"Boeing teamed with Lockheed Martin in the mid-1990s to develop and build the F/A-22, an extremely advanced tactical fighter. It combines stealth, integrated avionics and maneuverability and is intended as a replacement for the F-15 as America's front-line dominance fighter. The first production of F/A-22 was unveiled in April 9, 1997 and it was the first nine flyable F/A-22s built for flight testing. Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems is responsible for program management, the integrated forebody (nose section) and forward fuselage (including the cockpit and inlets), leading edges of the wings, the fins and stabilitators, flaps, ailerons, landing gear and final assembly of the aircraft. The company is also responsible for the center fuselage; stores management; integrated navigation and electronic warfare systems; the communications, navigation and identification system and the weapon support system. As of April 2005, Boeing had delivered 61 sets of wings and 66 aft-fuselages, as well as a number of integrated avionics flight-test packages and updates to Lockheed Martin. As a replacement for the F-15C, the fast, agile, stealthy F/A-22 was designed to take over the air superiority role with the Air Combat Command starting in 2005. F-22s demonstrated exceptional performance at joint training exercise Northern Edge in Alaska during June 2006. F-22s also participated in the U.S. Air Force's Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, Nevada, for the first time in February 2007 with superb performance in air maneuvers as well as maintenance. Ongoing modernization efforts, including integration of the Small Diameter Bomb, electronic attack capability, synthetic aperture radar and the Coordinate Seeking Weapon, all of which will ensure the Raptor's relevance throughout its 40-year service life. "
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"Manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the F-18E Super Hornet is a distinct, evolutionary upgrade to the F-18 designed to serve a complementary role with Hornets in the U.S. Navy. The Super Hornet is equipped with all the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernize the air or naval aviation forces of any country. The Super Hornet’s suite of integrated and networked systems provides enhanced interoperability and support for ground forces as well as the overall force commander. On July 24, 2002, the first operational cruise of Super Hornet, F 18E, was with VFA-115 onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The Super Hornet saw initial combat action on Nov. 6, 2002, when they participated in a strike on hostile targets in the ""no-fly"" zone in Iraq. Built by the industry team of Boeing, Northrop Grumman, GE Aircraft Engines, Raytheon and more than 1,800 suppliers nationwide, the Super Hornet provides the warfighter with today’s newest advances in multi-mission capability and growth for decades to come in mission roles and technology. "
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"The F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. It was designed in 1970 for service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. It has been the aerial demonstration aircraft for the Blue Angels since 1986. The F/A-18's primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), interdiction, close air support and reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have been proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized due to its lack of range and payload compared to its contemporaries. The F-18, initially known as McDonnell Douglas Model 267, was drastically modified from the YF-17 while retaining the same basic configuration. For carrier operations, the airframe, undercarriage, and arrestor hook were strengthened, folding wings and catapult attachments were added, and the landing gear widened. With redesign of the stores stations and improvements in avionics and multifunction displays, it became possible to combine the A-18A and F-18A into one aircraft. Starting in 1980, the aircraft began being referred to as the F/A-18A, and the designation was officially announced on 1 April 1984. Therefore, F-18 was designated as F/A-18. The Blue Angels first flew three aircraft in formation, then four and currently operate six aircraft per show. The Opposing Solos usually perform maneuvers just under the speed of sound which showcase the capabilities of their individual F/A-18 or F-18 Hornets through the execution of high-speed passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls and very tight turns. Some of the maneuvers include both solo F-18s performing at once, such as opposing passes (toward each other in what appears to be a collision course, narrowly missing one another) and mirror formations (back-to-back, belly-to-belly, or wingtip-to-wingtip, with one jet flying inverted). On November 8, 1986 the Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary year during ceremonies unveiling their present aircraft, the sleek McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet, the first multi-role fighter/attack aircraft now serving on the nation's front lines of defense since the F-4 Phantom. On December 2, 2004, an accident occurred when pilot Lt. Ted Steelman suffered minor injuries after ejecting from his Blue Angels F-18 approximately one mile off Perdido Key due to mechanical problems and loss of power. The F-18 Hornets has been exported to several nations worldwide."
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"The Thunder Airbirds were the Air Demonstration Squadron of the USAF. The Thunderbirds performed aerobatic formation and solo-flying in specially marked US Jet aircraft. The Squadron was activated, after six months training in unoffficial status on January 1, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team based in Arizona. Their debut expedition was flown a week later and began public exhibitions at the 1953 Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. By August, the team had flown 26 shows. the first team leader was Major General Dick catledge. the first plane flown by the squadron was the F-84 Thunderjet. The next year, the Thunderbirds performed their first overseas show in South America. the squadron's aircrafts were changed drastically by the years; In 1995, they changed their aircraft to 84-F Thunderstreak; In 1956, they changed it to F-100 superSabre; then the team switched to F-35 Thunderchief after the disbanding of the Skyblazers. The Thunderbirds also faced several disasters and challenges; While practicing the 4 plane diamond loop, four crew members/pilots died and it was due to the pilot's miscalculations. It was then in 1982, that the team switched to F-16A Fighting Falcon. This transition was already under consideration before the Diamond Crash in January 18, 1982. The F-16A was initially equipped with the Westinghouse AN/APG-66 pulse dropper radar, Pratt and Whitney F-100-PW-200, rated at 14,670 lbF (106.0 kN) with afterburner. The USAF bought F-16As with delivery completed in March 1985. The Thunderbirds still continue to fly the F-16 until today. "
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"The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, single-engined jet fighter aircraft manufactured by General Dynamics and later Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force (USAF). Though designed as a lightweight fighter, it has evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven its worth in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. The Falcon is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,000 aircraft built since its production in 1976. Though no longer produced for the Air Force, it is still being made for export. Its relatively low cost and high performance has made it popular in the United States and allied nations, serving a total of 24 countries. USAF pilots gave the F-16 the unofficial nickname of “Viper” in homage to the fictional Battlestar Galactica starfighter. From the very beginning, the Falcon was intended to be a cost-effective workhorse that could perform various missions. Advanced aerospace science and proven reliable systems from other planes such as the F-15 and F-111 were integrated into the F-16. These simplified the aircraft and reduced its size, weight, purchase price and maintenance costs. Other innovations include a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, a side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and a reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. The F-16 has excellent acceleration, being one of the few jets with a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one. It can also be armed with a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, rockets or bombs. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions. "
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"The F-15 Eagle is an air superiority fighter type of aircraft. It was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas now known as Boeing IDS. Its maiden flight was on the 27th of July 1972 and was introduced on the 9th of January 1976. Its primary users are the United States Air Force, Israeli Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force. It was designed and developed as an all-weather tactical. 567 of this type of aircraft are still active. The Air Force was worried about the new aircrafts that were built by the Soviet Union for combat so they issued their own requirements after they rejected the United States Navy VFX program which they think was not suited to their needs. Three companies submitted their proposals and on the 23rd of December 1969 the selection for McDonnell Douglas was announced. The F-15C Eagle was operated by Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. The Israel Air Force has been operating the aircraft since 1977. The Japan Air Self-Defence Force received 203 F-15Js and 20 F-15DJs in 1980 -- two of the F-15Js and twelve F-15DJs were made in United States. The Royal Saudi Air Force operated four squadrons of F-15C/D in 1981. And currently the United States Air Force operates 396 F-15C/Ds while the Air National Guard operates 126 F-15C/Ds in 2006. "
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"The F15-C Eagle was designed by Tim Taylor. It was developed to give air superiority to the US Air Force. It served as the main attack aircraft with performance and brains. The F-15C flew in early 1979. Most F-15Cs were delivered with Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 turbofans but they were replaced with more reliable F100-PW-220 engines in 1985. With its updated features it is much more capable as a fighter aircraft. The aircraft is an improved single-seat all-weather air-superiority fighter version of the Eagle models. The systems of the aircraft like its weapons and flight control systems were designed for only one pilot. F-15C aircrafts were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 like the D and E models. This is to give support to the Operation Desert Storm. "
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"The Boeing E-4 Advance Airborne Command Post (Nightwatch), is an aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and is specially built to serve as a survivable mobile command post for the National Command Authority, including the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense and successors. The E-4B evolved form the E-4A, which had been in sevice since late 1974. The first B-model was delivered to the Air Force in January 1980. By 1995, all aircraft were converted to E-4B standard. In August 1994, the E-4B assumed an additional role. The E-4B will support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) request for assistance when disasters occurs. There are four E-4B currently operated by the United States Air Force and are assigned to the 1st Air Combat Command Control Squadron (1ACCS) of the 55th Wing at United States Strategic Command. The first mission for the aircraft was known as NEACP (National Emergency Airborne Command Post) The E-4B is a militarized version of the Boeing 747-200. It provides approximately triple the floor space of its predecesor, the EC-135 Looking Glass airborne command post. The aircraft has electomagnetic pulse protection, an electrical system designed to support advanced electronics and a wide variety of new communications equipment. Other improvements include nuclear and thermal effects shielding, acoustic control, an improved technical control facility and an upgraded air-conditioning sytem for cooling electrical components. The E-4B still serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) for the National Command Authorities. "
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"The C-17 Globemaster III is a high-wing, T-tailed aircraft with a rear loading ramp manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and operated by the USAF, British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Canadian Air Command, as well as NATO, who plans to acquire the airlifter. The C-17 was built in Long Beach, California and the first C-17 was declared operational by the USAF on January 1995. In July 2006, Boeing decided to end the C-17A production in 2009 unless they received a follow-on order in sufficient time. Likewise, by 2010, Boeing will begin the C-17B production, which is capable to land on sandy beaches and other areas off-limits to the C-17A. On March 2, 2007, however, Boeing announced the C-17 production line may end in mid-2009 due to lack of additional U.S. government and international orders. As of October 24, 2007, there are a total of 190 C-17s contracted for delivery to the USAF. The C-17 has been involved with numerous operations including the Operation Joint Endeavor and the Allied Operation in Kosovo. In 1998, eight C-17s had flown more than 8,000 nautical miles from the United States to Central Asia, dropping troops and equipment after more than 19 hours in the air. The aircraft completed the longest airdrop mission in history. The C-17 received the Collier Trophy in 1995 for its aeronautical achievement in 1994. The maker of the C-17, the Boeing Airlift and Tanker programs, was also awarded the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality in February 1999 by President Bill Clinton for business excellence and quality."
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"The C-9A Nightingale is an adapted version of DC-9 which was from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation. It was mainly used for missions like medical and evacuations. The aircraft also transported high ranking government officials on air missions. It demonstrated its distinctiveness and flexibility by serving throughout the world, not only in the military, but also in some civilian hospitals and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In June 17 1968, the first C9A Nightingale was rolled out and distributed in August. The standard crew of the aircraft aboard consisted of a pilot, a co-pilot, two nurses, three technicians and a flying crew chief. It was used in the Pacific Theater and was assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing based in Japan. The C-9A Nightingale was also stationed in Germany."
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"The Boeing E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a United States Air Force (USAF) airborne battle management and command and control asset. Its primary role is to provide dedicated support of ground and air theater commanders. The E-8C can respond quickly and effectively to support worldwide military contingency operations, capable of evaluating enemy situation by conducting ground surveillance. It is a jam-resistant system, able to operate despite experiencing heavy electronic countermeasures. The aircraft can stay airborne for 9 hours without refueling. The E-8C was derived from the Boeing 707-300 series commercial airframe. It was modified with radar, communications, operations and control subsystems required to perform its mission. The radar and computer subsystems on the E-8C can gather and display broad and detailed battlefield information. Data, including position and tracking information on enemy and friendly ground forces, is collected as events occur. The information is then relayed in near-real time to the US Army's common ground stations. This information is vital in air-to-ground operations and allows air and land commanders to gain and maintain control of the battlespace and execute against enemy forces. As a battle management and command and control platform, the E-8C can support a wide range of roles and missions from peacekeeping operations to major theater war. "
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"Joint STARS uses a sophisticated radar system that can scan an entire region and then send the data to a computer which analyzes movement and alerts reconnaissance specialists of any suspicious activity in near-real time. Operators onboard the aircraft can provide ground and air commanders with command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information on ground-based enemy activities from hundreds of miles away. With the ability to see vehicle movement around the clock and in any weather conditions, the system provides invaluable information to ground and air commanders that allow friendly forces to delay, disrupt and destroy their enemy. The reliability, fuel efficiency and increased operational effectiveness inherent in the engine upgrade translates to increased Joint STARS availability to the warfighter and decreased costs. Replacing all of the engines in the Joint STARS fleet will pay for itself through the reduced operation and maintenance costs of the current engines. The new engines can also provide added power generation for future upgrades to the radar sensor and mission equipment. A recent Air Force study indicated the fleet could stay in service beyond 2050 because of the investment made when the airframes were refurbished during production. The engine upgrade program is based on the Propulsion Pod System incorporating Pratt & Whitney's commercially-proven JT-8D-219 jet engine and Seven Q Seven pylons, thrust reversers, and instrumentation. "
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"The B-52H Stratofortress, manufactured by Boeing, is a strategic bomber capable of supporting large-scale, global missions in a nuclear or a conventional role. The B-52H plays an important role in these specialized missions until 2035. It had its first flight in April 1952. The B-52H Stratofortress entered service in 1961 and 104 were built. The last was delivered in 1962; however, its service life is expected to continue beyond the year 2030, due to extensive system and structural upgrades. The B-52H, a B-52 variant, is a very large aircraft, with a length of 159ft 4in and a take-off weight of 488,000lb. The all-metal skin bears a high proportion of the flight loading. When on the ground, the surface of the aircraft on the forward section of the fuselage has a wrinkled appearance. The skin expands and becomes smooth as the crew compartment is pressurised when the aircraft gains altitude. Later on in the decade, the B-52H was fitted to carry the new ""Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)"" and ""Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW)"" guided glide bombs. These weapons use the ""Global Positioning System (GPS)"" satellite constellation to zero in on target coordinates. Use of the JDAM and other GPS weapons was enabled by yet another Buff avionics upgrade, the ""Conventional Enhancement Modification (CEM)"" program, which was begun in 1994. "
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"The A-10A Warthog’s official name came from the P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II. Known for its nickname Warthog or Hog, the A-10A aircraft provides airborne forward air control to guard all aircraft against ground targets. The A-10A Warthog aircraft is a single seat twin engine and one of the variants of A-10 aircrafts. Developed by the Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force, the A-10A Warthog provides close air support of ground forces and attacks tanks, armored vehicles and other ground targets. It is the first US Air Force aircraft designed for CAS use only. The first flight of the A-10A Warthog was on May 10, 1972. The A-10A aircraft has the following weapons: one single General Electric GAU-8/A 30mm, avenger cannon, AGM-65 maverick, AIM-9M sidewinder, conventional low drag and retarded bombs, cluster bombs, the OA/A-10A’s also carry the AN/ ALQ-119 ECM pod or the AN/ALQ-131 ECM. The A-10A Warthog is built around single 300 mm cannon which can disable a main battle tank from 6.580 m distance. Moreover, the A-10A is well armored for the protection of its pilot and systems. The pilot of the A-10A Warthog is shielded by a bullet proof wind screen and encircled by a titanium armor weighing 544 kg and varies in thickness up to 3.8 cm. 144 A-10A Warthog were deployed by the USAF from January to February 1991. The A-10A Warthog was used in various roles such as a daytime tank killer, Scud hunter, suppressed Iraqi air defenses, attacked early warning radars and shot down two Iraqi air defenses. "
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"The EA-6B Prowler, manufactured by Grumman (now Northrop Grumman Aerospace), is a twin-engine, mid-wing aircraft designed as a modification of the basic A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6B's primary mission is to protect fleet surface units and other aircraft by jamming hostile radars and communications. The Prowler has the ability to passively detect enemy radars without making its own presence known. The Prowler can carry up to five tactical jamming pods which allow it to effectively degrade enemy radars. The Prowler also carries a High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), which provides the capability to destroy enemy radars and the capability to track and destroy radar. The Grumman EA-6B Prowler has a crew of four, a pilot and three Electronic Counter-measures Officers (known as ECMOs). The aircraft is capable of speeds of up to 950 km/h with a range of 1,840 kilometers and powered by two non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney J52-P408 turbojet engines. Since EW operations are very demanding, the Prowler is a high-maintenance aircraft and undergoes frequent equipment upgrades more than any other aircraft in the Navy. There are currently 19 Prowler squadrons in the military: four in the Marines and fifteen in the Navy. There are four ""Expeditionary"" squadrons manned by both Navy and Air Force personnel which deploy to overseas bases as a replacement for the EF-111. The Marine squadrons are stationed at Cherry Point, NC. The Navy has fourteen squadrons based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, and one permanently deployed in Atsugi, Japan. "
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