Defense
Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.
Rotorcraft
First Navy Class Begins Training in Leonardo TH-73A
Student naval aviators will now train in the Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher.
Rotorcraft
French Navy Receives First Airbus H160 for SAR Duties
Six civilian-standard helicopters are being taken into service by the Marine Nationale in advance of the first deliveries of militarized H160Ms.
Aircraft
Bombardier Delivers Global 6000 for USAF BACN Program
The latest Global to go to the U.S. Air Force, a 6000 modified for the BACN program, marks the first delivery under a June 2021 contract.
Rotorcraft
Brazilian Military Orders 27 Airbus H125s
The order for 27 Airbus H125 helicopters will be used by the Brazilian air force and navy flight training programs.
Aircraft
Northrop Grumman Rolls Out First Australian Triton Surveillance UAV
The high-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft will operate on maritime surveillance duties alongside crewed P-8A Poseidons.
Regulations and Government
USAF Grey Wolf Advances Toward Deployment
The FAA STCs clear the path for the Boeing-Leonardo MH-139A helicopter's operational testing.
Rotorcraft
Poland Plans to Acquire Large Apache Guardian Fleet
If all the planned 96 AH-64Es are purchased it will make the Polish army the second biggest Apache operator after the U.S. Army.
Avionics
Stevens Aerospace Celebrates C-12U G1000 Install
Stevens Aerospace has completed its first G1000 NXi avionics installation under a U.S. Army C-12U/B200C King Air contract.
Aircraft
Embraer Completes Certification Tests for Fire-fighting C-390
Military certification of fire-fighting equipment will add another capability to the multi-role medium airlifter.
Aircraft
Flight Testing the F-35, a Test Pilot’s Amazing Job
Flight Testing the F-35, a Test Pilot’s Amazing Job
Aircraft
Qatar Takes Delivery of Ready-to-fight Typhoon Fighters
With the arrival of the first Typhoons, the QEAF now has three modern front-line fighters in service, having already inducted the F-15QA Eagle and Rafale.
Maintenance and Modifications
Engine Fires Prompt Army To Ground Entire Chinook Fleet
CH-47 engine fires are linked to use of nonstandard engine O-rings.
Aircraft
Gripen E Fires Meteor as Air-to-Air Combat Approval Nears
The Gripen E program is now into the serial production phase, while work progresses at pace to bring the aircraft into operation.
Regulations and Government
FAA Grants HOGE Utility Power STC for AW139
Defense systems on Boeing-Leonardo MH-139A triggered the need for multiple STCs.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo AW249 Makes First Flight
New two-seat Leonardo AW249 attack helicopter—a successor to the AW129 Mangusta—made its first flight on August 12 in Vergiate, Italy.
Rotorcraft
Air Force Takes First Boeing-Leonardo MH-139A
The U.S. Air Force MH-139 will be used to protect intercontinental ballistic missile bases and transport government officials and security forces.
Aircraft
Compass Call Gulfstream on Track for Service in 2023
The G550 business jet platform is taking over the communications intelligence and jamming role from the EC-130H Hercules.
Rotorcraft
Czech Republic Takes More Viper and Venom Helicopters
The UH-1Y Venoms and AH-1Z Vipers will bolster the Czech fleet as the nation's Soviet-era helicopters are gifted to support Ukrainian forces.
Training and Workforce
ATAC Lands F-35 Fighter Chase Contract
The Textron business unit, best known for its contract aggressor work, will support flight test activities at the F-35 final assembly plant.
Aircraft
L3Harris Sky Warden Selected for Armed Overwatch Program
The missionized agricultural Sky Warden will be used in support of U.S. special forces in areas such as Africa.
Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Stresses Flexibility of Raider X Rotorcraft
Sikorsky's competitive prototype for the Army's FARA program is 90 percent complete.
Aircraft
Poland Turns To South Korea’s FA-50 Fighter/Attack Jet
The new fighters are required urgently to complete the replacement of the air force’s Soviet-era hardware.
Aircraft
Brazil Welcomes First Airbus A330 Into Service
The two A330s will be converted into tanker/transports to restore a capability lost with the retirement of the Boeing KC-137 in 2013.
Aircraft
Airbus Demonstrates A400M Firefighting Capability
Airbus has engineered a fully roll-on, roll-off solution that can turn any A400M into a firefighter without modification.
Security
MBDA Aims for Dragonfire Laser on Target
Trials of MBDA's Dragonfire laser weapon have started successfully.
Rotorcraft
TAI/AgustaWestland A129 ATAK Shows Aerobatic Maneuvers at Farnborough Airshow 2022
TAI/AgustaWestland A129 ATAK Shows Aerobatic Maneuvers at Farnborough Airshow 2022
Aircraft
Super Hornet Completes Indian Carrier Trials
India is looking for a multi-role fighter to equip the air wing of its new indigenously designed aircraft carrier.
Engines
GE Believes Time is Right for Transformational Engine
The XA100 is the world’s first flight-weight, three-stream, adaptive cycle engine to run, and could power F-35s by the end of the 2020s.
Inzpire Offers Multi-Domain Operations Training Out of a Box
Inzpire delivers tactical multi-domain operational training from a ruggedized case containing all the necessary materials.
Accidents
Lockheed Martin Offering Defiant, Raider Technology to NATO Countries
The Sikorsky SB>1 Defiant and S-97 Raider helicopters would bring new rotorcraft technology to NATO member countries.
