Latest Defence Helicopters news – Page 139
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AFSOC developing tactics for '2020' AC-130 gunship laser weapon
The head of US Air Force Special Operations Command has issued a “JFK challenge” to the defence industry to install a high-power electric laser on an AC-130 gunship by the end of the decade.
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AFSOC seeks expendable, small UAV as AC-130 gunship sensor
US Air Force Special Operations Command wants an expendable, tube-launched small unmanned aerial vehicle for its AC-130 “battleplane” for peering beneath cloud cover to direct gunfire and precision-guided munitions.
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F-15C, F-35 to boost US air-to-air capacity, not more F-22s
The head of US Air Combat Command says it would be his dream to restart production of the Lockheed Martin F-22 air superiority jet as potential adversaries like Russia and China “close the gap” with Western air power.
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DSEI: AW159 South Korea delivery due this year
AgustaWestland is on track to deliver its first batch of AW159 maritime helicopters to South Korea later this year, as its Wildcat continues to gain operational experience with the UK’s armed forces.
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Pentagon inspector finds no fault with US Navy’s 70-Triton buy
The US Navy properly justified its requirement for 70 maritime versions of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, the Pentagon’s top auditor says, but the final number depends on the aircraft’s performance after 100,000 flight hours.
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USAF seeks ‘interim’ CHAMP, longer-range air-to-air missiles
The US Air Force plans to introduce Boeing and Raytheon’s “CHAMP” high-power-microwave emitting cruise missile into the combat force on board the 1990s conventional air-launched cruise missile as an “interim capability” while the technology transitions to Lockheed Martin’s JASSM-ER.
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Lockheed and Roketsan shoot for SOM-J first flight in 2017
Lockheed Martin and Turkish missile maker Roketsan hope to flight tests the next-generation SOM-J cruise missile on a Turkish F-16 fighter jet in 2017 ahead of integration for internal carriage on the Lockheed F-35 in Block 4.2.
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Northrop, Raytheon JSTARS radars to detect slow, human targets
Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are at two different places in the race to replace the US Air Force’s radar-carrying Northrop E-8C “JSTARS,” but the two companies say their competing radar solutions will be ready in time to meet the initial fielding date in 2022 or 2023.
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Mubadala takes full ownership of Piaggio Aerospace
Seventeen years after heading a consortium that rescued Piaggio Aerospace from bankruptcy, Piero Ferrari has ended his financial links with the Italian aircraft maker.
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DSEI: Australian helicopter chief delivers blunt message to NH Industries
NH Industries (NHI) must continue its effort to rein in the scope of its NH90 helicopter programme “towards a more manageable number of versions” for the rotorcraft to be “truly a success”.
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First functional Boeing KC-46A tanker to fly 25 September
The air force’s developmental next-generation tanker, the Boeing KC-46A, is expected to make its maiden flight 25 September, according to the service’s programme executive officer for tankers.
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Boeing doubles F-15C missile load in '2040C' Eagle upgrade
Boeing has unveiled an up-gunned version of its supersonic F-15C air superiority jet designed to keep the aging fleet operationally relevant through 2040.
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DSEI: Upgraded Merlin HM2 fully operational with Royal Navy
The Royal Navy’s AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopter fleet has achieved full operational capability, with 80% of its eventual 30 modified aircraft having been returned to use.
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P&W, GE submit proposals for next-gen fighter engine development
Pratt & Whitney and General Electric’s proposals for the next phase of US Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter engine development effort are due tomorrow, with two sides anticipating sole-source contract awards in June or July of 2016.
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DSEI: Dutch air force chief criticises Future Vertical Lift ambitions
Ongoing US efforts to develop the next generation of battlefield helicopters, for the 2030s and beyond, will not be able to address future requirements or combat emerging threats, according to senior Dutch air force official.
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Aurora’s Orion UAV in storage after USAF world-record flight
The US Air Force appears to have no room for Aurora Flight Sciences’ long-endurance Orion unmanned aerial vehicle in its inventory, despite the aircraft successfully demonstrating 80 hours of endurance in a world-record flight last December.
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DSEI: RAF Puma HC2 helicopters may operate until 2035
UK service officials are contemplating extending the operational life of the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2 transports for an additional 10 years beyond their current 2025 retirement date, as they eye the possibility of an eventual replacement.
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Lockheed Skunk Works' next-generation U-2 morphs into 'TR-X'
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ proposal for a next-generation, optionally-manned U-2 surveillance aircraft has morphed into more of tactical reconnaissance aircraft dubbed “TR-X”.
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Lockheed secures contract to install JASSM on Poland’s F-16s
After jumping through the required regulatory hoops, Lockheed Martin says it has a foreign military sales contract in hand for integration of its “JASSM” cruise missiles for Poland’s F-16s.
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Northrop turns up F-35 centre fuselage production tempo
Northrop Grumman says it is increasing its production tempo of F-35 centre fuselages, with deliveries to the manufacturer Lockheed Martin quickening to one ever three work days.