Jane's Defence Weekly - The Americas

The Americas

US prepares to deploy Valiant Angel data management system
Intelligence specialists in US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) are preparing to field the Valiant Angel system to Afghanistan this month, which is designed to optimise...
19-Mar-2010

*F-35B completes first vertical landing
The world's first international stealth fighter acquisition project - the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme - reached a major milestone on 18 March...
19-Mar-2010

ALTB testing proceeds despite project uncertainty
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Boeing are planning two more tests of the Airborne Laser Test Bed (ALTB) in the next few months,...
19-Mar-2010

EADS would consider re-entering KC-X tanker contest
After dropping out of the US Air Force's (USAF's) bidding competition to build a new aerial-refuelling tanker, EADS North America says it may leave behind...
19-Mar-2010

*USN admiral nominated to lead JSF programme
US Navy Vice Admiral David Venlet is the new nominee to become the director of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme, ...
19-Mar-2010

*F-35B demonstrates 'free air' hover
The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) combat aircraft demonstrated its capability to hover for the first time on 17 ...
18-Mar-2010

Navistar to retrofit MaxxPro Dash with independent suspension
US Marine Corps (USMC) MaxxPro Dash armoured vehicles in Afghanistan are to be refitted with new independent suspension systems to bolster their off-road mobility. ...
17-Mar-2010

USJFCOM report focuses on cyber threats, economic issues
US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) released its Joint Operating Environment (JOE) report on 15 March, which this year touches on cyber issues and the global...
17-Mar-2010

*MBDA expects USMC adoption of Laser-Guided Zuni rockets
MBDA believes its Laser-Guided Zuni precision rocket programme will be formally adopted by the US Marine Corps (USMC) later this year and fielded in ...
17-Mar-2010

*Airframe cracking prompts US to ground 104 legacy Hornets
The US Navy (USN) has grounded more than 16 per cent of USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) F/A-18A-D Hornet combat aircraft following the ...
17-Mar-2010

Boeing to fund Hummingbird rotorcraft production ahead of USMC RfP
Boeing said it will use company money to pay for the production of 21 long-endurance unmanned A160T Hummingbird rotorcraft, which it hopes to market for...
17-Mar-2010

US seeks fixed-price F-35 deal to cut costs
Concerned about ballooning costs in the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme, the US military's top acquisition official said it is planning to switch...
16-Mar-2010

*USN awards further E-2D LRIP contract
The US Naval Systems Air Command (NAVAIR) has awarded Northrop Grumman a USD94.6 million contract for long-lead items for Lot 3 low-rate initial production ...
16-Mar-2010

Argentina purchases two Mi-17V-5 helicopters
Argentine Defence Minister Nilda Garré announced the purchase of two Russian Mil Mi-17V-5 medium transport helicopters on 5 March. The aircraft will arrive in...
15-Mar-2010

USAF orders additional JDAM kits
The US Air Force (USAF) has ordered a further 6,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits from Boeing, the company announced on 11 March. ...
15-Mar-2010

US funds to reactivate Costa Rican radar
The Costa Rican Vice-Minister for Security, Superintendent Oldemar Madrigal, announced in early March that the US will fund a USD3 million contract for the ...
12-Mar-2010

Venezuela to create naval militia
The Venezuelan National Bolivarian Militia, a citizen and reserve organisation created by the government of Hugo Chavez to enhance the armed force's capabilities, has ...
12-Mar-2010

US Army still has gap at the 'last tactical mile'
The US Army still has a requirements gap for fixed-wing support aircraft to deliver cargo 'the last tactical mile' as the total number of ...
12-Mar-2010

Gates laments Northrop Grumman's exit from KC-X contest
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressed his disappointment that Northrop Grumman had pulled out of the US Air Force's (USAF's) competition to build a...
12-Mar-2010

US officials question production readiness of E-IBCT
Congress and US government auditors are questioning whether the US Army's effort to field infantry brigades with situational awareness and precision strike technology is ready...
12-Mar-2010

*USAF's C-5M declared ready for operations
The US Air Force's (USAF's) Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) Center has declared the Lockheed Martin C-5M Galaxy strategic transport aircraft to be "effective, ...
12-Mar-2010

*F-35B demonstrates slow flight
The first short take-off/vertical landing variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter demonstrated slow flight (40 kt) and landing at Naval ...
12-Mar-2010

Mexico looks to acquire Mi-171V helicopters
The Mexican Navy is interested in acquiring 12 to 15 new Mil Mi-171V helicopters, Jane's has learned. So far the navy has acquired...
11-Mar-2010

*Raytheon works to reduce cost of PAMs
Raytheon is working to reduce unit costs for its Precision Attack Munition (PAM) as the US Army is re-evaluating the programme following high cost estimates...
11-Mar-2010

*Boeing wins deal to convert F-16s into aerial targets
The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Boeing a USD69.7 million contract for initial engineering, manufacturing and development work associated with the conversion of ...
11-Mar-2010

Raytheon launches Tomahawk simulation to track moving targets
Raytheon is in discussions with the US Navy (USN) to produce a new version of its RGM/UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile that can track moving...
10-Mar-2010

Northrop Grumman withdraws from KC-X contest
Northrop Grumman has said it will not compete for a multi-billion dollar US Air Force (USAF) contract to build a new aerial refuelling tanker, putting...
09-Mar-2010

*Lockheed Martin to provide AN/APY-9 radars for US Navy's E-2D
Northrop Grumman has contracted Lockheed Martin to provide four low-rate initial production (LRIP) AN/APY-9 airborne early warning (AEW) radar systems and spare parts for ...
08-Mar-2010

USAF unveils new airdrop method for Afghanistan
The US Air Force (USAF) has developed a new "low-cost, low-altitude" (LCLA) airdrop system to replenish troops on the ground in Afghanistan from its ...
08-Mar-2010

*Latest Black Hawk passes muster in Afghanistan
The US Army's latest Sikorsky Black Hawk variant transport helicopter - the UH-60M - performed "exceptionally well" during its first combat tour of Afghanistan, ...
08-Mar-2010

Boeing opts for 767 variant as its KC-X contender
Boeing says it has decided to offer a tanker version of its commercial 767 airliner for the US Air Force's KC-X tanker competition, ending ...
05-Mar-2010

US apologises for F-35 delay explanation
A senior US defence official apologised to international partners buying the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter for failing to give them details on a...
05-Mar-2010

Seoul wary of USFK redeployment plans
Some of the troops currently based in South Korea could be redeployed in the coming decade, fuelling Seoul's concerns that Washington is lowering its ...
05-Mar-2010

US Army to clarify GCV solicitation
Following the 26 February release of the formal request for proposal (RfP) for the US Army Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Technology Development (TD) phase, ...
05-Mar-2010

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