Aviation: Attack and Fighter Aircraft

Air Force F-22 Fighter Program: Background and Issues for Congress

22 Dec 2009

Authors: Jeremiah Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The full text of this report is not available and therefore is not for sale. This information is provided for reference purposes only.

Procurement of Air Force F-22 fighters began in FY1999, and a total of 187 have been procured through FY2009. The issue for Congress is whether to approve the Administration's proposal in the FY2010 budget to end F-22 procurement at 187 aircraft, or reject that proposal and provide funding in FY2010 for the procurement of additional F-22s in FY2010 and/or subsequent years. The White House has vowed to veto any bill ...

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress

22 Dec 2009

Authors: Jeremiah Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Navy has been procuring F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters since FY1997. Super Hornets and older F/A-19A/B/C/D Hornets currently account for the majority of the aircraft in the Navy's 10 active-duty aircraft carrier air wings (CVWs) -- of the 70 or so aircraft in each CVW, more than 40 typically are Hornets and Super Hornets. The Navy in FY2006 also began procuring the EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare version of ...

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

22 Dec 2009

Authors: Jeremiah Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget requested about $10.4 billion in research and development and procurement funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. This would fund the procurement of 10 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and four F-35Cs for the Navy. The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget also proposed terminating the F-35 alternate engine program, which is intended to develop the General ...

Preparing for Irregular Warfare: The Future Ain't What It Used to Be

01 Dec 2009

14 pages

Authors: John D Jogerst; AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL AIRPOWER JOURNAL

The full text of this report is available for sale.

Contrary to doctrine and direction, the Air Force's actions make clear that it does not consider IW a priority. It's now fashionable in the Pentagon for airpower advocates to dismiss COIN as the last war and call for an all-out push for modernization to prepare for war with a technologically sophisticated peer or near-peer enemy. Despite an inability to predict our involvement in insurgencies after the initial phases of Operations ...

Analyzing the Multi-national Cooperative Acquisition Aspect of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program

Dec 2009

134 pages

Authors: Levent Ozdemir; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC POLICY

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program is a cooperative acquisition program intended to design, develop, and produce a next-generation fighter that involves the United States and eight partner nations. Although the program is led by the United States, the participant nations cooperate to produce an affordable yet advanced aircraft by exchanging technology and information as well as investing in the program and receiving commensurate returns. The allied nations will then ...

F-22 versus UCAV: Fixing Today's Deficiencies Leaves Questions about Tomorrow's Dominance

Dec 2009

92 pages

Authors: Brian O Beales; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

This thesis evaluates the U.S. Government's decision to end F-22 production and shift procurement toward first-generation Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV). Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. military has been in a constant asymmetric battle with violent extremists. UCAVs, like the MQ-1 and MQ-9, have provided a persistent air power presence and have grown in popularity because of their low cost and versatility. At the same time, the F-22 has ...

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

27-Nov-2009

Authors: Jeremiah J Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress

25-Nov-2009

Authors: Jeremiah J Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests about $1.0 billion for the procurement of nine F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters. The Navy's FY2009 budget had projected that 18 F/A-18E/Fs would be requested in FY2010. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget also requests about $1.6 billion for the procurement of 22 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget does not request a new multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement for procuring F/A-18E/Fs ...

Air Force F-22 Fighter Program: Background and Issues for Congress

25-Nov-2009

Authors: Jeremiah J Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

25-Nov-2009

Authors: Jeremiah J Gertler; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Tactical aircraft are a major component of U.S. military capability, and account for a significant portion of U.S. defense spending. In early 2009, the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps collectively had an inventory of about 3,500 tactical aircraft. Current efforts for modernizing U.S. tactical aircraft center on three aircraft acquisition programs - the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, the Air Force F-22 fighter program, and the Navy F/A-18E/F ...

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress

21-Oct-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests about $1.0 billion for the procurement of nine F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters. The Navy's FY2009 budget had projected that 18 F/A- 18E/Fs would be requested in FY2010. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget also requests about $1.6 billion for the procurement of 22 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget does not request a new multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement for procuring ...

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

19-Oct-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

16-Oct-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget requests about $10.4 billion in research and development and procurement funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The proposed FY2010 budget would fund the procurement of 10 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and four F-35Cs for the Navy. The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget also proposes to terminate the F-35 alternate engine program, which is intended ...

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

07-Oct-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

25-Sep-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Procurement of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) began in FY2007. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 JSFs for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy at an estimated total acquisition cost (as of December 31, 2007) of about $246 billion in constant (i.e., inflation adjusted) FY2009 dollars. The administration's proposed FY2010 defense budget requests about $10.4 billion in research and development and procurement funding for the ...

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress

17-Sep-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests about $1.0 billion for the procurement of nine F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters. The Navy?s FY2009 budget had projected that 18 F/A- 18E/Fs would be requested in FY2010. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget also requests about $1.6 billion for the procurement of 22 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget does not request a new multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement for procuring ...

Air Force F-22 Fighter Program: Background and Issues for Congress

11-Sep-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Air Force F-22 Fighter Program: Background and Issues for Congress

04-Sep-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Procurement of Air Force F-22 fighters began in FY1999, and a total of 187 have been procured through FY2009, including 24 in FY2009. The issue for Congress is whether to approve the Administration's proposal in the FY2010 budget to end F-22 procurement at 187 aircraft, or reject that proposal and provide funding in FY2010 for the procurement of additional F-22s in FY2010 and/or subsequent years. The White House has vowed ...

F-16 Ventral Fin Buffet Alleviation Using Piezoelectric Actuators

Sep-2009

122 pages

Authors: Joseph S Browning; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH DEPT OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS

Buffet-induced vibrations can have a disastrous impact on aircraft structures. Early attempts at combating buffet vibrations included passive methods such as structural enhancements and leading edge fences. Active methods have shown greater promise, including active airflow control, control surface modulation, and active structural control using piezoelectric actuators. Surface mounted piezoelectric actuators impart directional strain reducing the negative effects associated with harmful vibration. The Block-15 F-16 ventral fin represents an aircraft ...

Alternative Methods to Standby Gain Scheduling Following Air Data System Failure

Sep-2009

261 pages

Authors: Matthew W Coldsnow; AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH DEPT OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS

The United States Air Force has advanced fighter aircraft that lose the ability to operate in a large portion of their operating flight envelope when an air data system failure is experienced. These aircraft are reverted to a fixed set of standby-gains that limit their maneuverability, degrade handling qualities, and increase susceptibility to departure. The purpose of this research was to determine if three alternative methods of standby-gain-scheduling could provide ...

CVN 68 Class Displacement Concerns; Dealing with the Differences between the Modeled and Actual Displacements

Sep-2009

93 pages

Authors: Clinton P Hoskins; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether or not CVN 68 class aircraft carriers are actually exceeding displacement limits based on NAVSEA projections. The NAVSEA projections are based on commissioning displacement plus any weight added to the ship during subsequent availabilities. The NAVSEA data was augmented with historic displacement values collected from all commissioned CVN 68 class aircraft carriers. Analysis reveals that the NAVSEA projections are predicting the ...

Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Initial Operational Test and Evaluation

Sep-2009

399 pages

Authors: CHARLES BROWN; Carl Rykaczewski; Nora Castellanos; AIR FORCE CENTER FOR ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT BROOKS CITY-BASE TX

The attached environmental assessment/overseas environmental assessment (EA/OEA) analyzes the potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) program. Support aircraft operations and effects are addressed as part of the baseline activities. The Proposed Action would entail basing 20 F-35 aircraft (6 F-35As [U.S. Air Force], 6 F-35Bs [U.S. Marine Corps], 6 F-35Cs [U.S. Navy], and 2 F-35Bs [UK]) at ...

Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress

22-Jul-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Navy has been procuring F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters since FY1997. The Navy in FY2006 also began procuring the EA-18G Growler, an electronic attack (i.e., electronic warfare) version of the Super Hornet. Super Hornets and Growlers were procured in FY2005-FY2009 under a multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests about $1.0 billion for the procurement of nine F/A-18E/Fs. The Navy's FY2009 budget had projected that 18 ...

Air Force F-22 Fighter Program: Background and Issues for Congress

16-Jul-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Air Force F-22 fighter, also known as the Raptor, is the world's most capable air-to-air combat aircraft. Procurement of F-22s began in FY1999, and a total of 187 have been procured through FY2009, including 24 in FY2009. The administration wants to end F-22 procurement at 187 aircraft, and the administration's proposed FY2010 budget does not request funding for the procurement of additional F-22s in FY2010. The administration argues, among ...

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

13-Jul-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lighting II, is a new strike fighter being procured in different versions by the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 program is the Department of Defense's (DOD?s) largest weapon procurement program in terms of total estimated acquisition cost. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 JSFs for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy at an ...

F-35 Joint Striker Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

13-Jul-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lighting II, is a new strike fighter being procured in different versions by the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 program is the Department of Defense's (DOD's) largest weapon procurement program in terms of total estimated acquisition cost. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 JSFs for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy at an ...

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

09-Jul-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

This report provides an overview discussion on the modernization of U.S. military tactical aircraft, meaning fighter aircraft, strike-fighters, and attack planes. Tactical aircraft are a major component of U.S. military capability, and account for a significant portion of U.S. defense spending. In early 2009, the Air Force, Navy, and Marine collectively had an inventory of about 3,500 tactical aircraft. Current efforts for modernizing U.S. tactical aircraft center on three aircraft ...

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress

18-Jun-2009

Authors: Ronald O'Rourke; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), also called the Lighting II, is a new strike fighter being procured in different versions by the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. The F-35 program is the Department of Defense's (DOD's) largest weapon procurement program in terms of total estimated acquisition cost. Current DOD plans call for acquiring a total of 2,456 JSFs for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy at an ...

Review of Defense Contract Management Agency Support of the C-130J Aircraft Program

12-Jun-2009

23 pages

Authors: OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ARLINGTON VA SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION

A September 8, 2008, allegation letter requested that the DoD Acting Inspector General review whether the Air Force or the C-130J prime contractor exerted inappropriate influence pertaining to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) contract administration function for the C-130J aircraft program. The allegation letter claimed that DCMA assisted the Air Force and the C-130J prime contractor in congressional lobbying efforts to reverse the December 2004 C-130J program termination decision ...

Cost, Capability, and the Hunt for a Lightweight Ground Attack Aircraft

12-Jun-2009

89 pages

Authors: Steven J Tittel; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Since 2001, U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft have flown combat sorties with abnormally high flight durations while participating in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. These longer sortie durations have added previously unanticipated flight time to aging airframes, thereby reducing the expected service life of the U.S. Air Force's legacy fighter fleet. This study examines the costs and benefits of fielding a propeller-driven lightweight ground attack aircraft to support air ...

Joint Strike Fighter: Strong Risk Management Essential as Program Enters Most Challenging Phase

20-May-2009

23 pages

Authors: Michael Sullivan; GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program is the Department of Defense's (DOD's) most costly acquisition, seeking to simultaneously develop, produce, and field three aircraft variants for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight international partners. The total expected U.S. investment is now more than $300 billion to develop and procure 2,456 aircraft over the next 25 years. GAO's most recent report in March of this year discussed increased ...

Alternatives for Modernizing U.S. Fighter Forces

May-2009

73 pages

Authors: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE (U S CONGRESS) WASHINGTON DC

The United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps maintain an inventory of approximately 3,500 fixed-wing fighter and attack aircraft that provide unsurpassed air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities. Most of those aircraft were purchased at high annual rates during the 1980s, however, and are expected to reach the end of their service life at similarly high rates over the next decade. To counteract those impending retirements and simultaneously modernize their ...

Mission Emphasis and the Determination of Needs for New Weapon Systems

May-2009

Authors: Daniel M Gillespie; MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE

Efforts to understand the determination of needs of new weapon systems must take into account inputs and actions beyond the formally documented requirements generation process. This study analyzes three recent historical cases of fighter aircraft development to identify decisions made independently from the documented requirements process, about the need for new systems. The primary inputs to those decisions are identified, and a qualitative model for understanding the undocumented inputs, and ...

Right Sizing the Force: Restructuring the Marine Light Attack Helicopter (HML/A) Squadron to Better Meet the Emerging Threat

29-Apr-2009

Authors: Shawn J Hughes; MARINE CORPS COMMAND AND STAFF COLL QUANTICO VA

To implement the Commandant's vision statement and leverage the increased performance capabilities of the modernized UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters, the Marine Corps must reevaluate the organizational structure of the Marine Light Attack Helicopter (HML/A) squadron to determine if the unit is adequately manned, trained, and equipped to meet the expectations of emerging threats and future requirements. The Commandant's Vision and Strategy 2025 calls for multi-capable forces to perform in a ...

Navy-Marine Corps Strike-Fighter Shortfall: Background and Options for Congress

10-Apr-2009

Authors: Christopher Bolkcom; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Members of Congress this year have expressed concern about a projected inventory shortfall in Navy and Marine Corps strike-fighters. Some industry sources believe the shortfall is likely to be much larger than Navy projections. Options for addressing the shortfall include extending strike-fighter service lives and increasing planned procurement of strike-fighters. This report will be updated as events warrant.

Globalization of the International Arms Industry: A Step Towards ABCA and NATO Interoperability?

Apr-2009

52 pages

Authors: John S Austin; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES

While the arms industry has undertaken significant steps to globalize, NATO and ABCA (America, Britain, Canada, Australia) military force interoperability levels remain woefully inadequate. Over 60 years ago, NATO and the ABCA program sought to standardize the militaries of their member nations. Each member country agreed to take steps to ensure that interoperability among force elements was achieved. It is clear that a nexus should exist between globalized arms development ...

Potential F-22 Raptor Export to Japan

11-Mar-2009

Authors: Christopher Bolkcom; Emma Chanlett-Avery; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The F-22A Raptor is the U.S. Air Force's most advanced manned combat aircraft. Developed principally to defeat Soviet aircraft in air-to-air combat, the F-22 exploits the latest developments in stealth technology to reduce detection by enemy radar, as well as thrust-vectoring engines for more maneuverability, and avionics that fuse and display information from sensors in a single battlefield display. Current plans call for the U.S. purchase of 183 F-22s, with ...

F-22A Raptor

05-Mar-2009

Authors: Christopher Bolkcom; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The F-22A Raptor is a next-generation fighter/attack aircraft that features the latest stealth technology to reduce detection by radar. Using more advanced engines and avionics than the current F-15 Eagle, the F-22A is intended to maintain U.S. Air Force capabilities against more sophisticated enemy aircraft and air defenses in the 21st century. This report examines the Air Forces F-22A Raptor program, including costs and schedule; considers several key issues, and ...

A 21st-Century Concept of Air and Military Operations. Defense Horizons, Number 66

Mar-2009

7 pages

Authors: Robbin F Laird; NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV WASHINGTON DC CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY

The evolution of 21st-century air operations is unfolding under the impact of a new generation of fighter aircraft and a significant shift in the role of air operations in support of ground and maritime forces. So-called fifth-generation aircraft often are mistakenly viewed as simply the next iteration of airframes: fast, stealthy replacements of obsolescent legacy platforms. In fact, the capabilities of fifth-generation aircraft, and their integration into a network-centric joint ...

F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background, Status, and Issues

17-Feb-2009

Authors: Christopher Bolkcom; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The Defense Department's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is one of three aircraft modernization programs in tactical aviation, the others being the Air Force F-22A fighter and the Navy F/A-18E/F fighter/attack plane. In November 1996, the Defense Department selected two major aerospace companies, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to demonstrate competing designs for the JSF, a joint-service and multi-role fighter/attack plane. Lockheed Martin won this competition and was selected ...

Fighter Drawdown Dynamics: Effects on Aircrew Inventories

Jan-2009

Authors: James H Bigelow; William W Taylor; John A Ausink; RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CA

The Air Force faces an increasing demand for personnel with pilot skills, a demand driven by the expanding number and size of various staffs (such as those of air operations centers) and an increased demand for operators of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), who, by Air Force policy, must be pilots. At the same time, the Air Force faces a declining ability to produce pilots (particularly fighter pilots) because its aircraft ...

From F/A to F or A: Training Hornet Aviators to New Levels

Jan-2009

26 pages

Authors: Dustin Lee; MARINE CORPS COMMAND AND STAFF COLL QUANTICO VA

F/A-18 aircrew are currently being asked to maintain proficiency in more mission areas than the current technology allows for. The F/A-18 is a capable dual mission aircraft, however the pilot of the F/A-18 requires significantly more training time than is currently allotted/available to deliver the full capabilities of the platform during combat. As aircrew take on more missions, their success rates, both in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat has continued to ...

Analysis of the Air Force Logistics Enterprise. Evaluation of Global Repair Network Options for Supporting the F-16 and KC-135

Jan 2009

Authors: Ronald G McGarvey; Manuel Carrillo; Cato; Douglas C Jr; John G Drew; Thomas Lang; Kristin F Lynch; Amy L Maletic; Hugh G Massey; James M Masters; Raymond A Pyles; RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CA

The Air Force has developed an extensive set of logistics resources and concepts to support training, deployment, employment, and redeployment of air, space, and cyber forces. Since the establishment of the Iraqi no-fly zones following the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the Air Force has been continuously engaged in rotational deployments, which have presented a very different set of challenges from those that were used to develop the current support ...

Improving the Utility of a Binocular HMD in a Faceted Flight Simulator

Jan 2009

12 pages

Authors: Michael P Browne; Kirk Moffitt; Marc Winterbottom; SA PHOTONICS SAN FRANCISCO CA

Faceted simulator displays are widely used because they are relatively compact and economical. One drawback, however, is that viewing distance changes depending on where users are looking. This variation creates a challenge for the integration of binocular head mounted displays (HMDs), because confusing imagery and visual fatigue can result when the user views symbology presented by the HMD at one distance and simulator imagery at different distances. Understanding the best ...

Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

17-Dec-2008

Authors: Christopher Bolkcom; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

This report examines the Department of Defense's (DOD's) three largest tactical aircraft modernization programs. The Background section provides a brief description of each program and a discussion of how tactical aircraft fit into military air operations: the missions they typically perform and how they contrast to longer-range combat aircraft. The Analysis: Key Issues to Consider section examines a number of policy issues, including affordability, capability required, force structure, and defense ...

Forecasting the Demand of the F414-GE-400 Engine at NAS Lemoore

Dec-2008

85 pages

Authors: J M Hersey; James M Rowlett; Shannon P Thompson; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

The purpose of this research is to forecast the repair demand of the F414-GE-400 aircraft engine and determine if Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) West, located at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, will be able to meet increased demand in the near future. Our methodology was to collect current history of intermediate-level repair of the F414-GE-400 and estimate its increase based on the arrival of additional engines procured by the Navy. ...

Generic Design Procedures for the Repair of Acoustically Damaged Panels

Dec-2008

Authors: R J Callinan; C H Wang; S Sanderson; S C Galea; DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA) AIR VEHICLES DIV

Acoustic fatigue is the result of high frequency lateral vibration of an aircraft panel due to time varying pressure waves caused by engine and/or aerodynamic effects. For example, acoustically induced cracks have been recorded in the lower external surface of the nacelle skin of the F/A-18 aircraft and aft fuselage. In the case of the inlet nacelle overall sound pressure levels of the order of 172 dB have been recorded. ...

Training Interventions for Reducing Flight Mishaps

Dec-2008

13 pages

Authors: Gregg A Montijo; David Kaiser; V A Spiker; Robert Nullmeyer; CREW TRAINING INTERNATIONAL INC MEMPHIS TN

Increasing numbers of preventable mishaps across all military services led Secretary Rumsfeld and all Service Chiefs to call for a reduction in such events by 75% from 2003 levels. Most were attributed to human error. The highly task-loaded training and combat missions flown by fighter pilots place particularly high demands on effective management of cockpit resources for safe and successful mission accomplishment. While every flight training program already includes some ...

Compatibility Flight Profile and Internal Environment Characterization for the RASCAL Pod. Project: Senior RASCAL

Dec-2008

165 pages

Authors: David Kern; Eric Schutte; Jeffrey LaFleur; Eric Schultz; Oliver Borde; AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST CENTER EDWARDS AFB CA

This report details the limited flight evaluation to certify and characterize the Reconfigurable Airborne Sensor, Communications and Laser (RASCAL) pod on the F-16. The primary objective was to fly an Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office (AFSEO) Compatibility Flight Profile (CFP) in support of flight certification for the RASCAL pod on the F-16. The secondary objectives was to characterize the internal environment of the RASCAL pod in support of various avionics ...

Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler Aircraft: Background and Issues for Congress

02-Oct-2008

Authors: Christopher Bolkcom; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the Navy's highest priority aviation modernization program. It is replacing the Navy F/A-18C/D Hornet combat aircraft. The decision to undertake the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet program was made during a period of great turbulence in Navy aviation modernization. During this time frame the Navy struggled to identify and implement the best way to modernize its aging fleet of F-14 fighters and A-6E attack aircraft. The A-12 ...