New Aircraft Types to Enter Service

Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche revealed a list of new focus areas, as well as planned changes to existing systems and proposals for new aircraft that could significantly increase the service’s lethality and effectiveness. The secretary laid out plans to improve special operations, close-air support and battlefield management systems and recommended a trio of new battle management aircraft. Dr. Roche made his remarks Feb. 12 at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air Warfare Symposium in Lake Buena Vista (FL).

Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to integrate the Sniper XR targeting pod on the A-10 aircraft in support of the A-10 Precision Engagement (PE) Program. The contract award follows a successful demonstration of the Sniper system during the A/OA-10 Precision Engagement upgrade program's critical design review.

Jet Used By Blue Angels

A Navy F/A-18A Hornet fighter, "some assembly required," is being offered on the online auction house eBay. The price for the jet, which formerly belonged to the Navy's Blue Angels aerial demonstration team, is just over $1 million, or about $9 million for a buyer who wants it assembled, painted and certified ready-to-fly. Only legal U.S. residents can bid. The auction is scheduled to end Thursday, just before 5 p.m. EST. Mike Landa of Landa and Associates in Arlington (WA), the brokerage that listed the Blue Angels fighter on the Internet auction service, told The Virginian-Pilot the jet is in parts and came out of military service in 1994. Landa wouldn't identify the owner but said he came by it legally.