Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN)’s Post

🚀 Exciting News in Aerospace Innovation! 🌐✈️ Thrilled to share that DIU Energy has joined forces with the Air Force Operational Energy Office (SAF/IE), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to unveil groundbreaking technologies aimed at reducing drag and enhancing fuel efficiency in legacy USAF aircraft. Our collaborative efforts have led to the development of well-established, commercially viable solutions with the potential to cut fuel consumption by an impressive 5-10%. This isn't just about cost savings—it's a game-changer for sustainability and operational capabilities. Robert Guerrero, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Operational Energy, emphasizes the broader impact of these initiatives: "My office has been working to advance initiatives that not only make us smarter about how we consume fuel but also help to prevent maintenance issues, increase performance, and improve mission planning." By leveraging drag reduction technologies, we are not only driving significant fuel cost and CO2 savings but also paving the way for a more efficient and capable Air Force. Stay tuned for the incredible advancements that lie ahead! 🛫💡 #AerospaceInnovation #FuelEfficiency #AirForceTechnology #DIUInnovation

Boeing has delivered the first MH-139A Grey Wolf production aircraft to the U.S. Air Force. This aircraft, part of a Low Rate Initial Production order in 2023 for 13 helicopters, will be stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. In 2024, the U.S. Air Force awarded an additional seven MH-139As to Boeing. The Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf is a twin-engine helicopter operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) for security and support missions. Developed by Boeing, the Grey Wolf is a variant of the Leonardo AW139, an Italian-built multi-role helicopter. With six Research, Development, Test and Evaluation aircraft already delivered, Boeing currently has 26 aircraft on contract.The MH-139A Grey Wolf features military and commercial system integration capabilities that play a crucial role in the Grey Wolf program. With a 50% increase in speed and range and a 5,000 pound-lb. increase in max gross weight compared it is predecessor, the MH-139A can execute multiple mission sets. Combined with lower operating costs, increased reliability and improved maintainability, the aircraft provides improved capability and greater flexibility for the U.S. Air Force. The MH-139A team consists of Boeing as the prime contractor and Leonardo as an original equipment manufacturer. Leonardo produces the baseline helicopter at its plant in northeast Philadelphia, while Boeing is responsible for military equipment procurement and installation and post-delivery support of the aircraft. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gVt3aywG

Congrats to Boeing for fielding the Huey replacement. The DoD and Industry need to re-think what is an acceptable fielding timeline if we want to take great power competition seriously. During WWII, Fighter units regularly received new aircraft while engaged in combat operations. With ground familiarization and a local familiarization flight, those pilots quickly took to the sky in life and death struggles with the enemy. Those same aircraft--many of them--were nothing more than concepts before the start of the war, and here they were engaged in combat, WINNING against the Axis powers all around the globe. A war that lasted less than 5 years. Here we have practically an off-the-shelf helicopter that has taken 6 1/2 years to make it to the force. We will never win a great power struggle with that 'speed'. Some thoughts: 1. Change the colors of money to avoid waste on what is going in the dust bin to field faster. Align with mission sets instead of 'type of funding'. 2. Re-look the requirements to field a new weapons system--training, testing, MILCON, AFMC kingdom standup, etc. We will never field fast unless we call everything an urgent mission need. And even then, fast is relative. 3. For the airframes we keep around (#capacity), get rid of the colors of money that severely hamper modernization and basic upkeep. 4. Re-think how much we trust operators to learn a system on the fly. #mh139 #airpower #dodacquisition

Exciting news from the aviation frontier! The US Navy has awarded a contract to Electra.aero under the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), marking a significant milestone in the advancement of innovative logistics solutions. Ben Marchionna, Electra’s director of Technology and Innovation, expressed pride in adding the U.S. Navy to their esteemed clientele, highlighting Electra’s expertise in hybrid-electric aircraft technology. The contract focuses on leveraging Electra’s electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft for logistics operations in challenging, contested environments. Contested logistics, critical for national security, involves navigating difficult terrains to support military personnel and supplies effectively. Electra’s eSTOL aircraft, equipped with hybrid-electric propulsion and a blown fixed wing, offers unmatched capabilities for addressing next-generation aviation logistics challenges. Marchionna emphasized Electra’s aircraft as a versatile asset, not limited to tactical logistics but also as a potential solution for expeditionary power generation, mesh networking, and integral support for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiatives, positioning it as a force multiplier for the Navy and United States Marine Corps. In addition to the Navy contract, Electra recently announced a small business innovation research (SBIR) contract for powered wind tunnel testing. This $1.9 million contract will advance Electra’s blown wing aircraft technology, enhancing military capabilities and contributing to novel aerodynamics databases for performance analysis and control law development. For a detailed insight into Electra’s groundbreaking technologies and their impact on future aviation and military operations, read the full article on our blog. #AvfoilNews #ElectraAero #USNavyContract #InnovationInAviation #MilitaryLogistics #JADC2 #AerospaceTechnology

Where will all the skill and talent come from needed for our future ? I once, years ago had a simple idea. Create partnerships with community colleges that are geographically aligned with your manufacturing sites. Let the colleges deliver the curriculum and we would deliver the on the job training at those sites. Not an apprentice program but a modern day associate’s degree in manufacturing technology. Training students and providing repetition on the small low tolerance parts that hold you up everyday. The nuts, washers, bolts, clamps and brackets. At the time ge was in a free fall and couldn’t get out of its own way. Now we are nimble, organized and Leaner. A new and different ge. Our future is bright. Maybe it’s time to think about this type of training approach. Start out small, increase or decrease the program as needed. Community Colleges are ready and willing for the asking. It’s time !

During my journey in the world of quality, I couldn't find any platform or tool that measures the maturity level of processes in organizations, is easy to use, provides deep analysis, and outlines an improvement plan in case of a decrease in the assessment level. This need became even more pressing when I joined the field of quality in aerospace, and defense, where the international Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) governs quality operations. and as a member of this organization, I had the opportunity to use a process maturity measurement tool in the aerospace and defense sector called AIMM. This tool truly impressed me with its accuracy, sophistication, and its impact on improving the performance of aerospace, defense, and aviation organizations. #IAQG #Aviation #AIMM #Aerospace #Defence

Today in Asia Times, I wrote about the US' progression into a new era of aerial warfare and strategic deterrence, marked by the production of the next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber. This advanced aircraft, developed by Northrop Grumman, is now ready for production following a remarkably swift timeline, having passed its initial flight testing just two months prior. The B-21, designed to replace the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit, is expected to enter service in the mid-2020s, with the US Air Force planning to acquire at least 100 units. In my article, I discussed the strategic significance of the B-21 in the context of the evolving global security landscape, particularly the challenges posed by China and Russia. The B-21, integrating mature and semi-mature systems with an advanced airframe, is part of a larger family of systems, including the Long-Range Stand-Off missile and the RQ-180 drone. The bomber is anticipated to replace the aging B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit and address their increasing vulnerability to modern air defenses. The B-21 will be crucial in penetrating dense anti-access/area-denial areas, attacking hardened underground targets, and ensuring the viability of the air-based leg of the US nuclear triad. The B-21's introduction underscores the shift in US military strategy and its implications for power projection and deterrence in the Pacific region.

#Boeing #Doomsday #aircraft The #boeing E-4B, often referred to as the "Doomsday Aircraft," is a modified #Boeing747 designed to serve as the #unitedstatesofamerica National Airborne Operations Center. It's equipped with advanced #communication systems, allowing it to function as a mobile command post for the president and other high-level officials during a nuclear war or other emergencies. The E-4B is designed to be highly survivable and self-sufficient, capable of remaining #airborne for extended periods with in-flight refueling if needed, ensuring continuity of government operations in critical situations. This is different from Airforce one aircraft. Air Force One serves as the official #airtransport for the president of the #unitedstates . It is not a specialized doomsday platform but rather a symbol of the U.S. government's executive power and a secure means of transportation for the President. While Air Force One is equipped with secure communication systems and advanced avionics for safety, its primary focus is on providing secure transportation and communication for the President during routine travel. #Boeing #Doomsday #Boeing747 #Aircraft #commandcenter #securecommunications

In recent weeks, the US Air Force announced that the Sierra Nevada Corporation would receive the contract to outfit the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft that will replace the existing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post (AACP) fleet. These units, often labeled as “doomsday planes” are meant to be mobile strategic command centers in the event of a major attack on the United States. The USAF currently operates a fleet of four E-4B aircraft, with one on alert at all times. They are huge Boeing 747 airframes, giving them enough room to house the myriad communications equipment necessary to command America’s military infrastructure plus as many as 108 crew members to issue those commands. The aircraft have received periodic upgrades over the decades, but since they’ve been in service since the mid-1970s, the airframes themselves are nearing the end of their service lives. Little is known about the specifics of their SAOC replacements. Sierra Nevada will almost certainly be converting 747-8 airframes for the job. Since Boeing’s 747 line shut down in 2023, new ones aren’t an option. The aircraft and the systems within them will have to be hardened against the effects of an electromagnetic pulse, in case they are in proximity to a nuclear blast. And critically, they must have the capability to disseminate high-level command and control information – to include nuclear employment orders – to all relevant military units. The contract to do so will net Sierra Nevada about $13 billion. Luminary Air Group isn’t part of this SAOC project, but these sorts of aircraft renovations are our specialty. Whether you need to add military equipment or luxury furnishings, we’ve got you covered! #refurbishment #luxuryaircraft #cabincomfortsystem #

Today in Asia Times, I wrote about the US Navy's commitment to expanding its fleet of Ford-class aircraft carriers despite growing concerns about their vulnerability and potential obsolescence. The US Navy has a strategy of buying and building these carriers in pairs, emphasizing their importance in modern naval warfare. The USS Gerald R Ford, the first in this new class, is already operational, with others like the USS John F Kennedy nearing completion. These carriers are integral to America's naval strategy, designed to project power globally, particularly in areas of strategic competition such as the Western Pacific. However, my analysis raises critical questions about the future viability of these massive, nuclear-powered ships. There are increasing challenges, such as China's anti-access/area-denial capabilities and the limitations of the US shipbuilding industry. Additionally, the concept of large traditional warships might be growing obsolete, risking too much capability in a few vulnerable vessels. A radical shift may be necessary towards unmanned platforms and smaller drone carriers, which could offer greater adaptability, reduced crew requirements, and less vulnerability to concentrated attacks. This approach could represent the future of carrier strike groups, embracing distributed lethality and advanced technologies like AI and 3D printing.