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Protecting Engineering Materials from Water Impact

Erosion caused by the impact of water droplets on component surfaces can lead to failures in key technological applications. For example, in steam generating plants, the leading edge of turbine blades suffer major erosion damage from the steam driving the turbines, requiring costly maintenance and repair with consequent loss of generating capacity. Similarly, erosion caused

Viper Attack Helicopters Give Marines New Weapon for Pacific Arsenal

The next time Marines hit a Pacific beach, they will have the most advanced attack helicopter in the world at their backs. Eight AH-1Z Vipers began arriving at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in late November to permanently replace the service”s aging fleet of AH-1W Super Cobras, Marine officials said, and more are on the

BAE Systems Boosts Railgun Efforts with Acquisition of IAP Research

In an effort to accelerate progress on the electromagnetic railgun development, BAE Systems announced the acquisition of Ohio-based IAP Research. Prior to the acquisition, IAP Research was a major BAE Systems subcontractor on the U.S. Navy-led development of an electromagnetic (EM) railgun. The Dayton team, which is part of BAE’s weapons systems business, has more

China Shows Off Silent Hunter 33kW Laser, Drones and Tanks

At the International Defense Exhibition and Conference, one of the world”s largest arms fairs, weapons-makers from around the world show off their latest. At this year”s show in Dubai, China flaunted a range of high-tech weaponry spread across 16,000 square feet of floor space. Included: S-20 attack submarines, FC-31 stealth fighter jets, and updates to

NASA Distributed Propulsion & Energy Harvesting Hummingbird Engine

A new engine concept from NASA’s Glenn Research Center allows for truly distributed propulsion. The concept enables airframe and system modularity by allowing parts to be swapped or repaired easily. Design changes can be applied to individual components and not the entire propulsion system. The NASA Glenn innovation eliminates heavy shafts and disks, and allows

Nano-Sized Hydrogen Storage System Increases Efficiency

Lawrence Livermore scientists have collaborated with an interdisciplinary team of researchers including colleagues from Sandia National Laboratories to develop an efficient hydrogen storage system that could be a boon for hydrogen powered vehicles. Hydrogen is an excellent energy carrier, but the development of lightweight solid-state materials for compact, low-pressure storage is a huge challenge. Complex

Australia Cuts Deal with US Navy for Next Generation Jammer

Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne announced Tuesday that Australia has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy to develop the Next Generation Jammer for the Boeing EA-18G Growler, an airborne electronic attack aircraft. Payne announced the AUD $250 million (U.S. $192 million) investment during the opening day of the 2017 Australian International Airshow at

US Air Force Fighters & Drones Will Fire Laser Weapons by the 2020s

The Air Force is increasing computer simulations and virtual testing for its laser-weapons program to accelerate development and prepare plans to arm fighter jets and other platforms by the early 2020s. To help model the effects of such technologies, the service has awarded Stellar Science a five-year, $7 million contract for advanced laser modeling and

Deployable Waste-to-Energy Conversion for Expeditionary Forces

In cooperation with the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Laboratory (ARL), and Air Force Civil Engineer…

Demystifying the A2/AD Buzz

Anti-access and area denial — best known by its shorthand A2/AD — has crossed the buzzword threshold. It’s a quite impressive feat for such a distinctively non-user friendly and technical concept, which alludes to that family of military capabilities used to prevent or constrain the deployment of opposing forces into a given theater of operations

Miniature Autonomous Underwater Explorers Mimic Ocean Life

Scripps researchers collaborate on new technology study using “robotic plankton”. Underwater robots developed by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego offer scientists an extraordinary new tool to study ocean currents and the tiny creatures they transport. Swarms of these underwater robots helped answer some basic questions about the

New Amplifier Could Double the Capacity of Fiber-Optic Cables

By designing a new fiber optic cable that suppresses lasing at the traditional 1,064 nm and 920 nm wavelengths, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers discovered they could achieve significant positive optical gain in the 1,390 nm to 1,460 nm region. Additionally, the new fiber generated laser power and optical gain with relatively good efficiency. This