Military aircraft have been a very large part of aviation history, as the need for protection has often been greater than the need for transportation. Countries have far greater financial resources than private industry, and many fund the development of new technology, which eventually became available for civilian use. The United States leads the world in manufacturing aircraft and associated systems, according to military analysis networks.
Military aircraft form the backbone for both national defense and projection of power. These air vehicles are critical to air superiority, strike, airlift, early warning, reconnaissance, command and control, ground attack and sea control. One-third of the annual budget, i.e., $85 billion, supports aircraft expenditures every year. Improvements in air vehicle cost and capability therefore offer significant leveraging potential for reducing defense expenditures.
Sweeping global changes in recent years have presented significant new challenges to the US aeronautics industry. Perhaps most significant is the end of the Cold War, bringing dramatic reductions in defense spending, including the development of new aircraft and engines. Eventually, the vision of the United States Air Force is “Air Force people building the world’s most respected air and space force – global power and reach for America”.
US military planes are divided into many types. They are bombers, attack fighters, cargo tankers, trainers, and x-planes. They serve their own purposes and acquire their own characteristics. The specifications may vary according to the model.
The ability of these military planes have an immediate impact on a conflict by slowing the advance of enemy forces, suppressing enemy air defenses, and inflicting massive damage on an enemy’s strategic infrastructure. This will expand dramatically over the next 10 years as new munitions are deployed. There are more advanced weapons entering the inventory now. The development will enable bombers to bring a wider range of targets under attack, while taking better advantage of the bombers’ large payloads. The rapid-response, long-range capability provided by bombers could make them the first major U.S. weapon system on the scene in a fast-developing crisis. For remote inland targets, bombers could be the only weapons platform capable of providing a substantial response. Some of today’s automobiles utilize global positioning systems and heads-up displays originally developed for warplanes.
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Planes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Planes allow people to travel from one place to another in a short period of time compared to roadways and railways. In earlier days, it was costly to travel by plane, but in recent days it has become much cheaper. The planes are divided into...
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Planes For Sale
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Business, specialty and piston aircrafts are for sale to individuals or organizations. Generally, military planes are not for sale. The process is really complicated as it involves the approval from the country’s defense. Like cars, aircraft can be purchased through a loan. The planes are...
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Ultralight Planes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Ultralight aircraft are known as microlights and microlite aircraft in Europe. In Canada they fit into the amateur built aircraft category, or experimental and advanced ultralight aircraft categories. The USUA (U.S. Ultralight Association) is the organization whose members seek to “Promote, Protect and Represent” ultralight...
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Cargo Planes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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In today’s competitive business world, the fast and efficient transportation of goods is a must. While sea vessels are ideal for transporting bulky goods, airplanes are better suited for speedy transportation over long distances. Initially, planes were not designed as cargo carriers. However, in 1911,...
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How Do Planes Fly?
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Planes are able to rise to a certain altitude and maintain it by utilizing a combination of the Bernoulli effect and the simple momentum transfer in the airflow to generate airlift. When the internal pressure reduces with respect to the increased stream velocity in a...
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Military Helicopters
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Traditionally, helicopters were used by the military for evacuating wounded soldiers or carrying weapons and supplies from one place to another. However, during the Vietnam War, helicopters were reinvented as an offensive weapon. Although the military use of helicopters started during World War II, it...
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Stealth Planes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Stealth planes are a contemporary weapon system that are less visible to the enemy by means of reduced radar and IR (infra red, heat) visibility. The IR image of a plane can be reduced by directing the hot exhaust gases to the top of the...
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Prefabricated Military Buildings
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The military was one of the first consumers of Prefabricated Buildings. It makes greater sense for the military to use these buildings because they are not only portable and relocatable, but are also easy to erect in a short span of time. No wonder the...
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A Look at Military Gas Masks
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The US Army became the largest user of gas masks just prior to America’s entrance into World War One. After that attack in France, there was no way a modern fighting force was going to be deployed against the Germans without the best equipment available...
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Charter Planes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Charter flights are an alternative to commercial flights. In 1987 the Civil Aeronautics Board opened charters to the public and permitted a great deal of flexibility and competitiveness. Anyone can fly a public charter. It is not restricted to an individual; groups can also charter...