Browse Braybrook, Roy

1-75 out of 75 article(s)

Title	Type	Date	Words
Utility helos with a purpose.		Jun 1, 2008	2642
Better bombs make cheaper missiles: in an age when many households have infrared sensors, video cameras, remotely-controlled electronic devices and cars with GPS nagivation, the idea of air forces using simple unguided bombs seems so mid-20th Century. Things are changing.		Jun 1, 2008	2652
United States fly high: while the United States and the Soviet Union were the first to re-explore uncrewed aircraft technologies since the second world war in the 1960s, notably through Ryan and Tupolev (but with mixed results in both cases), Israel was really the first nation to turn the discipline into a viable proposition in the 1980s, before being overtaken in terms of market size by the United States.		Jun 1, 2008	4910
Transport aircraft morphing: the planning switch from a short central European war to protracted out-of-area operations has raised logistic needs. Aside from requiring increased range, the aircraft to be purchased from now on will have to accommodate larger and heavier ground vehicles.		Apr 1, 2008	3117
Rotary wings for Navies: developments in turbo-shaft engines, rotor technology and lightweight avionics and armament allowed the roles of shipborne helicopters to be expanded to include armed assault, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface vessel warfare, over-the-horizon targeting, mine laying/mine-countermeasures and airborne early warning.		Apr 1, 2008	2703
Airlifters for distant wars: the prospect of a continuing series of West-led multi-national out-of-area actions in under-developed regions is boosting sales of both strategic and tactical airlifters. The following review broadly considers military transport developments in order of increasing aircraft size.		Feb 1, 2008	3342
Like wire through cheese: supercavitation: suprcavitation occurs when a submerged moving body is covered in water vapour, with consequent reduction in density-dependent friction. Already applied to torpedoes and special-purpose bullets, the concept may be extended to submarines, surface vessels and (possibly) bunker-busting munitions.		Feb 1, 2008	1938
Defending the attacker.		Dec 1, 2007	2598
Special air delivery: air support for special operations forces (SOF) has so far relied largely on adapting fixed- and rotary-wing manned/unmanned aircraft that were originally developed for other uses. The growing importance of such operations is now producing some aviation assets aimed specifically at this application.		Dec 1, 2007	5297
A clash of generations: the key question in advanced jet trainers is whether new designs should now take over, thereby providing a quantum leap in angle-of-attack, specific excess power and possibly Mach number. Lower down the scale, can turbofan-powered basic trainers really compete against turboprops?		Oct 1, 2007	2552
Gambling on 'must have' assets: the purchase of a new manned fighter now involves commitment for a 30-to 50-year period, during which today's stealth could prove useless, stovl performance might become essential and unmanned combat aircraft may prove entirely feasible.		Oct 1, 2007	3308
Mean dedicated machines: the need to be able to stop hundreds of armoured fighting vehicles with dedicated attack helicopters has hopefully gone away. What remains is a need for fast rotary-wing aircraft that are both armed and armoured, to perform close air support for ground and amphibious forces, and to escort utility and transport helicopters.		Oct 1, 2007	2577
Better than bombs: unpowered guided bombs now dominate the drop-count, but there are better ways to attack low-value ground targets and those protected by modern air defences. There are also better armaments for drones and helicopters.		Aug 1, 2007	1902
Help from above: the high cost of modern combat aircraft militates against risking them in close air support, but there are times when only air assets can provide the necessary fast response and concentration of firepower. This type of mission also remains essential for special forces and operations in mountainous terrain, where heavy artillery is not usually available.		Jun 1, 2007	3248
Way to go and return! The manner in which unmanned aircraft are launched and retrieved has a major impact an the overall performance and operational flexibility of the system, in addition to dictating response and turn-round times and the likelihood of damage during recovery.		Jun 1, 2007	2080
Twisting thrust for supermanoeuvrability: the majority of aircraft engines produce forward or reverse thrust roughly parallel to the fuselage axis. Given variable-geometry exhaust systems, combat aircraft powerplants can also generate substantial jet lift and pitching and yawing movements.		Jun 1, 2007	1895
Aerial pick-ups; the ten tonners: offering an attractive combination of usefulness and affordability, utility helicopters of around ten tonnes are the aviation equivalent of the pick-up truck. Such aircraft are operated in large numbers, and several outstanding designs are competing for new and replacement orders.		Jun 1, 2007	2582
What a range!		Jun 1, 2007	936
Better batteries boost drone duration.		Apr 1, 2007	1945
Drives for drones: engines designed for vehicles as diverse as snowmobiles and regional jets have been adapted for drones. Their special needs are reductions in engine weight, fuel consumption and detectability, and the use of battlefront fuels.		Feb 1, 2007	1939
Heavy-handed accuracy: the accurate delivery of aerial bombs has become a cornerstone of modern warfare, combining the desired terminal effects with minimal use of relatively low-cost weapons, and substantially reduced collateral damage and aircrew exposure.		Dec 1, 2006	2617
AAD 2006: relocating the latest Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition to Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town allowed the showing of full-scale ships, making it a genuine tri-service event. South Africa, a base for trading with all sub-Saharan Africa, is strengthening its defence equipment ties with Europe and is building new links with Brazil, China, India and Russia.		Dec 1, 2006	1148
Ship-based helicopters: what's hot and what's not.		Apr 1, 2006	2799
J-Ucav cave in.		Apr 1, 2006	1266
Unmanned, but now armed.		Feb 1, 2006	2682
Fighter aircraft: which way to go?		Feb 1, 2006	2621
Whirly stingers: not cheap, but nasty.	Cover Story	Dec 1, 2005	3289
Black kite discretion.		Dec 1, 2005	3588
Weapons for whirlybirds.		Oct 1, 2005	3995
Bolt from the blue: as aerial combat becomes a distant memory, the emphasis in aircraft armament is now on the ground attack role, with growing demands for day and night all-weather precision weapon delivery against fixed and moving targets, the minimum of collateral damage and the ability to out-range increasingly effective ground defences.		Aug 1, 2005	4107
Vertical jacks (literally) of all trades.		Jun 1, 2005	3648
Hercules and beyond.		Jun 1, 2005	2624
Learning topsy turvy.	Cover Story	Jun 1, 2005	2758
From scepticism to Sine Quan Non.		Jun 1, 2005	8284
The drone's sting.		Apr 1, 2005	1264
Air strike--from the sea.		Feb 1, 2005	3717
Punch from the air.		Feb 1, 2005	2581
Fill it up, please!		Dec 1, 2004	2625
Sneaking in from above.		Dec 1, 2004	2691
Fire from the sea.		Oct 1, 2004	2511
Transport aircraft news.		Apr 1, 2004	3286
The practical problems.		Apr 1, 2004	1865
Three "D" missions--dull, dirty and dangerous!		Feb 1, 2004	3161
More eyes in skies.		Feb 1, 2004	3025
The watch over water.		Dec 1, 2003	3260
Hard nut crackers: the Pentagon's top priority in weapon developments is to find a means to deal effectively yet safely with deeply buried facilities used for the production and storage of chemical and biological materials. This follows decades of penetration weapon development, directed first at bridges and airfields, and later at underground command and control bunkers.		Dec 1, 2003	2553
The only way is up!		Aug 1, 2003	3517
In control of the sky: aerial dominance--the ability to employ assets with impunity in the airspace above enemy territory and forces--depends not only on achieving a high kill ratio in air combat (which increasingly relies on situational awareness provided by off-board sensors), but also on destroying the enemy's airfields, radars, Sam systems and control centres. (Fixed-wing).		Jun 1, 2003	3128
Drones turn nasty: the successful firing of laser-homing Lockheed Martin Hellfire anti-armour missiles from CIA-operated General Atomics MQ-1B Predators against ground vehicles in Afghanistan from 2002 (reportedly over 40 rounds) and in Yemen in 2003 opened the eyes of the leading armed services to the possibility of avoiding the use of expensive manned aircraft in some ground attack missions. (Armed UAV).		Jun 1, 2003	1399
Hale high in the sky: turbine-engined unmanned aircraft with long-span wings offer the prospect of high-altitude, long endurance (Hale) surveillance of enemy territory; their cruise height of over 30,000 feet provides a long range to their sensor horizon and, given some degree of stealth, possible immunity from all but the most advanced air defence systems. (Unmanned Flight).		Jun 1, 2003	4305
Attack helicopters for the new Millennium: the switch in defence planning from massed tank battles in central Europe to expeditionary warfare and peacekeeping/enforcement in other continents is moving the emphasis in attack helicopters from dedicated day/night all-weather anti-armour operations to designs that are lighter, less expensive, easier to deploy in fixed-wing transport aircraft and operationally more flexible. (Rotary-wing).		Jun 1, 2003	2441
Pilot-free fighters. (Armed UAV).		Jun 1, 2003	2856
Males poised to go high and away. (Unmanned Flight).		Apr 1, 2003	3776
Drones, for short. (Unmanned Flight).		Feb 1, 2003	3987
Steel rain. (Ground Warfare).		Feb 1, 2003	2183
Trust in thriving thrust. (Technology).		Feb 1, 2003	2616
Drone kingdom. (Shows & Exhibitions).		Oct 1, 2002	3029
Launch, intercept, destroy-land-based air defence. (Complete Guide).		Aug 1, 2002	7591
Rotary wings for a new millennium: new-generation helicopters will feature varying degrees of low observable technology while the latest structural materials make possible significant advances in weight, aircrew workload reduction and fatigue life. This article is aimed at highlighting the latest inputs in today's helicopter technology and providing a foretaste of things to come. (Technology).		Jun 1, 2002	4834
A decade of opportunities. (Airborne Warfare).		Jun 1, 2002	3281
Land-based Vshorad and Shorad systems; the protection of high-value ground targets against attacks by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and cruise missiles demands an integrated, multi-layer air defence system.		Apr 1, 2002	8248
Guided bombs are getting better; coalition efforts in the 1991 Gulf War involved the first large-scale use of laser-guided bombs, and demonstrated their excellent cost-effectiveness in medium altitude releases against high-contrast fixed targets in clear weather daylight conditions.		Feb 1, 2002	3588
Developing the breed: the modern fighter represents a combination of complex systems, taking decades to develop.		Feb 1, 2002	2627
Earth-moving add-ons for choppers: scout, utility and transport helicopters can be transformed into effective ground attack systems by the addition of guns, bombs, grenade-launchers, mine-dispensers, rocket projectiles, guided missiles and appropriate sighting systems.		Dec 1, 2001	1999
Paris air show: business is business. (Shows & Exhibitions).		Oct 1, 2001	2200
The UAV as sensor platform -- from pioneer to global hawk: the development of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) has witnessed some important successes, but also many failures, and much remains to be accomplished. Armed services want real-time imagery, a quantum reduction in drone attrition rate and operators who do not need pilot ratings. Users also need to decide who is to receive UAV imagery and how it is exploited. (Complete Guide).		Oct 1, 2001	7429
The Killing Game.		Jun 1, 2001	2463
Missiles on a Cruise.		Jun 1, 2001	6660
The Middle East Balancing Act.		Feb 1, 2001	2070
More Ways than One to Skin a Cat.		Dec 1, 2000	600
Air-to-ground weapons systems: from sight to seeker; a reader's guide to current and future systems.		Apr 1, 1990	4275
Low-level naval and ground-based air defense systems.		Oct 1, 1989	4123
Genesis and development of the Italo/Brazilian AMX; a new star is born in the strike aircraft firmament.		Oct 1, 1989	2248
Celebrating the bicentenary in style: le Bourget 1989.		Aug 1, 1989	6176
The evolution of airborne electronic warfare systems.		Jun 1, 1989	4414