Word: aircrafting
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After investing $20 billion over 25 years and losing 30 lives in the development of the controversial V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, known as the Osprey, the U.S. military might like to think that its long-awaited combat debut would go relatively smoothly. But even as 10 Marine V-22s have just arrived in Iraq, the Air Force - which is buying V-22s for special operations missions - has decided the gun on the Marines' version isn't good enough for an aircraft expressly designed to ferry troops into hot landing zones...
...Marines now flying the $120 million aircraft have insisted that the small gun slung from the aircraft's opened rear ramp is adequate for war. That's a claim disputed by retired Marine general James Jones, who ordered a beefed-up, forward-firing gun for the V-22 when he was serving as the Corps' top officer from 1999 to 2003. The requirement evaporated after Jones stepped down as commandant, but the Air Force, which is buying 50 V-22s for the Special Ops command, seems to agree with Jones...
...would fire the gun, based on the video images displayed, with a hand-held controller. A Pentagon official says this design, while perhaps adequate for special-ops V-22s, wouldn't replace the need for a final weapon for the Marine V-22 that would be integrated into the aircraft's internal electronic and computer systems. The Pentagon is seeking $82 million to develop a permanent gun, on top of the $45 million it already spent trying to meet Jones' requirement...
...China, which has years of experience making military aircraft, thinks it can succeed where others have failed. ACAC sees an opening in the market today for smaller jets. China has recently begun building more regional airports, particularly in western provinces, to allow for more point-to-point flying and ease congestion at central airports. Those routes will likely be serviced by smaller planes, according to Chinese aviation officials. "There's a hole in the market we can fill," says...
...That window is quickly closing. Since the ARJ21 project was announced, both Bombardier and Embraer have launched models that will rival it. To date, Embraer alone has already sold 127 of its 50- to 100-seat aircraft to Chinese airlines. Manufacturers in Japan and Russia also plan to field brand-new regional jets within the next three to five years. With the ARJ21's maiden flight set for next year, "China has a head start," says George Haley, head of the Center for International Industry Competitiveness at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. "But it won't last long...