Former Air Force A-7 fighter jet found at Virginia Museum of Transportation

The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Va., welcomes guests from across the nation and around the world. The museum exists to preserve Virginia’s transportation history and to honor the workers whose talents created the transportation marvels in the collection. Although all modes of transportation are represented, the museum is mostly focused on telling the story of Roanoke’s rich rail heritage. Taking a walk outside the museum provides an outstanding display of old trains, buses and emergency vehicles. A deep walk into the collection will find yourself stumbling upon a vintage Vought A-7 Corsair II attack aircraft from the 1960's.

The A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-capable subsonic light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by American conglomerate Ling-Temco-Vought. The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as a replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Development was rapid, first flying on Sept. 26,1965 and entering squadron service with the United States Navy on Feb.1 1967.

The A-7 at the Virginia Museum of Transportation sits outside the museum and is hidden behind a row of retired public transportation buses. The wingless aircraft proudly displays “Virginia AF 70 996” on it's tail. A quick Internet search on the serial number “70-0966” shows this same jet was once assigned to the Virginia Air National Guard. Since its retirement the aircraft has been on display at Richmond International Airport, Virginia Aviation Museum and Shannon Air Museum in Fredericksburg, just to name a few.

What is the future for this retired military jet? Who knows. But it was a neat find on a beautiful summer day at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Video: First CMV-22B aircraft for fleet operations arrives at Naval Air Station North Island

Bell Textron Inc. and Boeing delivered the first CMV-22B for fleet operations to the U.S. Navy on Monday. The V-22 is based at Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Calif.

This aircraft is the third overall delivery to the U.S. Navy. Bell Boeing delivered the first CMV-22B at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in February for developmental testing, followed by a second in May. The Navy variant V-22 will take over the Carrier Onboard Delivery Mission, replacing the C-2A Greyhound.

The CMV-22B and C-2A greyhound conducted a symbolic passing of the torch flight in April.

The CMV-22B carries up to 6,000 pounds of cargo and combines the vertical takeoff, hover and landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft.

Bell Boeing designed the Navy variant to have the expanded range needed for fleet operations. Two additional 60-gallon tanks and redesigned forward sponson tanks can cover more than 1,150 nautical miles.

Video: First Super Hornet Block III test jet

Watch the first flight of the first Super Hornet Block III test jet. These F-18 test jets – equipped with improved communications systems and a 10-by-19-inch touchscreen display – will help U.S. Navy pilots familiarize themselves with the updated jets and be used in carrier flight tests.

Navy C-26 maintenance contract awarded to Vertex Aerospace

Vertex Aerospace was awarded a Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) contract with the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md. Vertex will provide full CLS maintenance support to Navy C-26 aircraft, to include aircraft maintenance, materials, avionics, engines, propellers, and ground support equipment.

The work will be performed at two U.S. locations and two international sites and is expected to be completed by 2025. Vertex has a long history of successful CLS maintenance support to Navy platforms, including the C-9, C-12, CH-53E, E-6B, T-34, T-44, T-45, TH-57, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft programs.

Video: US Navy conducts first ever all-female flyover

Honoring the life and legacy of a female pioneer in Naval aviation, the U.S. Navy conducted the first ever all-female flyover. Officially referred to as a “Missing Man Flyover,” the tribute was part of the funeral service for one of the Navy’s first female jet pilots retired Navy Captain Rosemary Mariner, who passed away Jan. 24 following a long and brave fight with cancer.

US Navy looks to test Close-Range Armed Unmanned Air Vehicles

The U.S. Navy released a Request For Information (RFI) on Friday as part of a market survey to determine the availability, technical capability, and logistics capability of industry to provide specific information to Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division about Commercial Off-The-Shelf Close-Range Armed Unmanned Air Vehicles (CRA-UAVs). The RFI document includes CRA-UAVs that are developed but not yet in production, but can reasonably be expected to be in the status of test-ready articles for comparative testing in April 2019. CRA-UAVs include armed UAVs that have a range of up to 50 kilometers and endurance time of five minutes to six hours. “Ordinary Close Range-UAVs are usually used only for reconnaissance and surveillance tasks; however the CRA-UAVs that NSWC Crane Division seeks should be armed for immediate firing on targets found during reconnaissance and surveillance flights,” the Navy said in the RFI.

NSWC Crane is presently conducting this market survey seeking information from industry, U.S. government, and academia, to analyze alternatives and consider various CRA-UAVs for future procurement. These can be either hover-type or loiter-type CRA-UAVs.

The CRA-UAVs that NSWC Crane Division seeks should meet the following:

• Carry armaments which may include small arms, rockets, grenades, and less-than-lethal weapons and devices, or combinations of weapons and devices.
• Have a wireless remote safe, arm, and fire capability, allowing safe, arm, and either fire, or return to safe while in flight.
• Once armed, CRA-UAVs must be able to be remotely placed back into the safe mode, allowing the CRA-UAVs to safely return to the launch point.
• Be capable of single person operation (pilot is the gunner) or double person operation (pilot and gunner separate individuals).
• Be compatible with common tactical mobile Smartphones or other mobile devices.
• May include remotely-controlled gimbals or mounted remote firing stations.
• May include concepts for non-line of sight operation, such as signal repeaters.

Raytheon awarded SeaVue radar contract

Raytheon Co., in McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $25 million contract for the procurement of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) AN/APS-148 SeaVue radar system components, engineering services, spares and repairs.

The MPRA is the primary maritime surveillance aircraft operated by the Navy. Functions and duties include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare; command, control, communications, computer, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance; search and rescue; drug interdiction; and exclusive economic zone protection.

The work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by September 2020. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, managed the contract award.

Proposed changes to F-35 weapon system

The F-35 Joint Program Office intends to issue a contract to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, Texas, to deliver a report which determines the design impacts of a proposed change on the overall F-35 weapon system, to include Mission Planning, Training and Reprogramming capabilities.

The proposed contract is anticipated to be awarded no later than Sept.30, the Navy's Naval Air Systems Command said in contract documents released Thursday.

Video: US Navy aircraft told to 'go away quickly' by Chinese navy

A recorded audio file of communications received while flying over the South China Sea. Sailors assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 conducted flight operations aboard a P-8A Poseidon aircraft on Wednesday. VP-45 is on deployment supporting U.S. 7th Fleet operations in the Pacific.

Insitu picks up $82 million support contract for Blackjack drone

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., intends to award a sole source Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) to Insitu Inc. of Bingen Wash., for supplies and services necessary to procure spare and sustainment parts and sustaining engineering services.

The type of supplies and services to be procured under the BOA will include, but not be limited to, the procurement of spare and sustainment parts, sustaining engineering services, equipment maintenance, and support equipment maintenance that is required to maintain the RQ-21A Blackjack UAS and provide acquisition lifecycle support.

“These efforts are in direct support of United States Marine Corps (USMC) fleet operations,” the Navy said in contract documents released Friday. It is anticipated that the BOA will cover a five year ordering period. The estimated total value of the contractual actions is $82.4 million and will be funded by USMC.

“This is an estimate of future funding; future years are estimates based on number of deployments and calculated from the fiscal year 2015 requirement per deployment,” the Navy said.

Insitu, Inc. is the sole designer, developer, and manufacturer of the RQ-21A Blackjack, and as such, is the only known source available with the requisite technical knowledge, experience and tooling to perform the efforts described herein, in order to satisfy the government's requirement.

Small businesses interested in subcontracting possibilities should contact Insitu.

The future of Naval Aviation Unmanned Air Systems

The U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Weapons, PEO(U&W), is planning to conduct an Industry Day meeting and follow-on Idea Days to provide opportunities for industry to learn about the technology needs of PEO(U&W) with the potential for follow-on briefings regarding technologies that industry has developed.

“This opportunity is open to all companies that have new and innovative ideas to support the future of Naval Aviation Unmanned Air System (UAS) and Weapon programs,” the Navy said in a Special Notice released Tuesday.

The Industry Day meeting will be held April 16 at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall in Lexington Park, Md. The Idea Days meeting will be an opportunity for industry to brief the Navy on developed technologies that may benefit PEO(U&W) UAS programs.

Retired EA-6B military jet to be towed through southwest Indiana

The U.S. Navy plans to partially disassemble and transport an EA-6B electronic warfare aircraft from Monroe County Airport, Bloomington, Ind., to a Naval Support Activity (NSA) in Crane. NSA Crane is a naval facility located approximately 40 miles southwest of Bloomington.

The aircraft must be partially disassembled and towed to NSA Crane where it will then be reassembled, the Navy said in contract documents released Friday. “External fuel tanks may be removed. This will be a turnkey operation where the contractor is responsible for all route planning, move oversight, towing of the aircraft, obtaining permits, escorts and coordination with state and local authorities. The contractor shall enter NSA Crane Indiana through the gate located on the Northwest corner of the base at the city of Crane Indiana continuing to a paved parking location approximately five miles inside the gate.”

NSWC Crane Indiana has a long history working on EA-6B Airborne Electronic Warfare equipment. One EA-6B is being retired from service to become a historical static display.

Work on the aircraft will commence immediately after Navy active duty personnel remove and safely secure all ordnance, ejection seat rockets and safely discharge the fire suppression Halon bottles.

Dimensions and weight of the aircraft provided for reference only:

• Span with outer wing panels folded: 25 feet 11 inches.
• Length: 59 feet 10 inches.
• Height: 15 feet 9 inches with landing gear struts hydraulic pressure adjusted to achieving greatest overhead clearance.
• Weight: approximately 31,718 pounds. Actual weight may differ slightly due to residual fluids and variance in volume of paint on painted surfaces.

Companies interested in supporting the aircraft tow should contact the Navy by Feb. 17.

Video: US Navy describes Air Asia flight search efforts

Naval Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Jiardina, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, describes how he is supporting Air Asia Flight QZ8501 search efforts and helping to bring closure to families affected by the tragedy.

Contract: Escort services for military aircraft towed on public roads

The U.S. Navy in Jacksonville, Fla., is conducting a market survey to determine the availability of vendors for Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) which is an industrial facility that accomplishes rework, repair, and overhaul of various aircraft, engines, and components located at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax), Duval County, Fla.

“This requirement is to provide escort transportation services for military aircraft on public roads between NAS Jax and the Cecil Commerce Center (CCC) for a total of 60 moves during the period from March 1 through Oct. 31, 2015,” the Navy said in contract documents released Tuesday. “The government will provide the tow equipment and a driver for the movement of the aircraft and obtain a blanket permit from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) authorizing the tow of aircraft on public roads between NAS JAX and CCC.”

The contractor will provide all labor, supervision, vehicles, equipment, law enforcement escorts, and any other items necessary to transport aircraft to include coordination with Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FDOT, as well as the safety offices and security departments of FRCSE, NAS Jax, and CCC.

The aircraft will be reduced to the smallest size possible, ranging in height from 9-17 feet, width ranging from 16-34 feet, and length ranging from 28-61 feet. Tows will typically be Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and involve only one aircraft, but the contractor must be prepared for other days/times and for two aircraft at a time.

Companies interested in supporting the contract should contact the U.S. Navy Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville by Jan.15.

Video: Chinese helicopter lands on U.S. guided-missile destroyer

A Chinese Harbin Z-9E helicopter practices landing aboard the U.S. Navy's guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104). Sterett and ships from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) commenced a bilateral counter-piracy exercise, U.S.-China Counter-Piracy Exercise 15, in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa.



Aiming to promote partnership, strength and presence, the exercise includes combined visit, board, search, and seizure operations, communication exchanges, and various other aspects of naval operations.

Video: Joint manned/unmanned flight trials aboard aircraft carrier

Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Navy offered a glimpse of the future of carrier aviation on Sunday by conducting a series of cooperative flights from the aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), using an X-47B Unmanned Air System (UCAS) and an F/A-18 Hornet.

The flights - the first time manned and unmanned carrier aircraft have operated together in the same carrier controlled landing pattern at the same at the same time - took place in the Eastern Atlantic. They offered Northrop Grumman and the Navy an opportunity to collect data that will help reduce risks associated with integrating unmanned aircraft with conventional manned carrier operations.

"The X-47B has again pushed the boundaries of the UCAS program by demonstrating that it can operate seamlessly with conventional carrier assets in one of the most demanding environments in the world," said Capt. Beau Duarte, the Navy's UCAS program manager.

During the flights, the X-47B flew in the landing pattern with the F/18-Hornet at approach speeds of 120 miles per hour, at a pattern altitude of 1,200 feet. Mission operators aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt had full control of the X-47B during flight maneuvers that involved several planned precision approaches to the carrier.

At the completion of the manned/unmanned flight trials, the X-47B landed safely aboard CVN 71, catching and quickly releasing the arresting cable before folding its wings and taxiing clear of the landing area.

Northrop Grumman, the Navy's UCAS prime contractor, designed and produced the program's two X-47B air vehicles.

Northrop Grumman's UCAS industry team includes Pratt & Whitney, GKN Aerospace, Eaton, General Electric, UTC Aerospace Systems, Dell, Honeywell, Moog, Wind River, Parker Aerospace, Sargent Aerospace & Defense, Rockwell Collins and Lockheed Martin.

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Navy orders 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $3.6 billion contract to deliver 25 new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 50.

Developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world's only aircraft specifically designed as a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system. With its structurally distinctive design - a rotating rotodome and four vertical stabilizer tail configuration - the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye provides unprecedented, 360-degree surveillance to the warfighter.

As the only Department of Defense designed, tested and in-production AEW&C platform, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has undergone a significant transformation from previous E-2 models, resulting in revolutionary capabilities. This includes the new, more powerful AN/APY-9 radar system, exclusive to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, which represents a two-generational leap in radar technology and allows the warfighter to "see" a greater number of targets at much greater distances - as well as new avionics and a glass cockpit.

"A multiyear procurement of these additional E-2Ds will take advantage of efficient, stable production lines at both Northrop Grumman and our suppliers, and will generate significant cost savings for taxpayers and the Navy," said Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 Programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

The Northrop Grumman-led supplier team - "Team Hawkeye" - brings together the best in industry. Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems, Syracuse, N.Y., serves as the principal AN/APY-9 radar system supplier and is teamed with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore, and Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, Calif. Rolls-Royce (Indianapolis, Ind.) provides the T-56-A engines while BAE Systems, Greenlawn, N.Y., is responsible for the identification friend or foe system and L-3 Communications Randtron Antenna Systems, Menlo Park, Calif., developed the ultra-high frequency electronically scanned array antenna.

"Since the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivery in 2007, every aircraft has been delivered on schedule and on budget," LaGrone said.

The Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program of record is for 75 aircraft, of which Northrop Grumman has already delivered 13 production aircraft.

The Navy is confident the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will attain initial operational capability later this year.

Northrop Grumman increases Fire Scout's imaging and search capabilities

Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Navy demonstrated a new multimode maritime surveillance radar on the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter that will drastically enhance long-range imaging and search capabilities for Navy commanders.

Warfighters will now have the latest in radar technology to pair with their current electro-optical infrared payload. Integrating this new radar system will provide the MQ-8B Fire Scout with essential operational capabilities in all tactical environments and will improve how it addresses threats in real-world scenarios.

"This modernized radar complements Fire Scout's other sensors and systems to provide the Navy with increased visibility far beyond the horizon," said George Vardoulakis, vice president, medium range tactical systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

Northrop Grumman modified a Telephonics Corp. AN/ZPY-4 multi-mode maritime surveillance radar system used for manned aircraft, so it could be used on the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout.

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Virginia-based Navy fighter jet crashes into sea

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 81 based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Va., impacted the water during an approach to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier Wednesday night. The jet was flying off the coast of Southern California.

“The pilot ejected from the aircraft, was recovered safely and is currently aboard Carl Vinson in stable condition,” the Navy said in a press statement. The F/A-18E Super Hornet has not been recovered. All remaining airborne aircraft were safely diverted to NAS North Island in Coronado, Calif. All air operations have ceased aboard Carl Vinson until further notice.
A safety investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the mishap, Navy officials said.

The Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 17 are currently conducting a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). JTFEX is designed to test a strike group's ability to operate in hostile and complex environments with other U.S. and coalition forces. The integrated exercise combines specific warfare areas with the purpose of making preparations for the strike group's upcoming deployment.