World military news on December 12, 2024: UK tests new anti-UAV laser weapon; US evaluates the effectiveness of jet engines on Su-57 aircraft.
Britain tests new laser weapons, US experts evaluate the new jet engine of the Su-57 fighter jet... are the contents of today's world military news.
US expert evaluates Su-57's new jet engine system
The new jet engine's vector control nozzle system equipped on Russia's fifth-generation fighter Su-57 Felon could increase the aircraft's stealth capabilities.
The US military magazine The War Zone (TWZ) assessed that the pictures of the new engine equipment on the Su-57 aircraft show that it has redesigned the jet nozzle system. The pictures show that the T-50-2 prototype is being used to test the new second-stage jet engine called Izdeliye 30.
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| Russia's fifth-generation fighter Su-57 has tested a new jet engine with thrust vectoring technology. Photo: Lenta |
The left engine of the aircraft has an engine with a flat nozzle, which the improved Su-57 is testing. The American publication admits that the new nozzle mechanism will help control the Su-57's thrust vector in two planes.
“For example, this type of hidden flat engine nozzle is also used on the F-22 Raptor and was chosen mainly to reduce the radar signature compared to the axially symmetric nozzle. It also offers the advantage of reducing the infrared signature,” TWZ wrote.
In November 2024, Rosoboronexport General Director Alexander Mikheev asserted that the main advantage of the Su-57, which distinguishes it from foreign competitors, is the applied technologies that have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.
UK tests new laser weapon for anti-UAV mission
The British government says the military has successfully tested a new High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) to destroy or disable drones.
“ The military has successfully used a high-energy laser weapon from a combat vehicle for the first time to destroy a drone ,” the British government said.
The high-energy beam is used as a lethal and incinerating factor against the target aircraft. The laser system developed by Raytheon UK is mounted on the chassis of the Wolfhound armored vehicle.
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| Britain's new HELWS laser weapon system. Photo: Defense News |
“The successful testing of this laser weapon system represents a significant step forward in developing our future defence capabilities and demonstrates the excellence of British engineers,” said Maria Eagle, head of the UK Defence Industry and Procurement Agency.
In July 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that Raytheon UK, together with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the Defence Equipment and Support Department of the UK Ministry of Defence, had successfully tested a laser cannon.
US Congress reduces number of F-35 orders
The US Congress plans to reduce the number of fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters that the Pentagon plans to order by 2025.
The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which was introduced by US lawmakers on December 7, would limit the number of newly purchased F-35 fighter jets delivered to the military until the Pentagon shows it has a plan to fix some problems with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, Defense News reported.
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| F-35 fighter jet. Photo: Getty |
The U.S. military originally planned to buy 68 F-35s, but Congress wanted to cap the number of new fighters at 48. The Air Force could buy 30 F-35As; the Marine Corps and Navy were asked to buy nine F-35Bs and F-35Cs each.
It should be noted that US lawmakers have become increasingly dissatisfied with the JSF program due to delays. In particular, due to problems with the TR-3 upgrade, the delivery of the first batch of F-35s scheduled for summer 2023 has been extended by almost a year.
As of December 2023, Lockheed Martin had built less than half of its fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to the TR-3 standard. The delay is believed to be due to a shortage of key parts.
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne warning and control aircraft for France has been assembled
Northrop Grumman has begun production of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft for the French Navy. Representatives from the French Navy, Northrop Grumman, Naval Air Systems Command and the US Navy's International Programs Office attended a ceremony to mark the event.
According to Defense Industry Europe, Northrop Grumman has signed a contract to build three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes for the French Armed Forces. The first is expected to be delivered in 2027. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will replace the French Navy's E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft, which have been in service for more than 25 years. The new aircraft will be capable of aerial refueling, significantly increasing operational flexibility.
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| E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft. Photo: Topwar |
Since entering service with the French Navy in 1998, the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 has become a key component of France's air defense system, supporting the USS Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group. France remains the only country other than the United States to operate this type of aircraft from aircraft carriers.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is powered by an Allison T56 turboprop engine (5,250 horsepower) and a rotating radar dome 7.3 m in diameter, mounted above the fuselage and wings, providing surveillance capabilities hundreds of kilometers in the air.
Source: https://congthuong.vn/ban-tin-quan-su-the-gioi-ngay-12122024-anh-thu-nghiem-vu-khi-laser-chong-uav-moi-363838.html
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