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by Gail Helmer
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Aces High v1.11
HiTech Creations has released version 1.11 for their online-only World War II flight combat simulation, Aces High. This release adds a sizable number of gameplay enhancements, bug fixes, and other changes as listed here
Military News
Bush Orders Missile Defense System Deployed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Tuesday ordered the military to begin deploying a national missile defense system with land- and sea-based interceptor rockets to be operational starting in 2004. The decision came despite last week's failure of an anti-missile test over the Pacific Ocean.
In a statement, Bush said his goal was to "protect our citizens against what is perhaps the greatest danger of all -- catastrophic harm that may result from hostile states or terrorist groups armed with weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them." [More...]
General Dynamics Awarded SSGN and Trident Contract
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) , has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs Office for development and support for the new SSGN Attack Weapon Control System and the Trident Backfit Fire Control System. The initial award value of the contract is $90 million; if all options are exercised, the contract will have a cumulative value of $221 million.
Under this agreement, General Dynamics will modify the Trident Fire Control and Launcher system to provide a Weapon Control solution for the SSGN program. As part of this effort, the company will complete development and produce four SSGN Attack Weapon Control Systems.
In addition, the company will produce two Trident Backfit MK98 Mod 4 Fire Control Systems and provide associated support and repair for these systems and others currently deployed. General Dynamics will also continue development tasks for the MK98 MOD6/7 Strategic Fire Control Systems.
"This contract award represents the next phase of our command and control work for the weapon systems currently deployed on Ohio Class submarines. The majority of this work is related to advancing the capabilities of the recently deployed, commercial-off-the-shelf-based MK98 Mod 4 weapon system," said Mike Eagan, director of the program. "The MK98 Mod 4 system has proven to be an affordable, flexible and highly reliable weapon system solution, and it is those characteristics that differentiate our solutions from others."
The Trident SSGN is a multi-mission submarine optimized for covert strike and special operations support. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is helping to convert the first four Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines (also known as Tridents) to an SSGN configuration. The submarines to be converted, coincident with their mid-life refuelings, are USS Ohio (SSBN-726), USS Michigan (SSBN-727), USS Florida (SSBN-728) and USS Georgia (SSBN-729).
With the capacity to carry up to 154 Tomahawk missiles and 102 Special Operations troops, SSGNs are considered prime examples of military transformation initiatives. Additionally, SSGNs will serve as platforms to develop and test new weapons systems, sensors and operational concepts that could further transform naval warfare.
Kadena F-15 Accident Information Released
Air Force investigators have determined a pilot's loss of situational awareness, spatial disorientation and faulty flight control inputs led to the Aug. 21 crash of an F-15C Eagle into the ocean south of Kadena Air Base, Japan.
The pilot, 1st Lt. Chris Northam, ejected safely from the aircraft with no apparent injuries. Both the aircraft and pilot were assigned to the 18th Wing based at Kadena AB.
The crash occurred 57 minutes into a 4-ship air-combat training mission.
During an advanced-handling maneuver, Northam made poor control inputs that caused the aircraft to go into a spin at 13,000 feet above sea level.
His resulting disorientation and the G forces prevented Northam from applying effective anti-spin controls and recovering the aircraft.
Northam ejected at 6,000 ft above sea level. The aircraft continued to spin until hitting the water 50 nautical miles south of Okinawa. (Courtesy of PACAF News Service)
[ Send Us News | Archives ]
by Gail Helmer
Tuesday December 17, 2002
- Aces High v1.11
- Bush Orders Missile Defense System Deployed
- General Dynamics Awarded SSGN and Trident Contract
- Kadena F-15 Accident Information Released
Aces High v1.11
HiTech Creations has released version 1.11 for their online-only World War II flight combat simulation, Aces High. This release adds a sizable number of gameplay enhancements, bug fixes, and other changes as listed here
Military News
Bush Orders Missile Defense System Deployed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Tuesday ordered the military to begin deploying a national missile defense system with land- and sea-based interceptor rockets to be operational starting in 2004. The decision came despite last week's failure of an anti-missile test over the Pacific Ocean.
In a statement, Bush said his goal was to "protect our citizens against what is perhaps the greatest danger of all -- catastrophic harm that may result from hostile states or terrorist groups armed with weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them." [More...]
General Dynamics Awarded SSGN and Trident Contract
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) , has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs Office for development and support for the new SSGN Attack Weapon Control System and the Trident Backfit Fire Control System. The initial award value of the contract is $90 million; if all options are exercised, the contract will have a cumulative value of $221 million.
Under this agreement, General Dynamics will modify the Trident Fire Control and Launcher system to provide a Weapon Control solution for the SSGN program. As part of this effort, the company will complete development and produce four SSGN Attack Weapon Control Systems.
In addition, the company will produce two Trident Backfit MK98 Mod 4 Fire Control Systems and provide associated support and repair for these systems and others currently deployed. General Dynamics will also continue development tasks for the MK98 MOD6/7 Strategic Fire Control Systems.
"This contract award represents the next phase of our command and control work for the weapon systems currently deployed on Ohio Class submarines. The majority of this work is related to advancing the capabilities of the recently deployed, commercial-off-the-shelf-based MK98 Mod 4 weapon system," said Mike Eagan, director of the program. "The MK98 Mod 4 system has proven to be an affordable, flexible and highly reliable weapon system solution, and it is those characteristics that differentiate our solutions from others."
The Trident SSGN is a multi-mission submarine optimized for covert strike and special operations support. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is helping to convert the first four Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines (also known as Tridents) to an SSGN configuration. The submarines to be converted, coincident with their mid-life refuelings, are USS Ohio (SSBN-726), USS Michigan (SSBN-727), USS Florida (SSBN-728) and USS Georgia (SSBN-729).
With the capacity to carry up to 154 Tomahawk missiles and 102 Special Operations troops, SSGNs are considered prime examples of military transformation initiatives. Additionally, SSGNs will serve as platforms to develop and test new weapons systems, sensors and operational concepts that could further transform naval warfare.
Kadena F-15 Accident Information Released
Air Force investigators have determined a pilot's loss of situational awareness, spatial disorientation and faulty flight control inputs led to the Aug. 21 crash of an F-15C Eagle into the ocean south of Kadena Air Base, Japan.
The pilot, 1st Lt. Chris Northam, ejected safely from the aircraft with no apparent injuries. Both the aircraft and pilot were assigned to the 18th Wing based at Kadena AB.
The crash occurred 57 minutes into a 4-ship air-combat training mission.
During an advanced-handling maneuver, Northam made poor control inputs that caused the aircraft to go into a spin at 13,000 feet above sea level.
His resulting disorientation and the G forces prevented Northam from applying effective anti-spin controls and recovering the aircraft.
Northam ejected at 6,000 ft above sea level. The aircraft continued to spin until hitting the water 50 nautical miles south of Okinawa. (Courtesy of PACAF News Service)