General Atomics is an American energy and defence corporation with interests in diversified technologies. It was founded on July 18, 1955 as a Division of General Dynamics, in San Diego, California, by Frederic de Hoffmann with assistance from notable physicists Edward Teller and Freeman Dyson “for harnessing the power of nuclear technologies for the benefitContinue reading “General Atomics – The Power House of Unmanned Systems”
Category Archives: Aviation
Major Aircraft Turbofan Engine Manufacturers
The turbofan engine market is dominated by a handful of, mostly western, players. These are General Electric, Rolls-Royce, Pratt and Whitney, in order of market share. General Electric and Safran of France have a joint venture, CFM International. Pratt & Whitney also have a joint venture, International Aero Engines with Japanese Aeroengine Corporation and MTUContinue reading “Major Aircraft Turbofan Engine Manufacturers”
China’s Aggressive Aerospace Push
“We must have some of our people learn aviation, for we can use them whenever we are in need”.—Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1909) As China’s military expands, so does its world influence. Chinese aerospace developments have been making headlines for over a decade. The “Made in China 2025” industrial plan, which targets 10 high-value industrial sectorsContinue reading “China’s Aggressive Aerospace Push”
China’s Rising Aerospace Power
“To secure peace is to prepare for war”—Carl von Clausewitz Napoleon once said, “China is a sleeping giant, let her lie and sleep, for when she awakens, she will astonish the world.” By the turn of the 21 st century the sleeping giant was not only awake but heavily influencing and, in many ways dictatingContinue reading “China’s Rising Aerospace Power”
Primacy of Aerospace Power
“To have command of the air means to cut an enemy’s army and navy from their bases of operation and nullify their chances of winning the war.” —Giulio Douhet “Air control can be established by superiority in numbers, by better employment, by better equipment, or by a combination of these factors.” —Carl Andrew Spaatz TheContinue reading “Primacy of Aerospace Power”
Element Air – Joint Operations – Indian Armed Forces
With the official creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), it is hoped that jointness will the main driver that will get a major push. Real jointness is when land, air and naval commanders jointly formulate, train, orchestrate and implement war plans. Employment of forces in the modem battlefield to achieve military objectives takesContinue reading “Element Air – Joint Operations – Indian Armed Forces”
China, The Rising Aerospace Power – Implications for India
Napoleon once said, “China is a sleeping giant, let her lie and sleep, for when she awakens, she will astonish the world.” By the turn of the 21 st century the sleeping giant was not only awake but heavily influencing and, in many ways dictating world affairs. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has had anContinue reading “China, The Rising Aerospace Power – Implications for India”
Ernst Udet – the Highest Scoring Surviving German Air Ace of WW I
Ernst Udet was a German pilot during World War I and a Luftwaffe Colonel-General (Generaloberst) during World War II. Udet joined the Imperial German Air Service at the age of 19, and eventually became a flying ace of World War I, scoring 62 confirmed victories by the end of his life. The highest scoring German fighter pilot to survive that war, and theContinue reading “Ernst Udet – the Highest Scoring Surviving German Air Ace of WW I”
Richard Ira Bong – the most decorated American fighter pilot and Top Air Ace
Richard Ira Bong was a United States Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country’s top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. He died in California while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter shortly before the war ended. EarlyContinue reading “Richard Ira Bong – the most decorated American fighter pilot and Top Air Ace”
Billy Bishop, Victoria Cross – the top Canadian and British Empire Ace of all Time – 72 Air Victories
William Avery Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED (8 February 1894 – 11 September 1956) was a Canadian flying ace of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war. He was a Victoria Cross recipient who rose to become an Air Marshal. During the Second World War, Bishop was instrumentalContinue reading “Billy Bishop, Victoria Cross – the top Canadian and British Empire Ace of all Time – 72 Air Victories”
Air Power Asia 