM guidance section yet. Quite a contrast to the AMRAAM with a much pointier radome and the almost non existent fins. Also distinct are the two sets of apertures covering the diameter of the section (presumably a multi-band targeting device). 📸 Colin Clark CCFOC1
May 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Our closest look at the AIM-260 #JATM guidance section yet. Quite a contrast to the AMRAAM with a much pointier radome and the almost non existent fins. Also distinct are the two sets of apertures covering the diameter of the section (presumably a multi-band targeting device). 📸 Colin Clark CCFOC1
While we have had acknowledgement of QF-16 FSAT flights to support development of the AIM-260A JATM going as far back as 2018-19, this most recent US Navy social media post appears to provide the first glimpse into #JATM - F/A-18 Super Hornet integration and test activities.
March 7, 2025 at 10:44 PM
While we have had acknowledgement of QF-16 FSAT flights to support development of the AIM-260A JATM going as far back as 2018-19, this most recent US Navy social media post appears to provide the first glimpse into #JATM - F/A-18 Super Hornet integration and test activities.
This combination of a low drag design (relative to AIM-120 etc), more advanced propulsion, and more volume for propellant should give JATM a significantly greater range (more importantly NEZ and endgame performance) than the AIM-120D though other range limitations still apply.
March 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
This combination of a low drag design (relative to AIM-120 etc), more advanced propulsion, and more volume for propellant should give JATM a significantly greater range (more importantly NEZ and endgame performance) than the AIM-120D though other range limitations still apply.
Longer motor & ⬇️ drag may not be the only updates. USAF has been known to be researching focused lethality enhanced warheads that allows for controllable frag concentration. This may further ⬇️ weight allowing for weight parity with AMRAAM despite significantly ⬆️ propellant.
March 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Longer motor & ⬇️ drag may not be the only updates. USAF has been known to be researching focused lethality enhanced warheads that allows for controllable frag concentration. This may further ⬇️ weight allowing for weight parity with AMRAAM despite significantly ⬆️ propellant.
A longer SRM motor is not the only thing going on with the JATM design shared in the graphic. It appears to be optimized for low drag. This would translate to ⬆️ performance relative to the AIM-120 for equivilant propellant/motor performance leaving even more in reserve.
March 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
A longer SRM motor is not the only thing going on with the JATM design shared in the graphic. It appears to be optimized for low drag. This would translate to ⬆️ performance relative to the AIM-120 for equivilant propellant/motor performance leaving even more in reserve.
If we assume JATM has same drag of AMRAAM, and has a multi-pulse SRM with first pulse that consumes a similar amount of propellant, JATM would be able to obtain similar perf as AMRAAM while still maintaining > 1/3 (even adj. for more prop weight) of AIM120s propellent in reserve.
March 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
If we assume JATM has same drag of AMRAAM, and has a multi-pulse SRM with first pulse that consumes a similar amount of propellant, JATM would be able to obtain similar perf as AMRAAM while still maintaining > 1/3 (even adj. for more prop weight) of AIM120s propellent in reserve.
Assuming JATM shares the 12 foot length of the AMRAAM, the SRM could be approximately 66 in - 70 in long. This puts it between 45% and 50% of the overall length of the weapon (LM's PAC3 MSE is 48%) and approximately 15-20 in longer than AIM-120. This should allow 30-40% more propellent.
March 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Assuming JATM shares the 12 foot length of the AMRAAM, the SRM could be approximately 66 in - 70 in long. This puts it between 45% and 50% of the overall length of the weapon (LM's PAC3 MSE is 48%) and approximately 15-20 in longer than AIM-120. This should allow 30-40% more propellent.
Now that we know what #JATM looks like, some impressions 👇
🔸Significant ⬆️ in Solid Rocket Motor length vs AMRAAM (45%- 50 % of total length)
🔸Low drag wingless design w/o forward aero surfaces. Similar to early AMRAAM proposals from Raytheon & Northrop
🔸Multiple conformal antennas aft of seeker
🔸Significant ⬆️ in Solid Rocket Motor length vs AMRAAM (45%- 50 % of total length)
🔸Low drag wingless design w/o forward aero surfaces. Similar to early AMRAAM proposals from Raytheon & Northrop
🔸Multiple conformal antennas aft of seeker
March 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Now that we know what #JATM looks like, some impressions 👇
🔸Significant ⬆️ in Solid Rocket Motor length vs AMRAAM (45%- 50 % of total length)
🔸Low drag wingless design w/o forward aero surfaces. Similar to early AMRAAM proposals from Raytheon & Northrop
🔸Multiple conformal antennas aft of seeker
🔸Significant ⬆️ in Solid Rocket Motor length vs AMRAAM (45%- 50 % of total length)
🔸Low drag wingless design w/o forward aero surfaces. Similar to early AMRAAM proposals from Raytheon & Northrop
🔸Multiple conformal antennas aft of seeker
US Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance Software Factory has been recognized by the Department of Defense with a software innovation award. #NGAD SFT has managed and delivered a classified software & digital infrastructure portfolio..for the $22.4 Bn NGAD and CCA programs.
January 26, 2025 at 10:40 PM
US Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance Software Factory has been recognized by the Department of Defense with a software innovation award. #NGAD SFT has managed and delivered a classified software & digital infrastructure portfolio..for the $22.4 Bn NGAD and CCA programs.
Back in 2020, the US Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division asked industry for multiple 16 inch diameter / 106 in long Solid Fuel Ramjet & IRR propulsion systems to support a 'demonstration program'. The Navy hasn't released much additional info on that effort.
January 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Back in 2020, the US Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division asked industry for multiple 16 inch diameter / 106 in long Solid Fuel Ramjet & IRR propulsion systems to support a 'demonstration program'. The Navy hasn't released much additional info on that effort.
"Epirus will soon host a live demonstration to showcase its advanced #HPM #Leonidas counter-drone capabilities, including a "100-drone shoot down" that aims to display the company's ability to neutralize a swarm of UAS with a single, coordinated strike"
insidedefense.com/daily-news/e...
insidedefense.com/daily-news/e...
January 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"Epirus will soon host a live demonstration to showcase its advanced #HPM #Leonidas counter-drone capabilities, including a "100-drone shoot down" that aims to display the company's ability to neutralize a swarm of UAS with a single, coordinated strike"
insidedefense.com/daily-news/e...
insidedefense.com/daily-news/e...
"Th US Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance #NGAD Family of Systems (FoS) ICD [Initial Capabilities Document] was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in Spring 2015 and validated by the Joint Staff in summer 2015" ~ US Navy
January 8, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"Th US Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance #NGAD Family of Systems (FoS) ICD [Initial Capabilities Document] was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in Spring 2015 and validated by the Joint Staff in summer 2015" ~ US Navy
For reference, by FY27, the CCA R&D bill will exceed what the Air Force plans to spend on development of F-35 C2D2 / modernization which is expected to fall from about $1.2 Bn a year today to $980 MM in FY29. In Contrast, CCA R&D will exceed $1.5 Bn by FY27 and $3 Bn by FY28.
January 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
For reference, by FY27, the CCA R&D bill will exceed what the Air Force plans to spend on development of F-35 C2D2 / modernization which is expected to fall from about $1.2 Bn a year today to $980 MM in FY29. In Contrast, CCA R&D will exceed $1.5 Bn by FY27 and $3 Bn by FY28.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft are expected to be cheap and 'attritable' elements of #NGAD FoS. While they may be cheap to buy & operate, the autonomy, and other elements of CCA's will not be cheap to develop. USAF intends to spend $3 Bn in FY28 on CCA RDT&E vs $4 Bn for PCA👇
January 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Collaborative Combat Aircraft are expected to be cheap and 'attritable' elements of #NGAD FoS. While they may be cheap to buy & operate, the autonomy, and other elements of CCA's will not be cheap to develop. USAF intends to spend $3 Bn in FY28 on CCA RDT&E vs $4 Bn for PCA👇
Suffice to say that the 2023 RFP that was shared with industry included lessons learnt from a decade of tech dev, maturation & RR. Exiting TMRR & entering source selection/EMD is a big milestone.
NGAD FoS:
🔸Has a huge R&D bill ($7-10 Bn / year (peak))
🔸Expensive manned PCA
NGAD FoS:
🔸Has a huge R&D bill ($7-10 Bn / year (peak))
🔸Expensive manned PCA
January 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Suffice to say that the 2023 RFP that was shared with industry included lessons learnt from a decade of tech dev, maturation & RR. Exiting TMRR & entering source selection/EMD is a big milestone.
NGAD FoS:
🔸Has a huge R&D bill ($7-10 Bn / year (peak))
🔸Expensive manned PCA
NGAD FoS:
🔸Has a huge R&D bill ($7-10 Bn / year (peak))
🔸Expensive manned PCA
For those who may question the fidelity of estimates, note that we've been investing in the system since 2014- 2 years after we took delivery of last F-22A. Demonstrators were in the budget by 2014, and contracts awarded in 2016 and flying by 18/19. NGAP funded starting 2018.
January 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
For those who may question the fidelity of estimates, note that we've been investing in the system since 2014- 2 years after we took delivery of last F-22A. Demonstrators were in the budget by 2014, and contracts awarded in 2016 and flying by 18/19. NGAP funded starting 2018.
Assuming the $300 MM #NGAD PCA estimate (shared by Frank Kendall) is in 2018/20$, you are looking at a 30-50% ⬆️ unit cost for #NGAD compared to F-22A (adj for same year $) . Folks forget that in FY07, the fly-away and weapon system unit cost of F-22A exceeded $130MM & $170MM respectively.
January 1, 2025 at 5:20 PM
On on a political note, I can see Congress rallying behind significant funding ⬆️ to the Air Force & perhaps even Navy's #NGAD plans. And this includes #CCA Inc 1 - 3 and #NGAS efforts which are/were linked to #NGAD but have and are likely to be split from it as distinct efforts.
December 27, 2024 at 7:58 PM
For USAF, '6 gen' is a family of systems with known & classified elements covering/enabling wide range of missions.
🔸Penetrating Long Range Strike (B21)
🔸Penetrating ISR (RQ180)
🔸Penetrating Counter Air (NGAD)
🔸CCA
🔸Classified capabilities
🔸Penetrating Long Range Strike (B21)
🔸Penetrating ISR (RQ180)
🔸Penetrating Counter Air (NGAD)
🔸CCA
🔸Classified capabilities
December 27, 2024 at 7:58 PM
For USAF, '6 gen' is a family of systems with known & classified elements covering/enabling wide range of missions.
🔸Penetrating Long Range Strike (B21)
🔸Penetrating ISR (RQ180)
🔸Penetrating Counter Air (NGAD)
🔸CCA
🔸Classified capabilities
🔸Penetrating Long Range Strike (B21)
🔸Penetrating ISR (RQ180)
🔸Penetrating Counter Air (NGAD)
🔸CCA
🔸Classified capabilities
🔸This fall, the AF established a blue-ribbon committee to review program & alternate approaches given cost & emerging threats
🔸The independent committee recommended pursuing manned PCA validating AF's work
🔸SeCAF punted decision to incoming admin
🔸The independent committee recommended pursuing manned PCA validating AF's work
🔸SeCAF punted decision to incoming admin
December 27, 2024 at 7:58 PM
🔸This fall, the AF established a blue-ribbon committee to review program & alternate approaches given cost & emerging threats
🔸The independent committee recommended pursuing manned PCA validating AF's work
🔸SeCAF punted decision to incoming admin
🔸The independent committee recommended pursuing manned PCA validating AF's work
🔸SeCAF punted decision to incoming admin
Here's where we are on USAF #NGAD. 1/3
🔸We've flown multiple demonstrators starting 2018-2020 timeframe. These have covered air-dominance (AF-PCA) & Strike (Navy) mission sets
🔸AF-PCA was ready to move to Milestone-B EMD down-select sometime this summer before it was paused for review
🔸We've flown multiple demonstrators starting 2018-2020 timeframe. These have covered air-dominance (AF-PCA) & Strike (Navy) mission sets
🔸AF-PCA was ready to move to Milestone-B EMD down-select sometime this summer before it was paused for review
December 27, 2024 at 7:58 PM
Here's where we are on USAF #NGAD. 1/3
🔸We've flown multiple demonstrators starting 2018-2020 timeframe. These have covered air-dominance (AF-PCA) & Strike (Navy) mission sets
🔸AF-PCA was ready to move to Milestone-B EMD down-select sometime this summer before it was paused for review
🔸We've flown multiple demonstrators starting 2018-2020 timeframe. These have covered air-dominance (AF-PCA) & Strike (Navy) mission sets
🔸AF-PCA was ready to move to Milestone-B EMD down-select sometime this summer before it was paused for review