Page 18 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

NEWS North America

First modified MV-22B Osprey for In Brief

improved fleet readiness tensions escalate

Middle East
Additional US forces arrived
in the Middle East after an
attack on the US Embassy
in Iraq by Iranian-backed
militias on December 31.
Around 750 soldiers were
deployed by USAF C-17As,
while MV-22s and AH-64s
flew ‘show of force’ flights
in the area. On the morning
of January 3, a US drone
strike in Baghdad killed
Qassem Suleimani, leader
of the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard’s Quds Force.
New aircraft for
Army National Guard
As part of US Army
modernisation plans, the
Army National Guard is set
to receive 100 aircraft in
Above: An MV-22B arrives at Boeing’s Philadelphia site as the first aircraft to undergo the CC-RAM programme. Boeing Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and
BOEING AND Bell and Modernization was originally delivered is expected in early 2020. 300 in FY 2021-2024. The
Textron have delivered (CC-RAM) programme to the fleet in 2005 and, In November 2019, additional aircraft for the
a first modified MV-22B, involves Bell Boeing after modernisation at the US Navy awarded National Guard include: 64
165948, to the US Marine upgrading existing Block Boeing’s Philadelphia Bell Boeing a US$146m UH-60Ms for FY 2020 and
Corps as part of efforts B aircraft to the current facility beginning in 2018, contract to upgrade nine 172 for FY 2021-2024, 23
to improve readiness and Block C configuration, it was recently returned to additional MV-22s under UH-60V aircraft for FY 2020
reliability of the tiltrotor reducing the number of Marine Corps Air Station the CC-RAM programme, and 132 for FY 2021-2024
fleet. The Common configurations in service. New River, North Carolina. with work expected to be and 39 remanufactured
Configuration – Readiness The first CC-RAM aircraft The next CC-RAM delivery completed in March 2022. AH-64 Block IIIA
aircraft in FY 2024.
Lockheed USS John F Kennedy christened replacement programme
USAF launches E-4B
Martin The US Air Force has
begun an acquisition
delivered programme to replace its
four E-4B aircraft with the
134 F-35s new Survivable Airborne
Operations Center (SAOC)
weapon system. The new
in 2019 platform is required to be a
derivative of a commercial
MANUFACTURER aircraft and will allow the US
LOCKHEED Martin President and Joint Chiefs
exceeded its annual to respond to a nuclear
commitment to F-35 attack even if a pre-emptive
deliveries, handing over first strike has destroyed
134 Lightning IIs last year, the military’s underground
an increase of 47% over command centres.
2018 and representing Additional C-32A
nearly a 200% production joins USAF fleet
increase from 2016. The The USAF has added
joint government and another C-32A to its fleet.
industry delivery goal for The aircraft, serial 90018,
2019 was 131 aircraft. has been noted recently at
This year, the firm plans several different locations
to deliver 141 F-35s and throughout the US. The
will continue to increase latest C-32 joins the 1st Airlift
production volume Squadron, part of the 89th
in order to hit peak Above: Pre-Commissioning Unit ‘John F Kennedy’ (CVN 79) in the dry dock area ahead of Airlift Wing, which already
production in 2023. its christening at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding. US Navy/Mass operates seven examples.
The 134th aircraft was a Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Ferrero USAF looks at
short take-off and vertical THE US Navy’s latest Gerald May 2019. Last October the The latest USS John contractor refuelling
landing (STOVL) F-35B for R Ford-class aircraft carrier, dry dock was flooded, and F Kennedy was built Air Mobility Command is
the US Marine Corps. In USS John F Kennedy (CVN the crew began to arrive. by Huntington Ingalls examining use of privately
2019, deliveries included 79) was christened on CVN 79 is the second Industries’ Newport News owned tankers for certain
81 F-35s for the US, 30 December 7 in a ceremony aircraft carrier to carry the Shipbuilding division. missions. An industry day
for international partner at Newport News, Virginia. name of President John The Gerald R Ford class to discuss the possibility
nations and 23 for Foreign The warship is the second F Kennedy. The former incorporates advanced of contracting out boom-
Military Sales customers. aircraft carrier in its class USS John F Kennedy (CV technology, including new type refuelling took place on
The Pentagon has and will replace the USS 67) was a sub-variant of propulsion system, electric December 17 and involved
also awarded Lockheed Nimitz (CVN 68) when that the Kitty Hawk class and plant, Electromagnetic 14 companies. AMC says
a US$1.93bn contract ship is decommissioned. the last conventionally Aircraft Launch System contractor tankers could be
for “recurring logistics The ship’s keel was laid in powered carrier built for (EMALS), Advanced used for training, test work,
services” for already August 2015 and placement the US Navy. It was in Arresting Gear (AAG), Foreign Military Sales and
delivered F-35s. of the 588-tonne island commission from September machinery control, radars and fighter r efuelling missions.
superstructure took place in 1968 to August 2007. integrated warfare systems.

18 // February 2020 #383 www.Key.Aero

06/01/2020 15:03:27
16-18 NAmericaNews AFM Feb2020.indd 18 06/01/2020 15:03:27
16-18 NAmericaNews AFM Feb2020.indd 18