From: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Subject: Skunk Works Digest V5 #412 Reply-To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Errors-To: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu Precedence: bulk Skunk Works Digest Thursday, 7 September 1995 Volume 05 : Number 412 In this issue: Mach 8.5 Does a small space glider exist? Re: Skunk Works Digest V5 #411 Re: Does a small space glider exist? Earth Defence Grid - reply 9th SRW AW&ST July 17, 1995 AW&ST July 24, 1995 AW&ST July 31, 1995 AW&ST August 7, 1995 AW&ST August 14, 1995 AW&ST August 21, 1995 AW&ST August 28, 1995 AW&ST September 4, 1995 See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the skunk-works or skunk-works-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "'totally confused'" Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 00:40:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Mach 8.5 A friend told of a friend of his who was in the Air Force at Nellis AFB about five years. This friend tracked an object (aircraft?) on radar traveling at mach 8.5. The friend said that he didn't report it as they were ordered not to report anything traveling over Mach 2.5. So maybe Aurora/? was flying there/then. jz1@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: "JOE P." Date: Thu, 07 Sep 1995 09:02:27 -0500 (EST) Subject: Does a small space glider exist? Seeing that quick "Mach 8.5" post just got me to thinking in a non-traditional mode. Several years back there was a program, I believe, that had a small gliding reentry type vehicle undergoing some tests. In fact, as I recall it the opening footage of the old TV show "The Six Million Dollar Man" had video of a crash while landing of this craft. Now most people that I was in contact with thought this was preliminary research for what was to eventually become the STS (Space Shuttle) system glider. BUT, I wonder, why could a small craft such as this be designed as a single person high speed, HIGH altitude, not be included on a classified shuttle launch. If this were possible could not the vehicle be capable of one or two day flights, under manual/auto control with an eventual small retro rocket motor (as was used on Apollo capsules) and attitude control systems to return it to earth. This might be either manned or unmanned. Unmanned would eliminate life support needs and allow longer duration flights and/or more equipment to be carried. Manned might allow a better "feel" for what is being seen. To carry it out one step deeper into speculation, would a craft like this not only reenter at Mach 8.5 (or similar speeds) but probably land at some pretty well secured well out of the way "non-existant" base? Has any unusual activity ever been noted around these bases in Nevada a day or two or three after some shuttle missions? Direct from the halls of Edinboro University - (814) 732-2484 and directly from the terminal of, - 142 Miller Bldg. - Edinboro Univ. Joe Pyrdek pyrdek@edinboro.edu - Edinboro PA 16444 per UCC 1-207 (all rights reserved) ------------------------------ From: roperha@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 08:25:24 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: Skunk Works Digest V5 #411 > The band with the 4 Maltese crosses, is the insignia of the 9th SRW > (Strategic Reconnaissance Wing), which is based at Beale AFB, CA, and can > also be found on their emblem. The 9 SRW was redesignated as the 9th Wing (9 WG) and upon losing its KC-135 tankers was designated the 9th Reconnaissance WIng (9 RW), its current designation, As you mentioned the crosses are part of the 9 RW patch. I have some information on what the crosses stand for around here somewhere, but as I recall they represented World War I campaigns that the 9 RW's predecessor organization, the 9th Group, participated in. > All USAF U-2R, U-2R(T), U-2S and U-2ST (including the ex-TR-1A and TR-1B) > belong to the 9th SRW, 99th SRS (Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron). The > aircraft are painted black over all, with red markings. They sport a red band > with 4 black Maltese crosses, as well as the letters 'BB' (for Beale AFB) on > their fins, together with the small letters 'AF' (for U.S. Air Force) and > below it the FY (Fiscal Year) part of their serial number (in this case '69') > followed by the last three digits of their serial number (in this case '338'). A point of correction. The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (1 RS--formerly the 1 SRS, operator of the SR-71> still exist at Beale. They operate in the U-2 training role. As such they have U-2R(T)s, U-2STs and T-38As. When the SR-71 was phased out of the inventory, the 1 RS took over the duties of the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Training Squadron (5 SRTS) which deactivated. The 1 RS can trace its lineage to the 1st Aero Squadron, thus making it the oldest squadron in the Air Force. As such it is highly unlikely that the 1 RS will ever be deactivated. > The markings are standard for ACC, and the T-38As, used for training at Beale > AFB by the 99th SRS are also painted black and sport the same markings, also > in red. > > In earlier years, before the retirement of the SR-71 and before SAC was > replaced by ACC, the patch of the 1st SRS (which operated the SR-71 under > the 9th SRW) showed 13 black Maltese crosses on yellow ground. As I mentioned the T-38s are assigned the the 1 RS. Richard Operhall ------------------------------ From: Jay.Waller@analog.com Date: Thu, 7 Sep 95 11:17 EDT Subject: Re: Does a small space glider exist? I believe the program you're thinking about is the lifting body X-planes.The only one intended for orbital flight was the X-20 Dyna-Soar ('59) which was never built. The others included the X-23A ('66) and the X-24A & B ('70). The X-23 & 24 was dropped from NASA's B-52. They were not meant to achieve orbital flight. I think the X-24 was for low speed research, but I may be wrong. Over the years I've seen numerous conceptual drawings for planned spacecraft that look very similar to these craft. Who knows, maybe some kind of prototype was tested that actually achieved hypersonic, or near hypersonic speeds. Regards, Jay ------------------------------ From: "Terry Colvin" Date: Thu, 07 Sep 95 08:09:41 EST Subject: Earth Defence Grid - reply On 4 Sep 1995 Walt wrote: >...Assuming, we have flying saucer technology now, some of that > technology, I believe must have been reversed-engineered from recovered > alien space craft that have either crashed or been 'shot-down', I am > sure they did not give it [technology] to us. Hi Walt; I live in Palmdale Ca. about 1mi. from the Lockheed Skunk Works at U.S.A.F. Plant 42. Northrop and Rockwell and who knows who else is out here. I have been into aircraft and space craft sence I was a kid, and when we go to Edwards A.F.B. to watch the air shows or Miramar Navel Air Station or in books that I have read we have not seen anything that would suggest any type of advanced technology that would be concidered extrataristral by any means. The United States has developed vehicles that have reached speeds of Mach 10 in the atmosphere in 1965. (Sprint ABM built by Martin Marietta. Forward acceleration of over 3200 ft/sec squared.) And it is said that it is possible that the mach 6 Arora might have a external combustion chamber that would ignite the fuel outside the aircraft around a tapered heat sheild at the end of the craft to propel it forward like squeezing a watermelon seed between your fingers and shooting it out. This is not a new idea ether, just one not developed yet. Granted I have not seen what is out at Towpaw or Groom Lake, but it seems that somthing would have filtered down to our public technology by now if we had captured any advanced craft. So in my opinion the unidenified objects are not terrestial by nature. P.S. Saw my first ufo last October when I was outside at about 10:00 p.m. looking at the moons of Jupiter. When I took the 15X80 binos down from my eyes I saw a movement to the west (I was faceing south.) comeing towards me moving to the east. Being I was the only observer, all mesurements are a guess. What I saw was an object about 60 to 90 ft/diameter with 16 to 18 golden lights around the bottom rim. It was moving at a guessed speed of 700 mph with no sound and with a gyro- scopic pression motion (wobel) of + or - 30 deg. cycling at 1.5 seconds. Guessed altitude was 6000 ft. It was about 80 deg. above the horizon, clear night, mild breeze. This was observed with the 15X80 binos I had with me. Harbin ------------------------------ From: "Terry Colvin" Date: Thu, 07 Sep 95 08:17:42 EST Subject: 9th SRW I was TDY to the unit in the late seventies. As I recall the "maltese crosses" you refer to are actually iron crosses. They trace to the unit's WWI (thats right WW I not II) service and German aircraft they shotdown. Bill Riddle ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:07:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST July 17, 1995 HELIOS 1A BOLSTERS EUROPEAN RECON, pages 26-27: =============================================== The article describes the use of military satellites in Europe (mainly France, Italy and Spain, as well as other countries) and the cooperation with the USA. The US military will use Matra Cap Systems built "Eagle Vision" portable ground stations to receive satellite data from Spot and later Helios, ERS, Landsat and other satellites. DC-X DEMONSTRATES KEY MANEUVER, pages 28-29: ============================================ On July 7, the DC-X made its eighth and last flight, before being rebuilt as the DC-XA testbed, by McDonnell Douglas' Huntington Beach, CA, facility. The test flight included the critical turnaround maneuver, displaying its ability to land vertically on its tail, after a nose-first re-entry. Because of wrong data from the Honeywell radar-altimeter, the landing was extremely hard and not only damaged the landing gear, but also cracked the Scaled Composites- built aeroshell, which was repaired after being extensively damaged by an explosion on the fifth flight. TITAN/CENTAUR LOFTS CLASSIFIED PAYLOAD: page 29: ================================================ The USAF launched on July 10 a classified satellite from Vandenberg AFB, believed to be an "Advanced Jumpseat" ELINT satellite. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:07:55 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST July 24, 1995 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK, page 13: ========================== EXPLOSION RECOVERY: Nissan's Aerospace Division expects to repair a "ram-rocket" engine test area, which was damaged by an hydrogen tank explosion in May. The engine is reportedly developed for missiles in cooperation with the U.S. DoD. NEWS BREAKS, page 17: ===================== The Senate Armed Services Committee has authorized $2.1 billion for the F-22 program for FY 96, but has also recommended that $600 million to be withheld until a report is received from the DoD on concurrent, weight and specific fuel consumption. Predator's overseas debut has spurred other unmanned aerial vehicle operators to push for experience in Bosnia for their systems. These include: - Pointer UAV, 20 from the USMC; - Hunter UAV, US Army; - Pioneer, UAV, USN; RU-38A Twin Delivery Date Set: Schweizer Aircraft will deliver its first of the planned four RU-38A to the USCG in October. The RU-38A (which is a company designation, and not an official military designation) is based on the RG-8A, which belongs to the same Schweizer SGS-2-32 glider family, as: - the Schweizer X-26A (of which at least 3 are used by the USN) and Lockheed X-26B motor glider version; - the Lockheed QT-1 (later QT-2 "Quiet Thrust" and QT-2PC "Prize Crew"; - and the Lockheed "Q-Star"; - the Lockheed YO-3A (of which one is used by NASA, and 2+ by the Forest Service, while the rest are in museums); - the Schweizer/Lockheed RG-8A (only one remains in USCG service, at least one other is used by the CIA); This represents a long heritage of covert and stealthy reconnaissance/ surveillance/observation aircraft. FISCAL REALITY MAY HALT TWO-WAR STRATEGY, pages 20-21: ====================================================== With info on JAST and B-2 funding and problems. IMAGERY FROM BOSNIA EXPECTED TO IMPROVE, pages 20-21: ===================================================== Detailing the current status of the General Atomics Predator UAV (Tier 2) program. RAH-66 MAIN ROTOR BEGINS WHIRL TESTS, page 22: ============================================== Showing a photo and mentioning the first test. And the F-22 special report with the following articles: F-22 TO COUNTER 21st CENTURY THREATS, pages 38-43; ================================================== F-22 TACTICS RELY ON BVR, page 38; ================================== F-22 MISSIONS REFLECTED IN WEAPON MIX, pages 42-43; ================================================== F-22 TEAM CHARACTERIZES NEW MATERIALS, PROCESSES, pages 46-47; ============================================================== COMPANIES PREPARE FOR F-22 PRODUCTION, pages 48-49; =================================================== AVIONICS AUTOMATES MANY COCKPIT FUNCTIONS, pages 49-53; ======================================================= F-22 SOFTWARE ON TRACK WITH STANDARD PROCESSES, pages 53-54; ============================================================ F-22 SOFTWARE SET FOR BLOCK RELEASES, page 54; ============================================== DEMONSTRATOR ILLUSTRATES ROLE OF F-22 AVIONICS, page 55-57; ============================================================ F119 DESIGN TO SLASH MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS, pages 56-59; =========================================================== F119 DEMONSTRATES QUICK RESPONSE, page 59; ========================================== SIMULATOR EVALUATES F119 SOFTWARE, page 60: =========================================== Those 12 article contain too much information, to be reprinted here. They give a nice round picture of the current status of most aspects of the F-22 program, including schedules and data on the design and testing of airframe, engines, avionics, software, weapons and more. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:08:25 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST July 31, 1995 NEW UAV FORCE FORMS AT NELLIS, pages 20-22: =========================================== Announcing the formation of the 11th RS at Nellis AFB, to be based at Indian Springs AAF (Auxiliary Airfield) with Tier 2 'Predator' and other UAVs. JAST MODEL BEGINS HOVER TESTS, page 22: ======================================= The Lockheed Martin 86%-scale non-flying ASTOVL JAST demonstrator model is currently tested outdoors and will be tested in NASA Ames' 80-ft. x 120-ft. wind tunnel in September, to examine its transition from hover to conventional wing-borne flight. B-2 DROPS FIRST GPS-AIDED MUNITION, page 22: ============================================ The first GAM (GPS-Aided Munition) dropped from a B-2 hit within its 20-ft. CEP (Circular Error Probable) from above 40,000 ft. and 45,000 ft. downrange. PENTAGON INVESTS $1 BILLION IN ACTDs, page 55: ============================================== The Pentagon is adding 12 new ACTD (Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration) programs to the 10 currently underway. The new projects include: - a lightweight, low-cost, air-launched decoy, developed by ARPA; - a sensor suite to monitor a hardened facility engaged in producing chemical, nuclear or biological weapons. Space-based, airborne and ground- based sensors could be involved. Special weapons to attack such facilities are being developed at Eglin AFB, FL; - an automated network of sensors, designed to detect and identify biological warfare agents at an air base or port facility; - a combat identification system for air-to-ground and ground-to-ground operations. IN ORBIT, page 57: ================== * The USN is declassifying all data from the Geodetic Satellite (Geosat-A). * According to a 'well-placed official', about 50 nations have been granted limited access to imagery from U.S. intelligence satellites, but only a very few friendly countries have ever been allowed to keep the pictures they have seen. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:09:00 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST August 7, 1995 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK, page 13: ========================== F-22 LIVE-FIRE TESTS DOWNPLAYED: the NRC (National Research Council) says that expensive live-fire testing of the F-22 should be waived, and only components should be tested instead. WATCHDOG INTEL: the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has problems preventing the spread of nuclear weapons due to limited resources, national secrecy and a lack of enforcement options. NEWS BREAKS, page 17: ===================== E-Hunter makes first flight. NASA TESTS REAL-TIME DATA DELIVERY VIA TDRS, page 27: ===================================================== NASA ARC (Ames Research Center) has successfully used its new full-duplex Starlink (Satellite Telemetry And Return Link) system, sending remote-sensing data from a Daedalus Thematic Mapper Simulator on board of one of its ER-2s via one of NASAs TDRS (Tracking Data and Relay Satellite) to a ground terminal at White Sands, NM. The system uses a broadcast frequency of 1,700 MHz to relay data with 274 MB (Megabits/sec.) to a TDRS, which converts the signal to Ku-band, and sends it to the ground station. The data transfer rate to the aircraft is limited to 200 KB (kilobits/sec.) The antenna of the Starlink system is placed in a 16.75 ft. long streamlined pod on top of the ER-2, which weighs 401 lbs. and resembles the well known U-2R 'Senior Span' (C-Span III) satellite data link system. VHF ARRAY TO TEST RADAR SIGNATURE, page 36: =========================================== Boeing will use a 60-ft, x 60-ft. phased antenna array comprising 256 elements for indoor VHF RCS (Radar Cross Section) measurements at its Developmental Center in Seattle, WA. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:09:35 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST August 14, 1995 INDUSTRY LOOKOUT, page 13: ========================== CRYORADAR: Westinghouse has developed a cryogenically cooled, ultra-stable microwave signal source, which together with super-fast cyroelectronic digital circuits may be able to detect low-radar cross-section targets, even in the presence of clutter and active jamming, for the same (or lower) price than conventional radars. SEA HUNT, 1995: Dynamics Technology Inc. is developing a SAS (Synthetic Aperture Sonar) for ARPA -- similar to SARs (Synthetic Aperture Radars). NEWS BREAKS, page 17: ===================== Rep. Norman Dicks wants to recreate SAC (Strategic Air Command) because ACC (Air Combat Command) doesn't want to get more B-2s (and the USAF opted for F-22s instead). FRENCH SUPPORT BOSNIAN ELINT OPS, page 23: ========================================== French Mirage F1-CR with Thomson-CSF "ASTAC" pods are gathering ELINT data on SAMs over Bosnia for France and NATO. USAF AIMS LASER AT ANTIMISSILE ROLE, pages 24-25: ================================================= The article outlines the ABL (AirBorne Laser) program and its projected deployment on Boeing 747-400s in the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) role and for shooting down low flying satellites in a crisis situation. The ABM-role is competing with other BPI (Boost-Phase Intercept) projects and concepts like THAAD, Patriot upgrades and the USN high- and low-tier systems. Two teams compete for the ABL contract: Boeing/Lockheed Martin/TRW and Rockwell/ Hughes/E-Systems. The Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, NM, is working on a second, 'black' ABL project, that could become a fallback system, if the current ABL runs into severe technical problems. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:10:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST August 21, 1995 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK, page 11: ========================== POT SHOTS: Boeing will be using ceramic dies to form certain titanium parts for the nine flight test and two ground test F-22s. WASHINGTON OUTLOOK, page 17: ============================ INSOLUBLE?: Theater commanders and the intelligence community are still quarreling over the sharing of spy data collected in space. KRULAK'S PREFERENCE: The new USMC commander Gen. Charles C. Krulak may lobby against the F/A-18E/F and for the purchase of more F/A-18C/D and JAST-follow on aircraft, together with V-22s and remanufactured AV-8Bs and four-bladed AH-1W/UH-1Ns. TWO PREDATORS DESTROYED IN BOSNIA, pages 24-25: =============================================== The first lost suddenly contact and is presumed shot down, while the second was flown deliberately into a mountain side after it experienced engine troubles. SAR-equipped replacement UAVs are expected in the area as soon as November. They are currently tested at El Mirage, CA. RUSSIAN EJECTION SEAT MAY FLY IN U.S. JAST, pages 64-65: ======================================================== The Russian Zvezda K-36D ejection seat was and is tested by the USAF and USN and seems to be superior to all US ejection seats, including the ACES 2, which is used on F-15, F-16, F-117, A-10, B-1, B-2 and later F-22. A follow on system, developed in cooperation with U.S. industry partners may fly in the operational JAST follow-on aircraft. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:11:07 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST August 28, 1995 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK, page 13: ========================== COMANCHE TEST BED: The stationary RAH-66 PSTB (Propulsion Systems Test Bed) at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach, FL, facility has been powered up, and will verify aircraft systems before the first flight of the prototype. COCKPIT THIRD EYE: Reticular Systems Inc. developed intelligent software, able to detect, assess and instantly warn low-flying Army helicopter pilots about potential terrain and obstacle hazards. WASHINGTON OUTLOOK, page 19: ============================ IN THE BLACK: The Pentagon's budgets for "Special Access" programs are continuing to shrink slowly, according to Defense Dept. Comptroller John Hamre. "We have dramatically fewer acquisition programs that are in Special Access," following the emergence into daylight of the F-117, A-12, B-2 and Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile, he said. "Those programs were probably 85% of all the Special Access stuff." What is left in the black are "things that just the existence alone constitutes a valid security concern." He said there are only a few major programs. The rest is pieces of programs, such as low-observable aspects of the F-22. As to future black budget reductions, Hamre said, "I'm not aware of anything big." He believes reducing the number of fixed price contracts, capping programs and classifying only certain elements of programs have made it easier to prevent cost overruns and mis- management. ARMY PUSHES MISSILES FOR UAV USE, page 23: ========================================== The article outlines the U.S. Army plan to purchase additional Tier 2+ (or Tier 3-) UAVs equipped with two kinds of Army developed high-speed missiles. One is a BPI (Boost-Phase Intercept) ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) missile, and the other a deep strike missile. The program is competing with all the other theater missile defense systems, including the USAF's Boeing 747-400 based ABL (AirBorne Laser) system. DC-X HOLDS PROMISE; BIG QUESTIONS REMAIN, pages 56-59: ====================================================== Flight number eight of the DC-X proved that some key maneuvers are possible, but SSTO (Single Stage To Orbit) systems like the X-33 RLV (Reusable Launch Vehicle) need higher thrust, lower structural weight and have to solve other technical problems, like thermal protection. The article contains a series of nice flight photos and diagrams. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 13:11:49 -0400 (EDT) Subject: AW&ST September 4, 1995 WASHINGTON OUTLOOK, page 19: ============================ SHAKEOUT TIME: The Pentagon will probably concentrate its ballistic missile defense and unmanned aerial vehicle programs. It is most likely that not all of the 5 new USAF and Army UAV programs (Maneuver, Hunter, Predator, Tier 2+ and DarkStar) will survive. PENTAGON ORDERS MISSILE DEFENSE REVIEW, pages 20-21: ==================================================== The article deals with BMDO's review of programs like: - BMDO's Space based laser; - USAF's AirBorne Laser (ABL); - U.S. Army's Kinetic Kill Vehicle (KKV); - Ground-based and UAV and fighter carried Boost-Phase Intercept (BPI) missiles developed by the USAF, USN and the U.S. Army based on: - Phoenix (AIM-54); - Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM, AIM-120); - Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM, AGM-69); - High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM, AGM-88); - Minuteman 3 ICBMs (LGM-30G) - and others, some of them new developments; - U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) programs, like: - upgraded Hawk missiles (MIM-23); - upgraded Patriot GEM missiles (MIM-104); - Corps Surface-to-Air Missile (Corps SAM); - Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS); - Theater High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD); - USN low-tier and high-tier defense programs; NASA/LANGLEY TESTS WAVERIDER DESIGN, page 21: ============================================= NASA LaRC (Langley Research Center) will test a 1/16th scale waverider model in its 30 ft. x 60 ft. Full-Scale Wind Tunnel facility. The 8 ft. long model is built by Accurate Automation Corp., TN, and test showed that the Mach 5 design's basic configuration "is aerodynamically sound" within the low-speed regime. U-2 CRASHES IN ENGLAND, page 24: ================================ A U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft supporting allied operations over Bosnia crashed after takeoff from RAF Fairford on Aug. 29, just a day before NATO aircraft were unleashed against Serbian targets. The U-2, assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, Calif., had been stationed at Fairford since April to support Operation Deny Flight. Capt. David A. Hawkens was trying to land the aircraft after experiencing problems following takeoff. He ejected as the U-2 touched down on the runway, but died later of his injuries in a hospital. A board of investigation has been convened to determine the exact cause of the crash. The Lockheed-built U-2 apparently encountered stability problems when one of its two balancing wheels, which are used to support the reconnaissance aircraft's elongated wings during takeoff, failed to fall away. The aircraft was one of four U-2s based at Fairford, according to officials of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing. They added that Hawkens was assigned to the 99th Reconnaissance Sqdn. at Beale in February, 1994, and had a total of 280 U-2 flying hours. AWACS TO CARRY MISSILE LAUNCH SENSOR, pages 42-44: ================================================== TI TO INTEGRATE EAGLE FOR AWACS, page 43: ========================================= The article describes the Eagle EOS (Electro-Optical Sensor), based on the IR sensor installed in the F-117A and a system developed for the B-1B, for long- range, early warning of theater ballistic missile launches, which will be installed on USAF E-3 Sentry aircraft. The system will be able to predict the impact point and possibly the launch site with enough accuracy to guide next- generation precision weapons, like the BAT (Brilliant Anti-Tank) munition or the SFW (Sensor-Fuzed Weapon) to destroy the launcher. The system parallels a passive IR system, developed for RC-135S 'Cobra Ball' TELINT aircraft, used to observe foreign nations missile tests. This system might also be installed on the 'Rivet Joint' aircraft. The Eagle system includes a very accurate laser range-finder capability, which the 'Cobra Ball' systems lacks. PRATT TO STUDY SOYUZ DATA IN DESIGNING JAST NOZZLE, pages 58-59: ================================================================ The Soyuz Aero Engine Co. will provide vectoring nozzle information for the Lockheed Martin JAST aircraft design, under a technical assistance agreement signed with Pratt & Whitney. Yakovlev has already a $500,000 contract with Lockheed to provide data on their Yak-38 and Yak-141 designs, concerning ground effect, damage to various landing surfaces, ingestion of foreign objects and recirculated exhaust, erosion damage, aerodynamic "suckdown" effects and acoustic loads for roll-on and vertical landing configurations. The Yak-141 is very similar to the JAST concept in layout and weights, and Pratt & Whitney wants to design a vectoring nozzle system similar to the one used on the Yak-141, and Lockheed Martin wants to study the flight control system and the automatic ejection seat implementation, besides other things. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ End of Skunk Works Digest V5 #412 ********************************* To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe skunk-works-digest in the body of a message to "majordomo@mail.orst.edu". 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