dChan
Anonymous ID: d52f01 Nov. 18, 2020, 8:41 p.m. No.11702136   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>2201 >>2238

>>11701478

>>11700987, >>11700997, Data grab…

Saturn Arch. Desert Owl.

Army. SIGINT. Secret.

These are some secret secret shit.

 

Sauce for secret Army secret shit:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18619/we-now-know-exactly-what-sensors-the-armys-powerful-new-ro-6a-spy-planes-will-carry

 

In 2014, the Army began developing a plan to transition from the EO-5C, which it also calls the Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Multi-sensor (ARL-M), to the RO-6A, which it refers to as the Airborne Reconnaissance-Enhanced (ARL-E). The four engine EO-5Cs have been in service since the 1990s, but the Dash-7 airframe has been out of production since 1988, making the aircraft increasingly difficult to support.

 

The twin engine Dash-8-315 is also out of production, but Canadian firm Bombardier continues to make other aircraft in this series, and therefore a number of common spare parts, making it a much more practical choice for the future. The plane’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 turboprops are each more than twice as powerful as the older PT6s on the EO-5Cs, which will make the RO-6A more capable and efficient despite having two fewer engines, as well.

 

dot dot dot

 

Each ARL-E aircraft will have two camera turrets, an MX-20D and an MX-20HD, compared to one MX-15 series and one MX-20HD on the ARL-M. Both feature full-color electro-optical and infrared cameras. The MX-20D has a laser range finder and target designator, as well.

 

The RO-6As will have Raytheon’s Airborne Cueing and Exploitation System-Hyperspectral (ACES Hy). The U.S. Air Force originally sponsored development of this sensor, which produces imagery that differentiates objects by their electromagnetic signature, making it possible to spot camouflaged or other hidden items, such as improvised explosive devices, which have a significantly different composition from their surroundings.

 

I fucking love military aircraft.

Anonymous ID: d52f01 Nov. 18, 2020, 8:44 p.m. No.11702183   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>2201 >>2238

>>11702111

Project Airseeker

 

The United Kingdom bought three KC-135R aircraft for conversion to RC-135W Rivet Joint standard[1] under the Airseeker project.[29] Acquisition of the three aircraft was budgeted at £634m, with entry into service in October 2014.[30] The aircraft formed No. 51 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Waddington along with the RAF's other ISTAR assets. They are expected to remain in service until 2045.

 

Previously, the Royal Air Force had gathered signals intelligence with three Nimrod R1 aircraft,.[7] When the time came to upgrade the maritime Nimrods to MRA4 standard, Project Helix was launched in August 2003 to study options for extending the life of the R1 out to 2025.[31] The option of switching to Rivet Joint was added to Helix in 2008,[31] and the retirement of the R1 became inevitable when the MRA4 was cancelled under the UK's 2010 budget cuts. The R1's involvement over Libya in Operation Ellamy delayed its retirement until June 2011.

 

Helix became Project Airseeker, under which three KC-135R airframes were converted to RC-135W standard by L-3 Communications. L-3 also provides ongoing maintenance and upgrades under a long-term agreement. The three airframes are former United States Air Force KC-135Rs, all of which first flew in 1964 but will be modified to the latest RC-135W standard before delivery. The three airframes on offer to the UK are the youngest KC-135s in the USAF fleet.[32] As of September 2010 the aircraft had approximately 23,200 flying hours, 22,200 hours and 23,200 hours.[33]

 

51 Sqn personnel began training at Offutt in January 2011 for conversion to the RC-135.[34] The first RC-135W (ZZ664) was delivered ahead of schedule to the Royal Air Force on 12 November 2013, for final approval and testing by the Defence Support and Equipment team prior to its release to service from the UK MAA. The second one (ZZ665) was once again delivered ahead of schedule on 4 September 2015 at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. The third (ZZ666) was delivered in June 2017, and entered operational service in December 2017.[35][36]