Defence Helicopters news – Page 163
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NewsFinnish NH90s creep towards 50% operational serviceability rate
Ahead of the delivery of its final NH Industries NH90 transport helicopter in the coming weeks, the Finnish army is only achieving an approximate 40% operational serviceability rate on the current fleet, its chief of aviation has claimed.
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NewsPICTURES: Amphibious assault Surion makes maiden flight
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has conducted the maiden flight of a Surion transport helicopter optimised for amphibious assault operations.
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NewsAurora seeks Orion production start after record flight
Aurora Flight Sciences hopes to launch production of up to seven or eight slightly improved versions of the Orion after the medium altitude long endurance unmanned air system broke the official and unofficial records for endurance with an 80h flight.
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NewsAfghan air force to add armed MD 530F to helicopter fleet
The Afghan air force is to receive approximately 20 armed variants of the MD Helicopters MD 530F utility helicopter, an official close to the force has confirmed.
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NewsMalaysia to upgrade and arm S-61 "Nuri" fleet
Malaysia is to boost its ability to combat future militant incursions by arming its AgustaWestland AW109s and transferring some upgraded Sikorsky S-61 “Nuri” utility helicopters to army aviation control.
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NewsItalian army describes Mangusta upgrade wish list
The Italian army is seeking an enhancement package for its AgustaWestland AH-129D Mangusta attack helicopter, which it hopes will be upgraded within five to six years.
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NewsBoeing upgrades B-52s with internal smart weapons
Sixty-one years since the type’s first flight, the US Air Force is upgrading the weapons bays of the Boeing B-52 to carry satellite-guided conventional munitions.
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F-35 missed key software testing goals in 2014
A recent report by the US Defense Department’s director operation test and evaluation (DOT&E) finds that the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II missed key software testing milestones necessary for the US Marine Corps to field combat-ready jets while those already delivered remain unreliable and difficult to maintain.
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NewsNigerian rotary capability challenged by Boko Haram threat
The Nigerian air force has described how its limited rotary capability has proved detrimental in its fight against Boko Haram insurgents that have been advancing in-country.
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NewsUS Army continues to face financial challenge of rotary fleet maintenance
The US Army has warned that its rotary fleet will continue to be streamlined as US budget sequestration increases pressure to reduce costs.
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Asian deal is sweet Music for Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems has been awarded a contract from an undisclosed Asian nation to provide mini-Music directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems for its army fleet of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters.
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Slovakia eyes Sikorsky Black Hawk buy
Slovakia is leaning towards the purchase of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters after receiving promises from the US government over support for the acquisition.
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NewsAESA upgrade battle heats up for F/A-18 Hornets
A new competition has emerged to upgrade the radars for potentially hundreds of the original Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighters operated by US and foreign militaries.
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AnalysisANALYSIS: We check out Eurofighter's P1E upgrade in simulator
In mid-November 2014, Flight International was given the opportunity to visit BAE Systems’ facility at Warton in Lancashire, to be briefed by its Eurofighter Typhoon chief test pilot Mark Bowman and project manager Luke Dickson about the successful introduction and first deliveries to the Royal Air Force under the Phase ...
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NewsUSMC's F-35B can fire missiles when it comes online
It is still up in the air whether the US Marine Corps will have combat-ready Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs by its July 1 deadline for initial operational capability (IOC), but when its first 10 jets are ready for deployment, they will be able to fire weapons.
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NewsAW129 on target with TopLite integration
Rafael's TopLite electro-optical sensor system is undergoing acceptance testing on the Italian army' s AgustaWestland AW129 attack helicopter. It is aimed at serving as the main targeting system of this helicopter, that will also carry the company's Spike anti-tank missiles.
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NewsBAE touts APKWS for IS battle
BAE Systems is touting the incorporation of its precision rocket guided system into the US Air Force’s fixed-wing inventory, where it could be utilised in the fight against Islamic State militants.
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USAF will downgrade T-X requirements to shave cost
In an effort to reduce cost and speed up its often snail-paced acquisition system, the US Air Force intends to water down the capabilities it expects to see in a new jet trainer, as well as several other ongoing acquisition programmes.
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Japan defence budget calls for 20 P-1s, 5 V-22s
Japan’s parliament has approved a Y4.98 trillion ($42 billion) defence budget for FY2015, with a strong emphasis on new airpower capabilities.
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NewsSingle Reaper passes flight hour milestone
Following a 17-hour combat sortie in support of the US military’s operations in Afghanistan, a single US Air Force General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air vehicle surpassed a record 20,000 flight hours to date.