Stratofortress
‘Game Changer’
The USAF sent a new conventional
rotary launcher (CRL) for the B-52H to a
combat arena on November 6. This will
enable the bomber to carry a selection of
conventional smart weapons or GPS-
guided munitions internally. Master Sgt
Adam Levandowski, Air Forces Strategic
Armament Systems manager, said:
"Before these launchers, the B-52 was
not capable of carrying smart weapons
internally. Now each CRL allows for
internal carriage which adds an additional
eight smart bombs per aircraft. He stated:
"It’s a big game changer for current and
future warfare."
Plus, he added: "Now, combatant
commanders are presented with a much
more flexible weapons selection without
the need to request additional air support.”
Although rotary launchers are used
on present airframes, this is the first of
its kind.The VX-23 Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
retired its last EA-6B Prowler airborne
electric attack aircraft at NAS Patuxent River,
Maryland, on August 29.
Known as ‘Salty Dog 536’, the Prowler
had been assigned to the squadron since- It is now on display at the Patuxent
River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park.
The EA-6B was the 56th of 170
Prowlers produced by Grumman
Aerospace for the US Navy and Marine
Corps. Prowlers remain operational with
two Marine Corps squadrons at MCAS
Cherry Point, North Carolina.First MQ-4Cs at Ventura
Two Tritons – the Northrop Grumman
MQ-4Cs Unmanned Air System (UAS), –
should be stationed at Naval Base Ventura
County, Point Mugu, California, by the end
of the year. They are the US Navy’s first
operational Tritons.The aircraft will be tested before
deployment to Andersen AFB, Guam in 2018.
The navy plans to acquire 68 Tritons
and will initially operate the unmanned
aircraft from Naval Station Mayport, Florida
and NAS Sigonella, Italy, as well as Guam.US Army AH-64Es Arrive in Europe
The US Army's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade
(ACB) arrived in Germany during November,
marking an inaugural deployment of the
AH-64E in Europe. Operated by the 1st
Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, the 24
Apache Guardians will primarily be stationedat Illesheim Army Air Field, Germany.
Normally stationed at Fort Hood,
Texas, the brigade will spend nine months
supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve. It
formally relieved the 10th Mountain Division’s
combat aviation brigade on November 7,allowing it to return to Fort Drum, New York.
The 1st ACB, complement of 12 CH-
47Fs, 38 UH-60Ms, 15 HH-60Ms and the
AH-64Es arrived in Belgium in October and
the bulk of the aircraft later flew to Illesheim
or to Katterbach Army Airfield.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 7Final Pax River
Prowler Retired
Touchdown for the last time – VX-23’s EA-6B lands at NAS Patuxent River in heavy rain at the
culmination of its final flight. US Navy/Liz WolterNew Canadian
Fighter Plan
Competition for a future Canadian
fighter jet will begin in 2019 with plans
to award a contract by 2021 or sooner.
The Royal Canadian Air Force will
seek 88 fighters to replace its current
inventory of 76 CF-188 Hornets, which
are approaching the end of their
useful lives. Although Canada is an
international participant in the Joint
Strike Fighter programme, it has yet to
make a commitment to purchase the
aircraft and the government plans an
open competition.
The Lockheed Martin F-35A,
Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale,
Boeing F/A-18E/F and Saab Gripen E
are all likely to respond to the Canadian
request.
As a stopgap, Canada is attempting
to purchase used F/A-18A/Bs from
Australia or Kuwait. Earlier plans to
purchase 18 Super Hornets have been
placed on hold due to an ongoing trade
tariff dispute between Boeing and
Bombardier. Tom KaminskiA Saudi Arabian Airbus C-295W ASW variant on approach to Malta from Seville on November
7 for a fuel stop while on delivery to the Middle East nation’s Ministry of the Interior. Its future
serial will be MOI-C2. This was the second example (out of four ordered), following a first
C-295W that was delivered towards the end of 2015. Alistair ZammitC295W Delivered
to Saudi Arabia
06-08_military_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 7 04/12/2017 12: