One amazing feature in modern fighter jets is thrust vectoring and how it works with the flight control system. Advanced flight control systems and thrust vectoring are super important for making jets more precise and easier to handle.
Thrust vectoring allows jets to control the direction of their thrust, which means they can make sharper turns and quicker movements. When this tech is seamlessly integrated with the flight control system, it lets pilots maneuver the jet with incredible accuracy and efficiency; it enhances the overall performance of the jet and makes pilots more effective. It also means pilots have less work to do since the advanced systems handle a lot of the complex stuff automatically.
The role of automation here is huge. It improves the capabilities of military aircraft and reduces the pilot’s workload, allowing them to focus more on the mission and less on the mechanics of flying.
The reader may get a flavor of how warfare and the importance of a highly sophisticated helmet mounted display systems (HMDS) has changed over time. The helmet is not only a crew safety device but now to be considered an essential mission management device.
When I ask fighter crews what they would wish to get improved on their respective fighter platforms, I regularly get following feedback. No. 1 a state-of-the-art HMDS to enhance the situational awareness which contributes to a more successful mission execution; No 2. improved sensors and No. 3 improved weapon systems (range and lethality). The order may change from one pilot to the other but overall, a state-of-the-art HMDS is normally among the top 3 pilot wish list.
This is even more true considering the information flows a fighter crew must master in the future mission theatre. Literally it’s time now to investigate into forward oriented technologies rather than backwards.
【𝗕𝗼𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟳𝟰𝟳 𝗔𝗔𝗖: 𝗮𝗻 "𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿"】
The Boeing 747 AAC (Airborne Aircraft Carrier) was a fascinating, albeit never-built, concept from the early 1970s. It was a proposed variant of the iconic Boeing 747 jumbo jet, designed to function as a flying aircraft carrier for up to 10 miniature fighter jets, called "microfighters."
Here's what we know about the Boeing 747 AAC:
𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻:
The 747 AAC would have carried its microfighters in a specially designed hangar located above the passenger cabin of a standard 747.
Launching and retrieving the microfighters was to be done through two trapdoors, one at the front and one at the back of the aircraft.
The 747 AAC would also have been equipped for in-flight refueling of the microfighters, allowing for extended missions.
The crew would have consisted of around 44 personnel, including pilots, mechanics, and weapons specialists.
𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲:
The intention behind the 747 AAC was to provide a flexible and fast carrier platform with global reach, particularly for situations where land-based airbases were unavailable.
The microfighters were envisioned as being able to quickly deploy to anywhere in the world and carry out a variety of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack, and reconnaissance.
𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲:
While the 747 AAC never went beyond the design stage, it remains a captivating example of engineering ingenuity and military imagination.
The project ultimately faced challenges in developing the necessary microfighter technology and overcoming logistical hurdles.
Despite not becoming reality, the 747 AAC continues to inspire discussion and serve as a reminder of the possibilities of aviation advancements.
Read more: https://lnkd.in/geUfE9hD
Video: Navgeek Aviation YouTube
Important news story, but at the same time, nothing new here: building human-piloted fighters is difficult and expensive. Always has been. If you do it correctly you're developing and fielding whole new capabilities, which rely on entire new technologies, and you're producing them in comparatively low quantities. Translation: money.
There is something else new going on, though: soon classical fighters won't have to carry all the load. The new Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCA, will do many jobs with and for fighters, but at much lower cost per aircraft, in much greater numbers and, critically, with no human pilot aboard. This story mentions the importance of getting that right.
So although headlines about new human-piloted fighters will remain essential to understanding the road ahead in air dominance, they're only part of the story. A significant share of the work will be taken on by CCAs.
https://lnkd.in/ezfPZYtQ
Chief Executive Officer - South Asia | Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Varian Medical Systems Inc. (a Siemens Healthineers Company)
Up next, we heard from our Gold Sponsors, Airbus
Colonel (Ret) Stéphane Le Floch, Senior Combat Marketing Segment Manager at Airbus Helicopters, took the stage to discuss the future of military aviation with his captivating presentation on ‘Understanding the Future Battlefield with MUM-T’.
He shared insights on:
- The battlefield is rapidly evolving under the influence of game changers. With the integration of UAS into combat scenarios, the future of military aviation will be characterized by the development of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities for collaborative combat operations.
-Drones, UAS, launched effects, loyal wingmen, the range of tools is wide but it holds immense potential for aviation and air force components worldwide.
-Complementarity, replacement, transformation, what does it mean for the military operators and how Airbus Helicopters can support such a new capability. Let's share our views about this emerging landscape of MUM-Teaming in collaborative combat aviation.
Thank you for your presentation
#HeliTech24
In a groundbreaking milestone, the US Air Force orchestrated the inaugural dogfight between a human pilot and an AI-operated fighter jet at California's Edwards Air Force Base in September of last year. The AI-controlled F-16 engaged in high-speed aerial combat with a manned F-16, executing both defensive and offensive maneuvers, including close-range dogfighting, at speeds exceeding 1,200 miles per hour. DARPA unveiled footage of the event, showcasing the autonomous aircraft, dubbed X-62A VISTA, a modified F-16 integrated with AI technology, heralding the pioneering use of machine learning in fighter jet control. This historic development, hailed by DARPA, marks a significant leap in aerospace advancement. #AuroxaTech#USAirForce#AerospaceTechnology#ArtificialIntelligence#FighterJets#AviationHistory#AutonomousAircraft#DARPA#MachineLearning#MilitaryInnovation#FutureOfFlight#TechnologicalAdvancement
The rise of eVTOL aircraft in Military Aviation
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As electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology matures, militaries are looking to replace some of their traditional helicopter fleets. This shift aligns with the growing trend of "disaggregated warfare," where smaller, more agile units deploy to remote locations with limited infrastructure.
eVTOL aircraft's vertical takeoff and landing capabilities make them ideal for such deployments, eliminating the need for large runways. Their potential uses include:
➤ Troop Transport: Infiltrating and exfiltrating special operations forces behind enemy lines.
➤ Search and Rescue: Recovering downed pilots or personnel in dangerous areas where helicopters might be vulnerable.
Furthermore, eVTOL's lower operating costs compared to traditional helicopters could offer significant economic advantages.
(Image Source: Joby Aviation)
#evtol#electric#aircraft#airforce#military#innovation#helicopter
