The growing threat from potential near-peer adversaries, such as Russia and China, has propelled the Army into an all-out drive to rapidly modernize with an array of weapons ranging from technologically enhanced ground combat vehicles to long-range precision-guided missiles. The Army showed its commitment to that quest in its recently released fiscal 2020 budget that… Keep reading →

  FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: The US Army, witnessing the expanding use of commercial and light miltiary drones around the world, has bought Raytheon’s tube-launched Coyote drone to find, target and destroy them. The contract includes Raytheon’s KRFS radar. The Army is deploying the system. The company would not say how large the contract is, but… Keep reading →

AFA ORLANDO: Air Force Special Operations Command doesn’t speak much in public, for obvious reasons. The commander pretty much appears once a year here to speak with reporters, and for the last three years, mounting lasers on AC-130 gunships  has been a top topic. The former AFSOC commander, Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, first announced the… Keep reading →

WASHINGTON: Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, wants to make the AC-130 a kind of flying aircraft carrier, launching mini-drones mid-flight to scope out threats and targets. Oh, and he wants the AC-130 to have a laser cannon as well. Speaking to the Association of Old Crows’ annual conference on electronic… Keep reading →