Bell Flight’s Post

GM Defense History Series: For more than a century, General Motors has answered America’s call and supported the U.S. Armed Forces in every major military conflict, and origins of GM Defense date back more than 100 years in our company’s history. As we continue to share our important story, we're launching a new weekly history series shining a light on GM Defense's legacy of contributions across land, air, sea and space. As various GM automotive divisions first rallied their incredible manufacturing might to produce thousands of vehicles, engines, aircraft, munitions and other defense and government products, GM Defense continues the legacy today and into the future.   Journeying back to the era of World War I, here’s a look at the 1917 GMC Model 16AA WW1 Military Ambulance. 🚑 This legendary vehicle served on the front lines, ferrying wounded Soldiers and vital medical supplies, embodying innovation and valor. GMC’s Model 16, selected as the standard ¾-ton truck by the US Army, saw over 13,000 units deployed for military use, with many repurposed as ambulances in support of the war effort. Telling of the times, the truck's maximum speed was 25 miles per hour and was facilitated by its 30 horsepower engine. Out of the 13,316 Model 16 trucks manufactured, the majority were designated for military purposes. While GMC primarily handled ambulance assembly, the demand quickly outpaced the production capabilities of GM's Pontiac division facility. To address the increased demand, kits were developed, containing all the necessary components for ambulance construction and assembly. The 16AA was an exception vehicle, supporting WWI war efforts and American warfighters on a global scale. #wearegm #GMDefense #WW1 #MilitaryHistory #gmdhistoryseries

Known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) within the Pentagon, air force leaders think the autonomous, lethally armed jets under development will be the solution to the major challenge currently facing military planners in Western capitals: countering an enemy armed with vast quantities of long-range, precision munitions. Advanced strike fighters and bombers are slow to produce and horrendously expensive – so much so that the USAF is rethinking its plans for a new sixth-generation fighter after the price of each aircraft reached more than double that of a Lockheed Martin F-35 fifth-generation jet. Instead, the service wants to focus industry in the opposite direction. Rather than building a massively capable and correspondingly expensive platform that can only be fielded in limited quantities, the air force wants large numbers of less-capable CCAs that can be acquired at a fraction of the cost. With a sufficiently low enough price, such vehicles could essentially be considered disposable – what the air force calls “attritable” – in the same way missiles are meant to be fired only once. But at least one high profile figure in the defence industry is sceptical of the concept – particularly the claim that an aircraft can be both sophisticated enough to be effective on the battlefield and cheap enough to be attritable. “You’ve got to find something that is actually executing the mission, but not costing the national treasury on the first day of the war, when you lose most of your aircraft,” says John Clark, general manager of Lockheed’s famous advanced development programmes division – more commonly known as Skunk Works. Striking a balance between affordability and capability could prove a challenge, the Skunk Works chief says. “If you’re not going to have high levels of survivability, and you know it’s likely going to get shot, then it probably means that you need to drive your cost way, way down,” notes Clark. As an example, he suggests a CCA with a unit price of $15-20 million, with an expected combat loss rate of 80%. “How many airplanes am I willing to spend that sort of money on before that’s a losing proposition financially as a nation?”, Clark proposes hypothetically. See https://lnkd.in/gyVdeEdw

Why do so many Military Aircraft Crash? If one of the flaps that control roll, pitch, and yaw stop working the aircraft becomes very unstable and there is a loss of control that causes an emergency landing. https://lnkd.in/gqpcS3ie

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗙-𝟯𝟱 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🛩️ Exciting times ahead for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program! With the proposed House policy bill aiming to trim down purchases for fiscal 2025, it's evident that lawmakers are taking a strategic approach towards ensuring the effectiveness of this fifth-generation aircraft. This move highlights a concerted effort to address lingering issues with the program and its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, emphasizing the importance of delivering high-quality, fully functional jets to our military forces. The decision to slash initial purchases and withhold deliveries until key problems are rectified shows a commitment to long-term success. By reinvesting saved funds into resolving software glitches and radar concerns, the focus shifts towards enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the F-35 fleet. Moreover, this approach fosters a collaborative environment between government entities and defense contractors, paving the way for more streamlined acquisition strategies and smoother production processes. As we navigate through these challenges, it's crucial to remember the ultimate goal: equipping our armed forces with cutting-edge technology that ensures national security. By addressing the issues head-on and leveraging recommendations from operational evaluations, we can accelerate the timeline for delivering top-notch F-35 capabilities to our warfighters. Photo by Airman 1st Class Mason Hargrove / U.S. Air Force

Esteemed colleagues here is another interesting articles. The A10 Warthog one of the best battlefield support aircraft and love by the troops it was designed to support is being retired. I guess they will use the F35 which does not even compare to replace this great aircraft. https://lnkd.in/gKfiXcPt

What Might Have Been: Inflight view of a conceptual U.S. Navy Lockheed F-117N Seahawk stealth strike fighter. Not long after the controversial Navy A-12 stealth attack aircraft and A/FX programs were cancelled in 1991-92 respectively, Lockheed Skunk Works proposed a several modified variants (F-117X/N) of their successful USAF F-117A Nighthawk faceted design. Critical design/performance compromises must be carefully considered for achieving carrier ops compatibility. Among numerous modifications, canted vertical tails, horizontal stabilizers were added, wing sweep reduced from 67.5 to 42 degrees, folding wings, enlarged weapons bays, and uprated engines. One issue was the impact of the new configuration on the RCS compared to the original F-117A. With funding for JAST/JSF looming and after numerous DOD reviews that considered many factors, the F-117X/N proposals were not approved for development.  Erik Simonsen illustration

The U.S. Army has a complicated history with light tanks, and its latest effort, the M-10 Booker, is entering service at a critical juncture where traditional armored warfare tactics may no longer be effective. The M-10, a 46-ton vehicle equipped with a 105-millimeter gun, is designed to support light infantry by providing firepower and situational awareness, but it lacks the heavy firepower and protection of a true tank like the M-1 Abrams. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine has demonstrated that traditional concepts of armored breakthroughs are becoming obsolete. Inexpensive, ubiquitous drones can easily target and destroy massed forces, making deep maneuvers increasingly risky. The current warfare environment prioritizes attritional battles and indirect firepower, reducing the relevance of vehicles like the M-10. For the M-10 to be effective, the U.S. Army will need to integrate strong air-defense and counter-drone capabilities alongside it. Without such protections, the M-10 and the light infantry it supports could be vulnerable to drone attacks, potentially rendering the costly new vehicle irrelevant in modern warfare. **David Axe, The Telegraph** If you enjoyed this article summary please send me a connection request. John Keith King

New Post: J-20 vs. J-16: Comparing China’s Two Most Dangerous Fighters -MORSHEDIIn the mid-2010s the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force brought three new classes of fighter into service, with these having today been deployed across more than 40 regiments to revolutionise the country’s aerial warfare capabilities. By far the most prominent has been the Chengdu J-20 as the world’s sole class of fifth generation

The U.S. remains the world’s largest #military spender by far, with its $877 billion representing 39% of global military spending. #Defense #investments have yielded some of the most advanced military tech in history, but at what #cost? Staff writer Jonathan DaCosta examines the #economic implications of reducing #defensespending, focusing on the F-35 fighter jet program as a case study. He highlights the potential job losses and economic impact on communities reliant on defense contracts, emphasizing the complex supply chain and high employment rates associated with defense projects. Read below to learn how the #defenseindustry affects local #jobmarkets.

First flight of the YUH-60A was 50 years ago on October 17, 1974 with Sikorsky Chief Pilot Dick Wright and UTTAS Chief Pilot John Dixson at the controls! The first flight came just 26 months after contract award and the type has been in continuous production since. The key performance requirements included a vertical rate of climb of at least 450 feet per minute at a 4,000-foot altitude and at 95 degrees F temperature and a cruise speed of at least 145 knots. Maneuverability requirements included achieving a yaw rate of 15 degrees per second while flying 35 knots sideways. The useful load included a crew of three plus the 11-man rifle squad and fuel for 2.3 hours of endurance with reserves. Stringent requirements were placed on the UTTAS design for ballistic and crash survivability. Crashworthiness characteristics later became standard requirements for US military helicopters resulting in fewer crew and occupant fatalities and injuries during both wartime and peacetime operations. In particular, occurrences of post-crash fires were dramatically reduced as a result of new design features incorporated in the design of new helicopters. The Blackhawk has been the mainstay of the US Armed Forces, with all the services operating a variant. The helicopter has carried out countless rescues fufilling Igor’s dream for a life saving aircraft! Photo and fact credit- Sikorsky Arcives