Skunk Works comemora 75 anos de inovações e sigilo a serviço dos Estados Unidos

Por: Redação OD

O que há em comum entre os os projetos dos Lockheed’s P-80 Shooting Star, F-104 Starfighter, U-2 , SR-71 Blackbird, drone supersônico D-21, F-117 e o ainda "secreto" SR-72. Todos foram projetados e desenvolvidos pela área de projetos secretos “Skunk Works” da Lockheed. Os que atuam na área de defesa e na indústria aeroespacial sabem que a Lockheed Skunk Works quebrou barreiras com suas inovações de defesa que de certo modo mudaram o mundo, e provável ela continue a fazê-lo hoje ainda, por trás de um espesso véu de sigilo. Fundada em meados dos anos 40, no auge da Segunda Guerra Mundial, quando as aquisições de defesa precisavam ser aceleradas para se permanecer a frente dos adversários do Eixo, e especialmente da Alemanha e seus programas secretos de armas, a Skunk Works da Lockheed foi encarregada de desenvolver tecnologia aeroespacial inovadora.

Lockheed Martin takes aim at rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft with INFIRNO

A Black Hawk helicopter with Lockheed Martin's INFIRNO turreted sensor mounted in the aircraft's nose. INFIRNO is designed to facilitate repair and maintenance, while offering operators a sensor system that can be easily upgraded and configured for different missions.

By: Wording OD.

Lockheed Martin has conducted the first flight test of its new INFIRNO modular turreted sensor for rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.

The 15 inch system is designed to enable easy repair and maintenance, while offering military forces a sensor that can be easily maintained and tailored for specific missions.

INFIRNO is built around nine separate line replaceable units (LRUs) that will be supported by a sophisticated built-in test algorithm suite that will tell maintainers when a component fails and requires replacement.

Israel receives its first stealth fighter, the F-35 "ADIR"

By: Wording OD

The Israeli Air Force welcomed Israel’s first stealth aircraft in history Wednesday evening, with the acquisition of an F-35 Lighting II fighter jet. The aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, is the first fifth-generation fighter acquired by Israel. A ceremony on Wednesday held at the Lockheed Martin factory celebrated the completion of the very first Israeli F-35. Specially designed for Israel’s needs, the planes sold to Israel are of the F-35I “Adir” variant, which incorporates Israeli electronic warfare system and will be compatible with various Israeli munitions and components.

F-35 test pilot completes 1,000th vertical landing

image is for illustration purposes only

By: Wording OD

British test pilot Peter "Wizzer" Wilson recently completed his 1,000th vertical landing in an F-35 Lightning II aircraft, BAE Systems announced Friday. It happened at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, about six years after a test pilot conducted the jet's first vertical landing, the company said. Wizzer is the lead test pilot for the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B variant, which will operate from Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Flight trials on the British carrier are less than three years away. "Every day, the test team carries out numerous take-offs, landings and sorties with the aim of ensuring the aircraft is performing in accordance with our expectations," Wilson said. "To be the pilot who conducted the 1,000th vertical landing is a bit special." Wilson became the first pilot to launch the F-35B from a ski jump last June.