Space News: Webb telescope captures 'stunning' images of 19 spiral galaxies

 

Webb telescope captures 'stunning' images of 19 spiral galaxies

The images let scientists resolve the structure of the clouds of dust and gas from which stars and planets form at a high level of detail in galaxies considered galactic satellites of the Milky Way.

By REUTERS, JANUARY 31, 2024

https://www.jpost.com/science/article-784461

 Spiral galaxy NGC 1300, located 69 million light-years away from Earth, is seen in an undated image from the James Webb Space Telescope. (photo credit: VIA REUTERS)

 A batch of newly released images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope show in remarkable detail 19 spiral galaxies residing relatively near our Milky Way, offering new clues on star formation as well as galactic structure and evolution.

The images were made public on Monday by a team of scientists involved in a project called Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) that operates across several major astronomical observatories.

The closest of the 19 galaxies is called NGC5068, about 15 million light-years from Earth, and the most distant of them is NGC1365, about 60 million light-years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in 2021 and began collecting data in 2022, reshaping the understanding of the early universe while taking wondrous pictures of the cosmos. The orbiting observatory looks at the universe mainly in the infrared. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990 and still operational, has examined it primarily at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths.

Spiral galaxies, resembling enormous pinwheels, are a common galaxy type. Our Milky Way is one.

Spiral galaxy NGC 628, located 32 million light-years away from Earth, is seen in an undated image from the James Webb Space Telescope. Webb’s image of NGC 628 shows a densely populated face-on spiral galaxy anchored by its central region, which has a light blue haze that takes up about a quarter o (credit: VIA REUTERS)

The new observations came from Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). They show roughly 100,000 star clusters and millions or perhaps billions of individual stars.

A new view of the earliest phase of star formation 

"These data are important as they give us a new view on the earliest phase of star formation," said University of Oxford astronomer Thomas Williams, who led the team's data processing on the images.

"Stars are born deep within dusty clouds that completely block out the light at visible wavelengths - what the Hubble Space Telescope is sensitive to - but these clouds light up at the JWST wavelengths. We don't know a lot about this phase, not even really how long it lasts, and so these data will be vital for understanding how stars in galaxies start their lives," Williams added.

About half of spiral galaxies have a straight structure, called a bar, coming out from the galactic center to which the spiral arms are attached.

"The commonly held thought is that galaxies form from the inside-out and so get bigger and bigger over their lifetimes. The spiral arms act to sweep up the gas that will form into stars, and the bars act to funnel that same gas in towards the central black hole of the galaxy," Williams said.

The images let scientists, for the first time, resolve the structure of the clouds of dust and gas from which stars and planets form at a high level of detail in galaxies beyond the Large Magellanic Cloud and Small Magellanic Cloud, two galaxies considered galactic satellites of the sprawling Milky Way.

"The images are not only esthetically stunning, they also tell a story about the cycle of star formation and feedback, which is the energy and momentum released by young stars into the space between stars," said astronomer Janice Lee of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, principal investigator for the new data.

"It actually looks like there was explosive activity and clearing of the dust and gas on both cluster and kiloparsec (roughly 3,000 light years) scales. The dynamic process of the overall star formation cycle becomes obvious and qualitatively accessible, even for the public, which makes the images compelling on many different levels," Lee added.

Webb's observations build on Hubble's.

"Using Hubble, we would see the starlight from galaxies, but some of the light was blocked by the dust of galaxies," University of Alberta astronomer Erik Rosolowsky said. "This limitation made it hard to understand parts of how a galaxy operates as a system. With Webb's view in the infrared, we can see through this dust to see stars behind and within the enshrouding dust."

James Webb Space Telescope's 'face-on' views of 19 spiral galaxies is mind-boggling in 4K

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Brighter Than a Thousand Suns: Scientists Unravel Physics Behind Unusual Behavior of Stars’ Super Flares

By U. OF HAWAII AT MANOA, Jan 27, 2024

https://scitechdaily.com/brighter-than-a-thousand-suns-scientists-unravel-physics-behind-unusual-behavior-of-stars-super-flares/

Intense solar flares, including larger “super flares” from other stars, are being studied to understand their impact and origins, with recent models indicating similar underlying physics and contributions from various star layers (Artist’s concept). 

Credit: SciTechDaily.com

The Sun generates solar flares that can affect Earth, with the most intense ones capable of causing blackouts and communication disruptions worldwide. However, these solar flares are relatively mild compared to the “super flares” seen by NASA’s Kepler and TESS missions. These “super flares” come from stars and are 100 to 10,000 times brighter than those on the Sun.

The physics are thought to be the same between solar flares and super flares: a sudden release of magnetic energy. Super-flaring stars have stronger magnetic fields and thus brighter flares but some show an unusual behavior—an initial, short lived brightness enhancement, followed by a secondary, longer-duration but less intense flare. A team led by University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Postdoctoral Researcher Kai Yang and Associate Professor Xudong Sun developed a model to explain this phenomenon, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal.

“By applying what we’ve learned about the Sun to other, cooler stars, we were able to identify the physics driving these flares, even though we could never see them directly,” said Yang. “The changing brightness of these stars over time actually helped us ʻsee’ these flares that are really far too small to observe directly.”

Light curves

The visible light in these flares was thought to come only from the lower layers of a star’s atmosphere. Particles energized by magnetic reconnection, rain down from the hot, tenuous corona (outer layer of a star) and heat these layers. Recent work hypothesized that the emission from coronal loops—hot plasma trapped by the Sun’s magnetic field—may also be detectable for super-flaring stars, but the density in these loops would need to be extremely high. Unfortunately, astronomers had no way to test this, since there is no way to see these loops on stars besides our own Sun.

A image of a coronal loop on the Sun from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, showing the ʻcoronal rainʻ phenomenon. An image of the Earth is included to provide a scale for the loop, which is more than 10 times larger than Earth.

 Credit: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory/Scientific Visualization Studio/Tom Bridgman

Other astronomers, using data from Kepler and TESS telescopes, spotted stars with a peculiar light curve—similar to a celestial “peak-bump,” a jump in brightness. It turns out, this light curve bears a resemblance to a solar phenomenon where a second, more gradual peak follows the initial burst.

“These light curves reminded us of a phenomenon we’ve seen on the Sun, called solar late-phase flares,” said Sun.

Producing similar late-phase brightness

Researchers asked, “Could the same process—energized, large stellar loops—produce similar late-phase brightness enhancements in visible light?”

Yang tackled this question by adapting fluid simulations that had been frequently used to simulate solar flare loops, and scaling up the loop length and magnetic energy. He found that the large flare energy input pumps significant mass into the loops—resulting in dense, bright, visible-light emission, just as predicted.

These studies revealed that we only see such “bump” flaring light when the super-hot gas cools down at the highest part of the loop. Because of gravity, this glowing material then falls, creating what we call “coronal rain,” which we often see on the Sun. This gives the team confidence that the model must be realistic.

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Defense News: Netherlands Presents Upgraded CV90 IFV Laden with Israeli Defense Systems

 

Netherlands Presents Upgraded CV90 IFV Laden with Israeli Defense Systems

The Dutch army revealed at the IHV 2024 exhibition in London the improved version of the CV90 IFV which includes an Active Protection system "Iron Fist" made by Israeli Elbit Systems and a Spike LR2 anti-tank missile launcher made by Israeli Rafael

By Eyal Boguslavsky, Israel Defense, 29/01/2024

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/61077

                                                               Photo: BAE systems 

The Dutch army revealed at the IHV 2024 exhibition held last week in London the improved version of the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), which has been used as the army's main combat vehicle since 2009. The upgraded version of this vehicle includes an Active Protection System "Iron Fist" made by Israeli Elbit Systems and a Spike LR2 anti-tank missile launcher made by Israeli Rafael.

The Dutch army currently has 144 CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles purchased from BAE Systems between 2004 and 2009. With the absence of tanks in the Dutch Army, the CV90 plays a pivotal role as the primary weapons system. The mid-life upgrade, set to be completed by 2026, focuses on enhancing firepower, situational awareness, and survivability.

In October 2022, BAE Systems unveiled the first upgraded CV90 infantry fighting vehicles with advanced features for the Royal Netherlands Army. The $500m (€460m) contract, awarded in January 2021, mandated the modernization of 122 CV90s, with an option for 19 additional vehicles, ensuring service through 2039.

Army-technology.com website says that beyond the addition of the Israeli systems, the upgrade process also includes adjustments such as repositioning the main canon and machine gun, implementing a new ammunition feeder, and relocating the machine gun outside the crew compartment for increased safety and efficiency.

Electro-optical systems have also been added to improve operational awareness, such as Electro-Optical Panoramic Sight (EOPS) on a retractable mast, new thermal imaging cameras, and 360-degree IR/day cameras.

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Space News: Ingenuity helicopter's Mars mission over after rotor blade damage, says NASA

 

Ingenuity helicopter's Mars mission over after rotor blade damage, says NASA

The space agency says the small aircraft did far more than it hoped - and even managed to survive the extreme Martian winters.

By Sky News, Friday 26 January 2024

https://news.sky.com/story/ingenuity-helicopters-mars-mission-over-after-rotor-blade-damage-says-nasa-13056483

                                             Ingenuity helicopter Pic: Reuters (artist's impression).

NASA's mini helicopter Ingenuity has made its last flight on Mars after one of its rotor blades was damaged.

It's been on the Red Planet since February 2021, and two months later achieved the milestone of the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

ngenuity has flown 72 flights for a total of 11 miles - 14 times further than planned in what was originally intended to be a 30-day mission.

The solar-powered aircraft was a big success for NASA and helped identify locations for the Perseverance rover that accompanied it.

However, NASA boss Bill Nelson said on Thursday its mission was now over after an image from its camera appeared to show the broken rotor.

Image:The shadow is believed to show the rotor damage. Pic: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The damage apparently happened when it came in to land earlier this month, with the craft temporarily losing contact with Perseverance during the incident.

"We're investigating the possibility that the blade struck the ground," Mr Nelson said.

The 1.8kg craft survived 1,000 Martian days, including its winter season when temperatures can drop to -125C (-195F) near the poles.

NASA experts will do final tests on Ingenuity and download any last images.

The copter is still upright and in contact with flight controllers, but NASA said the Perseverance rover was currently too far away to photograph its final resting place.

"While we knew this day was inevitable, it doesn't make it any easier to announce the end of the mission," said Lori Glaze, director of NASA's planetary science division.

"It's almost an understatement to say that it has surpassed expectations."

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Researchers unlock energy-efficient solution to global water crisis

Jan. 22, 2024, by NYU Tandon School of Engineering

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-01-energy-efficient-solution-global-crisis.html

Schematic for a four-channel RFD in single-pass mode with an A/A*, representing electrochemical reactions of redox species dissolved in conducting salts solutions, and channels separated by cation-exchange membrane (CEM) and anion-exchange membrane (AEM).

 Credit: NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering achieved a major breakthrough in Redox Flow Desalination (RFD), an emerging electrochemical technique that can turn seawater into potable drinking water and also store affordable renewable energy.

In a paper published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the NYU Tandon team led by Dr. André Taylor, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and director of DC-MUSE (Decarbonizing Chemical Manufacturing Using Sustainable Electrification), increased the RFD system's salt removal rate by approximately 20% while lowering its energy demand by optimizing fluid flow rates.

RFD offers multiple benefits. These systems provide a scalable and flexible approach to energy storage, enabling the efficient utilization of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. RFD also promises an entirely new solution to the global water crisis.

"By seamlessly integrating energy storage and desalination, our vision is to create a sustainable and efficient solution that not only meets the growing demand for freshwater but also champions environmental conservation and renewable energy integration," said Taylor.

RFD can both reduce reliance on conventional power grids and also foster the transition towards a carbon-neutral and eco-friendly water desalination process. Furthermore, the integration of redox flow batteries with desalination technologies enhances system efficiency and reliability.

The inherent ability of redox flow batteries to store excess energy during periods of abundance and discharge it during peak demand aligns seamlessly with the fluctuating energy requirements of desalination processes.

"The success of this project is attributed to the ingenuity and perseverance of Stephen Akwei Maclean, the paper's first author and a NYU Tandon Ph.D. candidate in chemical and biomolecular engineering," said Taylor. "He demonstrated exceptional skill by designing the system architecture using advanced 3D printing technology available at the NYU Maker Space."

The intricacies of the system involve the division of incoming seawater into two streams: The salinating stream (see image above, CH 2) and the desalinating stream (image above, CH 3). Two additional channels house the electrolyte and redox molecule (image above, A). These channels are effectively separated by either a cation exchange membrane (CEM) or an anion exchange membrane (AEM).

In CH 4, electrons are supplied from the cathode to the redox molecule, extracting Na+ that diffuses from CH 3. The redox molecule and Na+ are then transported to CH 4, where electrons are supplied to the anode from the redox molecules, and Na+ is allowed to diffuse into CH 2. Under this overall potential, Cl- ions move from CH 3 through the AEM to CH 2, forming the concentrated brine stream. Consequently, CH 3 generates the freshwater stream.

"We can control the incoming seawater residence time to produce drinkable water by operating the system in a single pass or batch mode," said Maclean.

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Space News: Mars rover data confirms ancient lake sediments on Mars

 

Mars rover data confirms ancient lake sediments on Mars

Those layers provide unmistakable evidence that soil sediments carried by water were deposited at Jerezo Crater and its delta from a river that fed it, just as they are in lakes on Earth.

By REUTERS, JANUARY 27, 2024 

https://www.jpost.com/science/article-783934

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used its black-and-white navigation cameras to capture panoramas of “Marker Band Valley” at two times of day on April 8. Color was added to a combination of both panoramas for an artistic interpretation of the scene.

(photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Data gathered by NASA's rover Perseverance has confirmed the existence of ancient lake sediments deposited by water that once filled a giant basin on Mars called Jerezo Crater, according to a study published on Friday.

The findings from ground-penetrating radar observations conducted by the robotic rover substantiate previous orbital imagery and other data leading scientists to theorize that portions of Mars were once covered in water and may have harbored microbial life.

The research, led by teams from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Oslo, was published in the journal Science Advances.

It was based on subsurface scans taken by the car-sized, six-wheeled rover over several months of 2022 as it made its way across the Martian surface from the crater floor onto an adjacent expanse of braided, sedimentary-like features resembling, from orbit, the river deltas found on Earth.

Soundings from the rover's RIMFAX radar instrument allow scientists to peer underground to get a cross-sectional view of rock layers 65 feet (20 meters) deep, "almost like looking at a road cut," said UCLA planetary scientist David Paige, the first author of the paper.

An artist’s illustration of a NASA rover making its way to the Martian surface. (credit:NASA)

Those layers provide unmistakable evidence that soil sediments carried by water were deposited at Jerezo Crater and its delta from a river that fed it, just as they are in lakes on Earth. The findings reinforced what previous studies have long suggested - that cold, arid, lifeless Mars was once warm, wet and perhaps habitable.

Scientists look forward to an up-close examination of Jerezo's sediments - thought to have formed some 3 billion years ago - in samples collected by Perseverance for future transport to Earth.

Previous samples reveal the presence of sediment and volcanic material

In the meantime, the latest study is welcome validation that scientists undertook their geo-biological Mars endeavor at the right place on the planet after all.

Remote analysis of early core samples drilled by Perseverance at four sites close to where it landed in February 2021 surprised researchers by revealing rock that was volcanic in nature, rather than sedimentary as had been expected.

The two studies are not contradictory. Even the volcanic rocks bore signs of alteration through exposure to water, and scientists who published those findings in August 2022 reasoned then that sedimentary deposits may have eroded away.

Indeed, the RIMFAX radar readings reported on Friday found signs of erosion before and after the formation of sedimentary layers identified at the crater's western edge, evidence of a complex geological history there, Paige said.

"There were volcanic rocks that we the landed on," Paige said. "The real news here is that now we've driven onto the delta and now we're seeing evidence of these lake sediments, which is one of the main reasons we came to this location. So that's a happy story in that respect."

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Tecnology News: Israeli firm to start trials for mental health diagnostic device

 

Israeli firm to start trials for mental health diagnostic device

MindTension is set to begin global clinical trials for its promising mental health diagnostic device.

By GALIA KUT, HEIDI ZAIDEL Jerusalem Post JANUARY 26, 2024 

https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/article-783501

                            The MindTension device (photo credit: MINDTENSION)

In the ever-evolving landscape of start-up culture, a story that vividly showcases resilience is that of MindTension, an Israeli tech company based in Kibbutz Nir Am, just a few minutes’ drive from the Gaza border. The company, which raised a promising seed round earlier this year, was on the verge of releasing a groundbreaking product when, on October 7, its world was shaken to the core. 

From innovation to survival

Imagine being part of a team that is working on cutting-edge impact technology designed to improve the mental and emotional health of society’s most vulnerable people, while also facing the harsh realities of living in a region marred by ongoing threats of violence. This was the stark reality for the MindTension team when their office, located on the Gaza border, came under attack, and the entire area was declared a closed military zone. Key employees were not just facing professional challenges; their lives were directly impacted as they navigated through attacks, loss of homes, and the relocation of their families. 

The war brought trauma to MindTension’s doorstep, affecting employees like Yonatan Kudlash and Rotem Ben Ari. Kudlash, the company’s data analyst, spent harrowing hours holed up with his family in a safe room before being evacuated. Ben Ari, the neuroscientist, was relocated to Eilat after escaping with her family from nearby Kibbutz Nirim. Her family had hidden in a safe room while terrorists roamed the kibbutz – attacking, killing, and kidnapping anyone they could find. It was a challenge for Ben Ari to keep her young children safe and quiet so they would not be found.

Undeterred by the chaos around them, the MindTension team pressed on with the development of their revolutionary technology. Their focus? A device that will be able to accurately and objectively quantify attention across a variety of neurodevelopmental, behavioral, trauma-associated, and other mental health conditions. In a field where there are too few trained experts, and subjectivity complicates a more precise diagnosis and treatment, MindTension aims to introduce objective metrics that will revolutionize the way mental health is approached and accessed.

The birth of MindTension

MindTension’s journey began at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, where a decade of research in Prof. Avi Avital’s lab laid the foundation for the groundbreaking technology. Located in the SouthUp technology incubator in Kibbutz Nir Am, MindTension is part of an initiative, started by businesspeople from the region and San Diego, aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and economic recovery in an area plagued by ongoing security challenges.

                A MindTension five-minute test in progress. (credit: MINDTENSION)

Ofir Libstein, the former head of Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, recognized the start-up’s breakthrough work and potential benefits for his community. Tragically, Libstein lost his life on October 7 while defending his home community, leaving behind a wife and four children. His life’s work underscores the resilience of southern Israeli communities which, despite adversity, continue to embrace innovation and development.

From ADHD to PTSD

MindTension’s technology is centered around a five-minute test involving auditory sounds and reflexive responses. The test originally focused on conditions like ADHD. However, a surprising revelation during local trials opened up a new avenue for the company to research. Testing children from the Gaza envelope revealed response patterns that appeared to be different than classical ADHD. Based on other pilot data, these patterns seemed to correspond with trauma responses. These children, constantly exposed to shelling and rockets, seemed to be hypervigilant and on high alert for the “next attack.” Knowing that youth with ADHD are more prone to developing PTSD prompted the team to look further into this field. 

Hadas Shatz Azoulay, the company’s COO, emphasized the urgency of addressing stress and PTSD, particularly in a society where one in three Israelis reports experiencing symptoms since October 7. MindTension’s technology is sensitive enough to characterize attention and provide profiles to aid in differential diagnosis or determining co-occurrence of conditions like ADHD and PTSD. It also provides objective data, filling a crucial gap in a field often reliant on self-reported symptoms or on parents’ reports of their child’s behavior.

The company is preparing for FDA approval and is about to begin clinical trials for its use as an aid in the diagnosis of ADHD. The study will take place at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, under the oversight of world-renowned psychiatrist Prof. Jeffrey H. Newcorn.

From tragedy to opportunity

The company’s management, recognizing the impact of these traumatic events and the importance of boosting the team’s morale, implemented several measures of support. They continued paying salaries to alleviate financial stress. They also offered psychological help to those who needed it. And they defined professional objectives to give employees something productive to focus on, or at least something to distract them during this difficult time. 

One of these involved using the opportunity and technology at their disposal to begin testing evacuees with the device. Being in close proximity to other survivors at the Eilat hotel, Ben Ari begin collecting data from her fellow displaced community members and started feeling that she was doing meaningful work. 

A vision for the future

While MindTension remains dedicated to its medical applications, CEO Zev Brand envisions a broader impact for their technology. Beyond mental health, the company has shown that the device provides important information about alertness of medical residents and pilots and is exploring applications in various professions that require high attention levels. The goal is to create a tool that can assess attention levels for sectors such as home fronts, airlines, hospitals, and heavy machinery operations to improve safety and prevent deaths and financial loss. 

“We are blessed with a solid team of global investors and strategic partners who are helping us achieve our objectives,” says co-founder and CEO Zev Brand. “Our vision is to create a ubiquitous impact tool that will be available on camera, which is easily scalable, affordable, and available to all socioeconomic groups. 

“The best compliment I received was when I presented the technology to professor Joseph Biederman, a leading Harvard psychiatrist, at a conference a few years back. He jumped up with excitement and said, ‘I’ve been looking for this my whole life. Anything that has the ability to transform the diagnostic and treatment monitoring process into a more objective and physiological one is a game-changer.’” 

MindTension’s journey exemplifies resilience in the face of adversity. From a promising start-up on the brink of innovation to a company navigating through the chaos of war, its story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of Israeli entrepreneurship. In a region marked by constant challenges, MindTension not only perseveres but thrives, delivering innovation that transcends borders, and promises a brighter future for mental health diagnostics and beyond. ■

Galia Kut is an early-stage investor, general partner and board member in several Israeli funds and companies. She also manages her own family office. Heidi Zaidel represents global investors. She also provides business development and strategy services to companies. heidi@tulapartners.com 

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Defense News: US Begins Production of B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber

 

US Begins Production of B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber

This advanced aircraft represents a significant leap in technology and capability over its predecessors, specially designed to cope with the evolving threats of the 21st century

By Dan Arkin, Israel Defense, 24/01/24

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/61030

                                   B21 Raider - Photo credit: Northrop Grumman

The U.S. Air Force has approved the commencement of low-rate initial production for the new B-21 Raider, a new stealth bomber. This advanced bomber was developed for the United States Air Force by Northrop Grumman. The contract for the development of the aircraft was awarded in 2014.

The Pentagon last fall approved the B-21 Raider to move into low rate production after successful ground and flight tests. (U.S. Air Force)

This advanced aircraft represents a significant leap in technology and capability over its predecessors. It was specially designed to cope with the evolving threats of the 21st century.

The B-21 is part of the Long-Range Strike-Bomber program, which aims to supplement and eventually replace the aging fleet of current bombers in the U.S. Air Force, including the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress. What distinguishes the B-21 is its emphasis on stealth technology, enabling it to penetrate enemy air defenses.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony December 2, 2022 in Palmdale, Calif. Designed to operate in tomorrow's high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America's enduring airpower capability. (U.S. Air Force photo)

The bomber is designed to have high adaptability and connectivity, with advanced avionics, software, and communication systems that allow it to seamlessly integrate with other elements of the U.S. Air and Space Force.

The decision to commence production was made a few days after the bomber successfully completed its second test flight. A joint team from Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force conducted the first two test flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California – Air Force Plant 42, where the company produced the bomber, initially under conditions of secrecy.

The Air Force's first B-21 Raider is shown at Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., where Northrop Grumman is building the service's new stealth bomber fleet. (U.S. Air Force)

On January 17th, the second test flight took place, after which the US Deputy Secretary of Defense announced that based on the results of ground and flight testing, there was approval to begin slow production of the B-21.

Northrop Grumman is producing six initial prototypes of the bomber, with one of them being the one that conducted the initial test flights.

The Air Force has stated that the plan is to acquire 100 bombers of this type, which will serve as a strategic asset for the United States, with the capability for deep penetration into the enemy's defense systems in threat-laden environments and the ability to strike targets anywhere in the world. The assessment is that these aircraft will remain operational for several decades.

The Air Force rolled out this first test B-21, which is a production-representative aircraft almost identical to the final model, in a December 2022 ceremony in Palmdale, Calif. (U.S. Air Force)

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Defense News: Unveiled: Next-Gen Upgrade Unleashes the Enhanced Stryker Combat Vehicle

 

Unveiled: Next-Gen Upgrade Unleashes the Enhanced Stryker Combat Vehicle

The M1256A1 upgraded Stryker with a distinctive Double-V Hull A1 design is outfitted with an M153A4 CROWS-J housing a .50 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) and a Javelin anti-tank guided missile system

By Eyal Boguslavsky, Israel Defense,  24/01/2024

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/61026

                                            Image by the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team

A new and enhanced version of the Stryker combat vehicle was recently revealed during an exercise conducted by the US Army at a training complex in Washington State.

Defense Blog reports that a photograph shared on Facebook by the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team reveals the presence of the M1256A1 Stryker with a distinctive Double-V Hull A1 (DVH-A1) design. The upgraded Stryker is outfitted with an M153A4 CROWS-J housing a .50 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) and a Javelin anti-tank guided missile system.

According to the website, equipped with this configuration, the Stryker gains the capability to directly engage targets, including main battle tanks (MBT), at distances of up to 4,000 meters, all while ensuring the safety of the crew within the vehicle’s armored hull. The M153A4 CROWS-J is specifically configured to mount a single Javelin tube at a time, requiring replacement after firing. This process necessitates two crew members to expose themselves through their hatches momentarily.

The showcased advancements in the Stryker’s weaponry, including the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system, underscore its versatility in addressing a spectrum of threats on the modern battlefield. The ability to engage main battle tanks signifies a significant enhancement in the Stryker’s offensive capabilities, providing maneuvering forces with a potent tool against armored adversaries.

U.S. Army demonstrates enhanced Stryker variant M1256A1 ICVVA1-J at APG Live Demonstration Day

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