Tag Archives: northrop

Technology

Do you know how to maintain the UH-60? 1st ‘V’ variant arrives in NATO-Germany!

Video

02 July 2023 (12:40-UTC-07 Tango 06) 11 Tir 1402/13 Dhu l-Hijja 1444/15 Ji-Wei 4721/02 июль 2023 года

U.S. Army photo by Samantha Treadway, 01JAN2023.

Every year, units from the Regular Army (active duty U.S. Army [USA]), Army Reserve, and National Guard, spend time on the Corpus Christi Army Depot in Texas, learning the latest in rotary wing aircraft maintenance.  This year, they are learning about the new ‘V’ variant of the old UH-60 Black Hawk, even though the ‘V’ upgrade program suffered setbacks.

The first UH-60V delivered to a U.S. unit overseas, on Wiesbaden Airfield, NATO-Germany, 04JUN2023. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Todd Strobel.

Despite the setbacks, by June 2023, upgraded UH-60Vs began to be deployed to bases in the European Union.  Northrop Grumman states that the ‘V’ upgrade replaces the old UH-60L cockpit “with a fully open, digital and integrated avionics suite”.

Kentucky Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Daniel S. Cooper gives the official explanation of why Ecuador currently has UH-60 Black Hawk maintenance crews in Kentucky. There is no mention of the recent Black Hawk crashes. Video interview by Sergeant First Class Benjamin Crane, 29JUN2023:

Video (by Sergeant First Class Benjamin Crane) of Ecuadorian UH-60 Black Hawk maintenance crews’ visit to Kentucky, 29JUN2023:

Some UH-60 (and other rotary wing aircraft) maintenance is performed at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, on Muir Army Airfield in Pennsylvania. Video by Erik Sandbakken, 05JUN2023:

JapanTimes, May 2023: Engine Problems Linked to Fatal Black Hawk Crash.

Georgia Army National Guard HH-60M gets a 40-hour preventive maintenance check on Inezgane Airfield, Morocco, during African Lion 2023. Photo by Sergeant Cameron Boyd, 31MAY2023.

The Defense Post, May 2023: The U.S. Army grounded all pilots not involved in critical missions until they complete required training, after four helicopters crashes.

‘Pumped’ UH-60 helicopter repairers with the Connecticut Army National Guard, tear into a hydraulic pilot assist module during a maintenance competition at the 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group, Groton, Connecticut, 21APR2023. Photo by Sergeant Matthew Lucibello.

GAO (Government Accountability Office), April 2023: “Army and Air National Guard reported 298 helicopter accidents during non-combat flight operations from fiscal years 2012 through 2021…  …their respective flight safety training programs can be improved.”

Army Times, April 2023: Army investigators confirm collision led to double Black Hawk crash.

Military.com, April 2023: Renewed Scrutiny of Black Hawk Safety Record.

In March 2023, during wargame Cobra Gold, the Washington Army National Guard conducted joint UH-60 maintenance with the Royal Thai Army, in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Associated Press, February 2023: Black Hawk pilots killed in Alabama crash were experienced.

This is the Arizona Army National Guard’s Western Arizona Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, where they teach how to repair the UH-60L/M Black Hawk. Photo by Sergeant First Class Brian A. Barbour, 24FEB2023.

In 2022, using the ‘Pland-emic supply shortages’ as an excuse, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) began something called ‘additive manufacturing’.  Additive manufacturing is an industry phrase referring to the use of 3D printing to create your own parts. This December 2022 DLA video report (by Nutan Chada) is about creating 3D printed fuel elbows for the UH-60:

Assigned to the Texas Army National Guard on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, a Black Hawk maintainer from New York torques a nut on the pitch control rod of a UH-60M. Photo by Specialist Jason Lo, 06SEP2022.

Reuters, September 2022: Afghan government blames technical problem for fatal crash of U.S. made Black Hawk.

Bangkok Post, July 2022: Engine problems blamed for Royal Thai Army Black Hawk crash.

Gulf News, July 2022: 14 people dead after Mexican Navy Black Hawk crashes into airport.

The Salt Lake Tribune, February 2022: Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a “training accident” near the Mineral Basin area.

Vehicle I-D, 2022: IDAHO GETS NEW UH-60M

Government Shenanigans, 2020: UH-60 FOR AFGHANISTAN, KILLED-OFF BY THE MIL 17?

2017:  Missouri Army National Guard UH-60L LOOSES WINDSHIELD AT NTC!

Technology

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: H-A-W-K, Homing All-the Way Killer

Video

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

Raytheon began developing what would become the MIM (Mobile Interceptor Missile)-23 HAWK (Homing All-the Way Killer) in the early 1950s.  Northrop developed the launcher system.  The U.S. Army (USA) began using it in 1959, the U.S. Marine Crops (USMC) in 1960.

First-gen HAWK being launched by U.S. Marines from Chu Lai, Viet Nam, 1965.

Between 1971 and 1978, HAWK missiles got improved radar systems, so that they could engage low-altitude aircraft.  But that was just the beginning, there were many other HAWK improvement projects that continued up until 1996.

U.S. Army (USA) M727 self-propelled HAWK surface-to-air missile system, somewhere in NATO-West Germany. USA photo, 1973.

According to the USA (U.S. Army), “The cost per missile is $250,000; per fire unit, $15 million; and per battery, $30 million.”

A HAWK missile launcher, on Cherry Point, North Carolina. USMC photo by Sergeant Rozalyn Dorsey, 20JUN1979.

A HAWK transporter-loader, on Cherry Point, North Carolina. USMC photo by Sergeant Rozalyn Dorsey, 20JUN1979.

A HAWK High-Power Illuminating Radar (HPIR) unit, on Cherry Point, North Carolina. USMC photo by Sergeant Rozalyn Dorsey, 20JUN1979.

Inside a HAWK Battery Control Central (BCC) unit, a Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). USA photo by Staff Sergeant William B. Belcher, 04AUG1980.

During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Iran adapted the HAWK missile to be carried by their F-14 Tomcats, this was due to supplies of U.S. made Phoenix missiles being cut-off by the Reagan Administration.  Iran was one of dozens of countries that used HAWK missiles, and after U.S. sanctions, was able to easily reverse engineer it for their own production and calling their version the Mersad.

A HAWK battery control console, on Fort Bliss, Texas. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Robert C. Simons, 10NOV1982.

HAWK BCC units (containing the JTIDS), Onslow Beach, North Carolina. USMC photo by Corporal C. Cope, 22FEB1986.

BCC units also contain the Information Control Center (ICC) and the Platoon Command Post (PCP), all using the same trailered containers making them visually identical.

HAWK BCC units can be loaded onto 5-ton trucks, creating mobile control vans. USMC photo by Corporal C. Cope, 22FEB1986.

Operation Desert Storm, 17JAN1991–28FEB1991. 

According to the information released with this photo, these U.S. HAWKs are based in Al Salman, Iraq, shortly after the end of Desert Storm. USA photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 03MAR1991.

In 1994, the USA decided to replace their HAWKS with Patriot missiles, due to the success of the Patriots during Desert Storm.  In 2002, the USMC decided to replace their HAWKS with the FIM-92 Stinger.

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers prep their Hawk for launch over the McGregor Range Complex, New Mexico, 17NOV2012. USA photo by Specialist Adam Garlington.

JGSDF HAWK PAR. USA photo by Specialist Adam Garlington, 17NOV2012.

JGSDF HAWK launch. USA photo by Specialist Adam Garlington, 17NOV2012.

Ukraine Crisis, February 2014 (NATO backed coup) to present.

USA video report, 15OCT2015, South Korean HAWK launches during wargame:

NATO Romania launches HAWK missiles towards the Black Sea, 19JUL2017. USA photo by Private First Class Nicholas Vidro.

USA video by Sergeant Mark Brejcha, NATO-Romania HAWK launch, 19JUL2017:

On 20OCT2018, Japanese army personnel launched ‘Improved’ HAWK missiles from Fort Bliss, Texas. USA-Reserve photo by Sergeant Christopher A. Hernandez.

AN/MPQ-50 Pulse Acquisition Radar (PAR) for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) ‘Improved’ HAWK. USA-Reserve photo by Sergeant Christopher A. Hernandez, 20OCT2018.

NATO-Spain HAWK HIPR unit during war game held in NATO-Norway, 02NOV2018. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Menelik Collins.

Loading NATO-Spain HAWKs during war game held in NATO-Norway, 02NOV2018. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Menelik Collins.

The Iranians call their reversed engineered HAWK PAR system the Kavosh.

In 2019, photos published by the Iranian news media revealed that Iran was still using the AN/MPQ-50 Pulse Acquisition Radar originally designed for the HAWK, but this time Iran is using it for their own homemade anti-aircraft missile known as the Sayyad-2.

2021: South Korea retires last MIM-23 HAWK

On 04NOV2022, the NATO United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the latest taxpayer funded giveaway for Ukraine, which includes rebuilt & upgraded Cold War era U.S. HAWK anti-aircraft missiles (to go with the four HAWK launchers being sent by NATO Spain).

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: M1117, GUARDIAN OF SECURITY OR A FRANKENSTEIN?  Originating with Viet Nam era V100, now being given away to Ukraine!

Idaho, Technology

Florida Talons over Idaho Mountains

Image

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 14SEP2022.

Is Winter coming early in the Northern Hemisphere? In September 2022, Talons from Atlantic Southeast Florida decided to migrate to Pacific Northwest Idaho.

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 12SEP2022.

The U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) 2d Fighter Training Squadron is based on Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), in Florida.  From the 12th through to the 23rd, of September, the 3rd Generation T-38 Talons flew around Idaho, helping the USAF teach its youngest bird, the 5th Generation F-35A Lightning-2 (which had also flown north from Luke AFB, Arizona), how to fly.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 12SEP2022.

The airspace over Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, is known as Gunfighter Country. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 16SEP2022.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 14SEP2022.

According to Captain Ryan ‘Joker’ McCooey, of the 61st Fighter Squadron’s B-Flight, the training over Mountain Home AFB is the final schooling of a long F-35 program taught mainly on Luke AFB: “At the end of their six-to-eight month basic course, students put together all the building blocks we have taught them throughout the course into these Capstone rides where they do both air-to-air and air-to-ground [tactics] during the same sortie. They get to practice all the things we taught them in a large force exercise, integrating with different assets that we don’t always have the ability to do at Luke.”

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 16SEP2022.

Final F-35 training is usually done over Mountain Home AFB, against the F-15E Strike Eagle, but I believe this is the first time the T-38 Talon was involved.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 12SEP2022.

While over Idaho, the Florida Talons play the ‘bad guy’ (Red Air) against the Arizona Lightning-2s.  Playing the bad guy has been the forte of the T-38 trainer for decades, all the way back to the days of the non-declared, non-official, Cold War.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 12SEP2022.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 13SEP2022.

While launching from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, the T-38 Talons helped qualify six F-35A pilots, and help upgrade the qualifications of four other pilots to instructor status.

3rd generation T-38 and a 5th Generation F-35A. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 16SEP2022.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 13SEP2022.

The concept of aircraft generations was started by U.S. air historian Richard P. Hallion, back in the 1990s, but it wasn’t until Russia adopted the concept that it became standard in the United States (apparently it was Russia who first referred to the USAF F-22 Raptor as a 5th Generation fighter).

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 12SEP2022.

In April 2019, the Northrop T-38 Talon celebrated 60 years of service!

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Betty R. Chevalier, 13SEP2022.

MORE T-38 HERITAGE PAINT JOBS

IDAHO INVADED BY APACHES FROM ARIZONA & SINGAPORE?

 

Kit Bashing, Technology

Vehicle I-D: More T-38 Heritage paint jobs

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen, 05MAY2022.

T-38 with 80th Anniversary logo on its tail, Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, 05MAY2022.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen, 05MAY2022.

USAF photo by Airman Kailee Reynolds, 03FEB2022.

87th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) heritage trainer on Laughlin AFB, Texas, 03FEB2022.

USAF photo by Airman Kailee Reynolds, 03FEB2022.

USAF photo by William R. Lewis, 24SEP2021.

On Nellis AFB, Nevada, September 2021.

USAF photo by Airman First Class David Phaff, 24MAY2021.

On Laughlin AFB, Texas, May 2021.

USAF video, by Airman First Class David Phaff, of 87-FTS T-38 Talon over Corpus Christi, Texas, 02MAY2021:

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

5th FTS ‘heritage’ T-38C Talon over Oklahoma, April 2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Cameron Schultz, 09APR2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Jake Jacobsen, 15JUL2020.

T-38 Talon of the 50th Flying Training Squadron (FTS), 14th Fighter Training Wing (FTW), Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, 15JUL2020.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Jake Jacobsen, 15JUL2020.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes, 17AUG2017.

87th FTS centennial flag ship, Laughlin AFB, Texas, August 2017.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Keifer Bowes, 17AUG2017.

T-38 Talon:

U.S. Air Force photo by Tom Hill.

OLD SKOOL TALON TESTS NEW-TECH GLOBAL INFORMATION DOMINANCE EXPERIMENT

 PACER CLASSIC-3

25TH FTS HERITAGE

REPAIRING 1/1 SCALE T-38 TALON

F-106, TEST-BED FOR T-38 ENGINES

Kit Bashing, Technology, U.S.

Repairing 1/1 scale T-38 Talon and other Whiteman Gate Guards (and a reduced scale B-2 bomber)

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

During the middle of June, 2019, 509th Maintenance Squadron ‘low-observable maintenance’ Airmen began work to restore Whiteman Air Force Base’s (in Missouri) T-38 gate guard named Spirit of Heartland.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

The T-38 is one of several 509th Bomb Wing static displays on base which also includes the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress and the FB-111A Aardvark.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

In May 2018, the B-29 The Great Artiste was restored.  According to the official report  “…the original aircraft was lost during a crash landing at Goose Bay Air Base, in Labrador, Canada, in 1949. So, another B-29 was painted as a replica for static display. The static display was eventually moved to Whiteman AFB from Pease AFB when the New Hampshire base closed in 1991.”

USAF photo by Airman Michaela Slanchik, 10AUG2017.

In August 2017, a reduced scale B-2 Spirit was donated by Northrop-Grumman.  The B-2 replica weighs 600 pounds and is 22 feet in length compared to the actual B-2’s true length of 172 feet.  It is one of 50 donated by Northrop Grumman.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Joel Pfiester, 13SEP2016.

In September 2016, the FB-111A gate guard underwent corrosion prevention painting, some calling it operation Dark Vark.

In 2015, the Missouri Air National Guard 131st Bomb Wing moved to Whiteman AFB, and brought their F-4, F-15 and F-100 gate guards with them. Missouri Air National Guard video by Technical Sergeant Elise Rich, June 2015:

Guam: 1/1 SCALE F-4 PHANTOM-2 MODEL

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano.

Down in the mud, shot-up, Wyoming SLUF

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Postal Service to cut operating hours, by as much as six hours per day! Northrop Grumman sues!

May 9, 2012, Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe, is trying to alleviate concerns over the possible closing of 3,700 post offices, which were to begin in May.  Now the USPS will try to keep as many open as possible, by drastically reducing their operating hours.

The reduction of operating hours would also take place in post offices that are not slated for closing, as many as 13,000 post offices could see hours reduced by two to six per day.

The other option is the creation of Village Post Offices, which would replace the standard post office.  The Village Post Office would operate through a retail business such as WalMart, Walgreens, etc.

Of course Congress has to approve the new plans.

The USPS is also considering letting go any employee who is not protected by labor contracts, and they’re going to do another round of early retirement buyouts.

The Postal Service, which makes its money off the services they provide, not taxes, is facing an $11 billion USD future retirement pre-payment later in the year, as well as health payments.  There are some people who say the U.S. Treasury is actually using the money for other things.

In September 2011, National Association of Letter Carriers president, Fredric Rolando, said most of the blame is on Congress: “I’m here to tell you that the Postal Service is not broke. The Postal Service just needs access to its own money. And Congress needs to get busy and give them that access.”-PBS Newshour interview

He also pointed out that the USPS does not make its money from taxes: “The Postal Service actually has somewhere between $50 billion and $125 billion in their other funds that is not taxpayer money. They haven’t used a dime of taxpayer money in over 30 years! And the Congress just needs to act responsibly and quickly to give them access to that — those funds.”

Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe agreed: “Fred is exactly right around the issues that we have faced in the last few years. In that same time, we have been required [by Congress] to prepay employee retirement funding.”-PBS Newshour interview

Congress has made concessions, by releasing some Postal Service money, but requiring that the money be used only to reduce the number employees with early retirement buyouts!

The latest Senate bill would allow the USPS to use taxpayer money for the first time in 30 years.  The Senate bailout bill would give the Postal Service $34 billion in tax revenue.

To make matters worse, Northrop Grumman (the third largest USPS contractor) and the USPS are suing each other!

The dispute involves a 2007 automated mail processing contract.  Northrop Grumman says the USPS owes them $180 million USD.  The Postal Service says Northrop owes them $341 million!

They both claim the other failed to meet numerous contractual agreements.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Postal Service cuts officially (almost) done deal, will “move forward” with austerity measures, Merry Xmas!

As promised, the U.S. Postal Service made its dreaded announcement on December 5.  The USPS filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to “move forward” with austerity measures that will not only cut back service, but eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“We’re in a deep financial crisis today because we have a business model that’s tied to the past [ie Congress]. We are expected to operate like a business, but don’t have the flexibility to do so [because of rules created by Congress]. Our business model is fundamentally inflexible [no thanks to Congress]. It prevents the postal service from solving its problems.”-Patrick Donahoe, U.S. Postmaster General, November 2011

The plan, supported by the Obama Administration, calls for cutting U.S.$20 billion from operating costs by 2015.  That means closing 252 processing facilities, closing 3,700 post offices, and eliminating 100,000 jobs!!!

The processing centers will be closed by spring 2012.  Job losses just from the closing of processing centers could hit 28,000! Expect delays in getting your mail.

This after the U.S. Congress decided to ‘delay’ any action on their part until after next year’s Presidential elections.  The move guarantees the demise of the USPS, because President Barack Obama set the default date for the Postal Service as December 16, 2010.

In a PBS interview, both the Postmaster General, and the President of the Letter Carrier’s Union said it wasn’t really about lack of business, in fact the Postmaster General said package volume was still good.  It was all about the U.S. Congress ripping off the non-taxpayer funded Postal Service: “The Postal Service actually has somewhere between $50 billion and $125 billion in their other funds that is not taxpayer money. They haven’t used a dime of taxpayer money in over 30 years! And the Congress just needs to act responsibly and quickly to give them access to that — those funds.”- Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers

Rolando pointed out that the job losses will go beyond the USPS. It will affect all the companies the USPS contracts with, like FedEx, Siemens, Northrop-Grumman, Pat Salmon & Sons and Campbell-Ewald, to name a few.

Rolando, in the PBS interview, predicted that millions of jobs will eventually be lost because of what’s happening to the USPS!

Merry Xmas Mr. Scrooge, and God bless us, everyone!