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P-3 Orion’s SMIP Program Keeps on Rolling

P-3 Orion’s SMIP Program Keeps on Rolling

P-3 Orion, armed – note Sidewinder (click to view full) The P-3 Orion remains the USA’s main maritime patrol aircraft, and is also finding use in overland surveillance roles despite the fleet’s age. Earlier DID articles have noted the extra effort...
Adding Arleigh Burkes: H.I.I. Steps Forward for DDG-51 Restart

Adding Arleigh Burkes: H.I.I. Steps Forward for DDG-51 Restart

DDG-110 Construction (click to view full) In April 2009 Bath and Ingalls agreed to the Navy’s surface combatant plans, thus heralding a significant restructuring within the American naval shipbuilding community. Under the agreements, the USA would end production...
Australia’s MH-60R Maritime Helicopters

Australia’s MH-60R Maritime Helicopters

MH-60Rs fire Hellfire (click to view full) Australia’s AIR 9000, Phase 8 project aimed to buy 24 modern naval helicopters to 16 existing S-70B-2 Seahawks, along with the disastrous A$1.1 billion, 11-helicopter SH-2G “Super Seasprite” acquisition...
Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract

Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract

US Army HH-60Ms (click to view full) In July 2012, the US military signed another huge contract with Sikorsky. With production of the Army’s HH/UH-60M, and the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, all in full swing, there’s no question about the...
Tomahawk’s Chops: xGM-109 Block IV Cruise Missiles

Tomahawk’s Chops: xGM-109 Block IV Cruise Missiles

Block IV Cutaway (click to view full) Block IV Tomahawk is the current generation of the Tomahawk family of cruise missiles. The BGM-109 Tomahawk family began life in the 1980s as sub-sonic, low-flying nuclear strike weapons, before being developed into long-range...