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Always in awe seeing the A-12 OXCART on display at the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters! (Took this pic earlier this morning on final approach to DC's Reagan airport) CIA developed the top secret A-12 OXCART as the U-2 spy plane’s successor, intended to meet the nation’s need for a very fast, very high-flying reconnaissance aircraft that could avoid Soviet air defenses. CIA awarded the OXCART contract to the Skunk Works (builder of the U-2) in 1959. In meeting the A-12’s extreme speed and altitude requirements, Chief Skunk Clarence “Kelly” Johnson and his team overcame numerous technical challenges with cutting-edge innovations in titanium fabrication, lubricants, jet engines, fuel, navigation, flight control, electronic countermeasures, radar stealthiness, and pilot life-support systems. In 1965, after hundreds of hours flown at high personal risk by the elite team of CIA and Lockheed test pilots, the A-12 was declared fully operational, attaining the design specifications of a sustained speed of Mach 3.2 at 90,000 feet altitude. To this day, the A-12 holds records for speed and altitude (Mach 3.29 at 90,000 feet) for an air-breathing piloted jet aircraft. The one in my picture is the eighth of 15 built under the OXCART Program and one of nine remaining. It is known as Article 128, with a serial number of 60-6931. Its first flight was on 3 October 1963, and it was the first of the operational fleet to be certified to fly at Mach 3. Fun fact: The U-2 spy plane was originally known as the "ANGEL" so when it was time to replace it with something even better, the A-12 became known as the "ARCHANGEL" program. Can you see the A-12 in my picture? 😁

Do you know why pilots love the F-15 and F-16? Check out this video and read about why fighter pilots have confidence in RTX capabilities, including Pratt & Whitney’s F100 engine, to power their mission and bring them home safely. #WeArePW #FIA2024

Marvelous Footage for the King of Aerospace: F-22 Raptor The F-22 Raptor is combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.

Most industries are full of specific jargon and TLAs (three letter acronyms!). As part of a series of work I set out to try and lessen this by demystifying why Leonardo's life-saving Miysis #DIRCM (Directed Infra-Red Counter Measure) is a must-have in contested airspace, what a DIRCM is and how it can be relatively easy to install on aircraft therefore playing a key role in protection of People, Platform & Mission.

THE FARA . WHAT WENT WRONG ? SAME TECH SOLUTIONS AFTER 57 YEARS The recent announcement of the U.S. Army canceling the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, despite two competing prototypes already in existence, may have surprised many , but when to dive into the tech details , it come very clear - no other decision could be made. . With the Pentagon strategically focusing on potential high-end conflicts in the Pacific region and drawing insights from helicopter operations in Ukraine, the FARA program's relevance came under scrutiny. The assumptions that formed the basis of its vision for future aerial warfare needed a critical re-evaluation. Terminating the program at this stage, prior to extensive flight testing, is a prudent move, preventing unnecessary investment in what could have become an impractical venture. What we can see from tech point ? BELL Invictus is a Bell AH-1Z Viper 1967 clone with a bit reshaped lines . Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant show same performance as Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne in far 1967's. The VTOL industry seems to have reached a plateau in performance evolution, shifting its focus toward escalating product costs rather than enhancing capabilities. Over a year ago, Jetcopter foresaw a split in the trajectory of military VTOLs, projecting a divergence into two categories: large, slow, heavy transporters akin to the CH-47, and a new generation of fast, long-range, super-maneuverable "knife fighters." Notably, Bell Invictus with it regular specifications won't play here , as well as Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant , which primarily is more suited to heavy transporters rather then FARA rotorcrafts. Following recent experiences in high-speed and intense conflicts, the Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program raised its requirements to the level of revolutionary tech offerings. However, the legacy VTOL industry appears to be stagnating. By the words of one US general - ''next war will win innovations'' , FARA needs innovative , cutting edge , cost effective approach to Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft and such solutions exist. JETCOPTER HIGH SPEED VTOL TECHNOLOGIES

Do you know why pilots love the F-15 and F-16? Check out this video and read about why fighter pilots have confidence in @RTX capabilities, including @Pratt & Whitney’s F100 engine, to power their mission and bring them home safely: https://lnkd.in/gGDAdutp #WeArePW #FIA2024 

Do you know why pilots love the F-15 and F-16? Check out this video and read about why fighter pilots have confidence in @RTX capabilities, including @Pratt & Whitney’s F100 engine, to power their mission and bring them home safely. #WeArePW #FIA2024 

India Advances Hypersonic Technology with BrahMos-2 and HSTDV Programs India's hypersonic technology progresses with the BrahMos-2 hypersonic cruise missile and the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle. BrahMos-2, a collaboration between the Indian Institute of Science and the the Moscow Aviation Institute, aims for speeds surpassing Mach 7 with a 600 km range. The effort emphasizes heat shields, aerodynamics, and scramjet engines. Anticipated prototypes within five years make BrahMos-2 a potential game-changer. The indigenous HSTDV targets Mach 6 speeds, serving as a testbed for future hypersonic missiles. India's commitment to hypersonic capabilities signifies its intent to compete globally, potentially revolutionizing warfare with faster, more agile missiles and aircraft in the coming decade. For Aerospace & Defence Updates Follow: https://lnkd.in/d-FkwVj9

From a purely physical standpoint, hypersonic weapons are not novel. Ballistic missiles have routinely surpassed Mach 5 since the 1960s, reaching speeds of up to Mach 20 in the case of intercontinental missiles. However, a new generation of hypersonic weapons combining speed and maneuverability has recently emerged as focal points in modern warfare technology, garnering significant attention due to their supposedly game-changing capabilities. Various nations worldwide are developing two main types of hypersonic weapons: hypersonic cruise missiles and hypersonic gliding vehicles. According to The Telegraph, the UK Ministry of Defence has opted to pursue the former, setting the ambitious goal of deploying a wholly domestic design by the end of 2030. Efforts are underway to develop materials capable of withstanding such velocities, sometimes called the “heat barrier,” akin to the sound barrier that marked another significant milestone in aerospace technology. Concurrently, research is focused on creating an airbreathing “scramjet” engine, a crucial technology for powering a weapon to its target at hypersonic speeds. If you're eager to learn more about the recent announcement from the UK Ministry of Defence regarding the development of hypersonic weapons, read my full article for AeroTime. #AeroTime