China has tested its first stealth combat drone, state media said Friday, citing online photos of an aircraft resembling a shrunken US B2 bomber and hailing the development toward Western-level technology. The test flight of the “Sharp Sword” unmanned aircraft is another step in China’s years-long military build-up, with its defence spending now the second one highest on this planet and growing by double-digit percentages once a year. It comes weeks after Tokyo said a drone had flown near East China Sea islands claimed by both it and Beijing, ratcheting tensions between the rivals up another notch. “The successful flight... Read More »

After a dozen years of continuing combat in Southwest Asia, the term “warfighter” is in peril of being devalued by our political culture. In our eagerness to honor all people who serve, we make it sound like everybody who dons an army uniform is subject to the similar risks, and burdened by a similar sacrifices. It isn’t so. Many so-called warfighters have never deployed to combat zones, and among individuals who have the hazards vary greatly. The toughest missions are performed by a relative handful of military personnel consisting of Army Rangers and Navy SEAL teams who routinely risk their... Read More »

The Usa infantry has a number of the finest mortar systems on this planet. They’re lightweight, have great range, and supply a major amount of lethal and destructive fire to shut-range combat. And so, why would anyone consider tweaking something that has already been proven very capable in training and in combat? “It is all about our troops maintaining the competitive edge over potential adversaries,” said Wayland Barber, chief of the Mortars and Recoilless Rifle Branch at Benét Laboratories. “Even without funding for brand spanking new weapons research, Army scientists and engineers are always seeking opportunities to enhance weapons systems... Read More »

Working closely with Lockheed Martin and a conglomeration of Army technology, acquisition and user community stakeholders, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center successfully demonstrated an unmanned military convoy Jan. 14 at Fort Hood, Texas. From a rooftop within the Fort Hood training area, military and industry VIPs saw firsthand how the Autonomous Mobility Appliqué System, or AMAS, enabled two driverless Palletized Loading System prime movers and an M915 tractor trailer truck to seamlessly interact with a manned Humvee gun truck escort. The convoy negotiated oncoming traffic, followed rules of the street, recognized and avoided pedestrians and... Read More »

A series of major delivery commitments with a purpose to significantly enhance the aptitude of the world’s most advanced swing role/multi-role combat aircraft has been confirmed by the Eurofighter consortium. Ground tests with the Storm Shadow and Taurus missiles have already been completed, and intensive flight test campaigns might begin imminently. Both missiles will further increase the air-to-ground capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon. The first Tranche 3 aircraft will perform its first flight by year-end and Phase 1 Enhancements will be completed within this timeframe. This was announced on Wednesday during a Media Briefing on the Dubai Air Show 2013.... Read More »