Agrégateur de flux

Lisbon's Administrative Court ruled on Wednesday (7 August) that Lisbon City Hall will have to pay one million euros for revealing data on anti-Putin demonstrators in a case from 2021.

Cet article Le français Naval Group n’a pas encore décidé de participer au programme des futurs sous-marins canadiens est apparu en premier sur Zone Militaire.

Le Djiboutien Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, le Kényan Raila Odinga et le Mauricien Anil Gayan sont candidats pour succéder au Tchadien Moussa Faki Mahamat, dont le mandat prendra fin en février 2025.

German opposition parties and parts of the government coalition are calling for more border checks to tackle irregular migration, questioning the consensus on Schengen that has long been taken for granted in the country that borders most EU member states.

Giorgia Meloni est certainement la Première ministre d'Europe occidentale la plus ouvertement opposée à l’avortement. Il faut dire que le débat autour de l'interruption volontaire de grossesse (IVG) reste tumultueux dans un pays majoritairement catholique, siège du Vatican.

A Danish court on Wednesday handed a Polish man a four-month prison sentence and ordered him deported for punching the country's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in June.

Summary and Key Points: The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, a successor to the B-2 Spirit, is set to be the most advanced stealth bomber in the U.S. Air Force.

-Building on decades of stealth technology, the B-21 features enhanced low observability, advanced networking, and open systems architecture, allowing for future upgrades.

-Unlike its predecessor, the B-21 is designed for cost-effectiveness, with plans for at least 100 units. It is expected to be a cornerstone of U.S. air power for decades, offering superior capabilities in modern warfare.

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is the Best Stealth Aircraft

Aerospace and defense giant Northrop Grumman continues to develop its B-21 Raider long-range strategic bomber. The B-21 is the planned replacement for the aging B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers.

Information is still sparse on the Raider, which is named for the men who took part in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in the spring of 1942. But there are several facts about the B-21 that we do know.

The B-21 is Building on the B-2's Success

The stealthy B-21 will not be the first Air Force bomber to feature a flying wing design to reduce its radar signature. Efforts to build an aircraft without a fuselage date back almost 100 years. Northrop Grumman’s B-2 Spirit was the first such design mass-produced, even if just 20 aircraft were manufactured.

Seen as the first successful flying wing aircraft, the B-2’s low-observable characteristics help it penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most heavily defended targets. With these capabilities, the B-2 has ensured a strong, effective deterrent and combat force well into the 21st century.

The B-2's low observability was derived from a combination of reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual, and radar signatures. These signatures make it difficult for sophisticated defensive systems to detect, track, and engage the B-2. Many aspects of the low-observability process remain classified, but the B-2's composite materials, special coatings, and flying wing design all contribute to its stealthiness.

The Raider Bomber is Better

Everything the B-2 Spirit did right, the B-21 Raider promises to do better. There were reports its advanced stealth technology – much of which remains classified – could give the aircraft a radar signature as small as an insect. That's likely hyperbole, as no one expects to track a butterfly on radar.

The B-2's development began when disco was all the rage and Jimmy Carter was in the White House, while the B-21 Raider's development is truly a product of the 21st century. It takes into account numerous lessons learned from the F-117 Nighthawk, B-2 Spirit, F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II – and likely from programs yet to be disclosed.

As The Heritage Foundation reported, the B-21 Raider "is built around the most sophisticated and easily maintained stealth technology ever developed."

Even the aircraft's maker was only slightly more forthcoming, describing the B-21 as benefiting "from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology. It is the next evolution of the Air Force strategic bomber fleet. Developed with the next generation of stealth technology, advanced networking capabilities and an open systems architecture, the B-21 is optimized for the high-end threat environment. It will play a critical role in helping the Air Force meet its most complex missions."

Some 8,000 employees of Northrop Grumman and various other defense contractors of all sizes, spread across 40 states, have been secretly building the Air Force's new stealth bomber. Great efforts have been taken to prevent China and other potential adversaries from gaining access to its technology.

Cost-Effective as Well as Stealthy

Even the best aircraft is only good if it can be employed in significant numbers. The simple lack of B-2s has been the Spirit’s greatest weakness. The Air Force is seeking to guarantee the production of at least 100 Raiders.

To that end, the air service has emphasized cost containment while simultaneously allowing for maximum flexibility. The future backbone of the Air Force's bomber fleet has been noted for an open systems architecture that would allow future capabilities to be integrated into the aircraft, and fast.

With the B-21, the Air Force plans not only to have the best stealth bomber in service for years to come. By the end of the 2030s, it also plans to operate a strong number of these aircraft.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Creative Commons. 

Un tribunal danois a condamné le 7 août un Polonais de 39 ans à quatre mois de prison et a ordonné son expulsion pour l’agression de la Première ministre danoise à Copenhague en juin.

Summary and Key Points: This summer, Finnish and Spanish F/A-18 Hornets are taking part in NATO's air policing missions over Romania. Finland deployed seven Hornets in June for their first NATO mission since joining the alliance, operating alongside the Royal Air Force and Romanian Air Force.

-As Finland's deployment ended, Spain sent eight F/A-18+ Hornets to continue the mission, reflecting NATO's ongoing efforts to secure its southern flank in the Black Sea region.

The F/A-18 Is Getting Closer to Russia These Days 

The Boeing F/A-18 Hornet is a familiar sight over the skies of the Black Sea. This summer Hornets will continue to operate from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, although the national insignia on the aircraft will change. 

In early June, seven Finnish Air Force Hornets were deployed on the first NATO Air Policing and Air Shielding mission in Romania since the Nordic nation joined the international alliance last year.

According to NATO, the "deployment was carried out in three rotations and involved over 250 personnel from all Finnish Air Force units." The staged deployments allowed the Finnish personnel to gain as much experience as possible, "operating under the direction of NATO's military command structure."

The Finnish personnel completed their rotation and returned home on July 29, 2024.

"The operation was interesting and rewarding. We will take home a lot of lessons learned about participating in a NATO mission and operating in a new environment." said Maj. Toni Vanhatalo, commander of the third rotation of the Finnish Air Force detachment. "Being under the direction of NATO's command structure required some minor changes in the planning of flight operations, but we adapted well, and also gained some lessons for developing our operations at home. Cooperation with Allies was smooth and continuous training activity improved our capabilities."

During their deployment to NATO's southern flank, the Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets operated alongside Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons and took part in exercise Ramstein Legacy 24 in Romania and Bulgaria. They flew with Romanian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons to perform escort drills with U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers deployed to the region.

Spanish Hornets Have Arrived

On Tuesday, just days after the Finnish F/A-18s departed from Romania, eight F/A-18+ Hornets from Spain landed in Romania to begin a four-month deployment. A total of 150 Spanish Air Force personnel – including pilots, maintainers, and technical staff – deployed to Romania as part of NATO's Black Sea Air Policing mission. 

Designated the C-15 in Spanish service, these F/A-18s date to the 1980s but have received significant service life upgrades that extended their operational lifespan and capabilities. The Spanish Air Force's Hornets were previously used in NATO missions in Kosovo in 1999, as well as during 2011's Operation Unified Protector to enforce UN Security Council resolutions during the Libyan Civil War.

In 2022, Madrid announced it would phase out its C-15 fleet, replacing those fighters with the Eurofighter Typhoon. Several of the modern combat aircraft have already entered service. The Spanish Air Force deployed five Eurofighter Typhoons, along with a 60-person team, to the same Romanian air base earlier this year.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Kezdődjék augusztus a TAI/TUSAS T626 Gökbey helikopterének júliusi, az angliai Farnborough-ban lezajlott nemzetközi bemutatkozásával. Diszkrét utalás, egy kiragadott példa arra, hogy ahogy a stratégiai folyamatokban, úgy a repülőgép- és védelmi iparban is hangsúlyeltolódásnak lehetünk tanúi, amit nem árthat figyelembe venni a jövő tervezgetésénél.

Zord

Depuis l’adoption de la nouvelle loi immigration, la France a mis en place une nouvelle procédure pour la régularisation des travailleurs étrangers. La nouvelle loi, […]

L’article Titre de séjour en France : nouvelle procédure de régularisation pour les métiers en tension est apparu en premier sur .

Sieben Jahre nach seiner Flucht hat der katalanische Unabhängigkeitsbefürworter Carles Puigdemont trotz drohender Festnahme seine Rückreise nach Spanien angetreten. Am Donnerstag wolle er trotz möglicher Festnahme an einer Sitzung des katalanischen Regionalparlaments in Barcelona zur Ernennung eines neuen Regionalpräsidenten teilnehmen.

The U.S. Air Force’s Accident Investigation Report says that the CV-22 crash could have been prevented had the crew decided to land earlier and at a closer airfield. The Nov. 29, 2023 crash of the [...]

The post Gearbox Failure, Pilot Decision to Keep Flying Blamed for Japan CV-22 Crash, Says Air Force Probe appeared first on The Aviationist.

Summary and Key Points: The X-44 MANTA was an experimental aircraft developed by the U.S. Air Force based on the F-22 Raptor, designed without traditional tail surfaces to reduce radar visibility and enhance maneuverability using thrust-vectoring engines.

-The program aimed to create a highly stealthy and agile fighter, potentially superior to the F-22.

-However, the project was canceled in 2000 before reaching production. Elements of the X-44 design influence today's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, but the original MANTA will never be realized.

The X-44 Manta Was Never Destined for Dominance, Sadly 

When one thinks of an aircraft with no tail, they normally think of plane in distress. One could be forgiven for not understanding that aircraft can be built purposely without a tail. That’s precisely what the United States Air Force did when they developed the X-44 MANTA concept plane. As with so many things in the US military, “MANTA” is an acronym that stands for, “Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft” (this is not to be confused with the US Navy’s new unmanned underwater vehicle, the Manta). 

Based off the F-22A Raptor, the X-44 was intended to be the next step in advanced US military warplanes. The MANTA took what was back then the radical design of the F-22 and augmented it. Primarily, by removing the aircraft’s conventional vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. 

Engineers at the time rightly believed these components significantly contributed to radar visibility (a key element of both the F-22 and X-44 projects were to make the birds as stealthy as possible). Instead, the X-44 MANTA’s designers added in thrust-vectoring engines. This new engine not only made the X-44 stealthier than even its advanced F-22 big brother, but it also made the experimental bird more maneuverable. 

Indeed, the removal of the MANTA’s tail surfaces and the replacement of those surfaces by the thrust-vectoring engines were one of the most innovative concepts for that era. According to Jim Matthews writing in a 2008 article for the Smithsonian Magazine, “Thrust vectoring enables the pilots to fly up and over in a very tight arc [and] gives [pilots] the nose authority to turn the jet while the wings are stalled, similar to a controlled flat spin.”

Comparisons to the F-22

Today, the F-22A is powered by Pratt & Whitney F119 turbofans, each providing 35,000 pounds of thrust. The F-22’s vector thrust nozzle can “direct exhaust thrust up or down as much as twenty-four degrees.” This is an impressive capability that few modern warplanes possess. The MANTA had these abilities and more. The X-44, if you can believe it, was more impressive than the F-22. 

The bird was almost invisible on radar because of these modifications. 

A downside of not having tail surfaces is that the pilots who manned these birds, had they gone into production and been deployed, would have needed to be highly trained. Flying tailless birds, even with the assist of vector thrust engines, is a difficult undertaking. What’s more, going into combat with such a plane would have tested even the best fighter pilots. 

The X-44 MANTA had an impressive weapons package. MANTA housed a single 20mm internal cannon, two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Additional armaments of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles as well as two 1,000-GBU-32 Joint Direct Munitions were included as well. As I wrote previously, had the X-44 been mass produced, it would have likely been even better than the F-22A Raptor (which has been called the “Michael Jordan of fighter planes”). 

An Inauspicious End to a Great Program

In 2000, the X-44 program was canceled. The bird never made it beyond the conceptual stage. In an alternative reality somewhere, mixed squadrons of F-22 Raptors and X-44 MANTAS fly into battle, firing the onboard lasers that the Air Force got to work.

Sadly, the United States government today is actually broke—contrary to what our elites seem to think. Trying to build this system today would not make economical sense. Not to fear, though, the Air Force is pushing ahead with their Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform which is loosely based upon the X-44 MANTA. To think, this platform could have already been flying by now had the Air Force just stuck with its guns twenty-four years ago.

Sadly, we’ll never get to see these birds fly again. Not even in its sixth-generation warplane form under the auspices of NGAD. There’s simply no way Congress will allow for that program to continue as the rest of the country feels the economic pinch.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

From the Vault

Russia Freaked Out: Why the U.S. Navy 'Unretired' the Iowa-Class Battleships

Battleship vs. Battlecruiser: Iowa-Class vs. Russia's Kirov-Class (Who Wins?)

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

The French capital’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo is now using the 33rd Olympiad’s success in order to restore her image, before 2026’s municipal elections.

La Commission irlandaise de protection des données (DPC) a entamé une procédure judiciaire contre le réseau social X le 6 août, selon le site web de la Haute Cour de justice d’Irlande.

Le ministre de la Justice et garde des sceaux a institué une commission nationale mixte chargée d’enquêter sur la mafia et les mauvaises pratiques judiciaires dont sont victimes les justiciables, personnes physiques et morales, indique un communiqué signé le 5 aout 2024 par son cabinet.

 

« La force du progrès est une structure de la ligue des jeunes de l'UDPS créée par feu Etienne Tshisekedi pour la quiétude de la population et consolider les acquis du président de la République »

Die irische Datenschutzkommission (DPC) hat am Dienstag (6. August) ein Gerichtsverfahren gegen die Social-Media-Plattform X eingeleitet, so die Webseite des irischen Obersten Gerichtshofs. Die Plattform hat Nutzerdaten zur Schulung ihrer KI verwendet.

L'enclave de pêche de Nyakakoma, située dans le territoire de Rutshuru, est tombée sous l'occupation des rebelles du M23 ce mercredi 7 août. Cela s'est produit après un bref échange de tirs avec la force marine congolaise, appuyée par des combattants de groupes armés locaux.