Latest Defence Helicopters news – Page 140
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News
Chinook, Apache face cuts if budget talks fail
Two Boeing helicopter programmes – the Boeing AH-64 and CH-47 Chinook – face several cut-backs if the Congress is unable to pass a new budget for Fiscal 2016, US Army acquisition leaders warn.
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NewsUS Army replaces Lockheed data link on AH-64 Apache
A Lockheed Martin communications system will be replaced on the Boeing AH-64E Apache fleet as the US Army moves to standardise data links for manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).
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News
Sikorsky S-97 Raider reaching for top speeds by “summer 2016”
Sikorsky will conduct a significant amount of ground testing on its S-97 Raider before returning to flight trials, with just 2.2h of a 110h test programme clocked since the maiden flight in May.
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NewsBell and Lockheed modify V-280 contract ahead of Sikorsky takeover
Lockheed Martin’s pending acquisition of Sikorsky has caused some contractual changes between Lockheed and Bell Helicopter for V-280 Valor development to ensure there is no cross pollination with its competitor, the Boeing-Sikorsky SB-1 Defiant.
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NewsUAE firm studies civil twins for next armed helo
A UAE-based firm is evaluating twin-engined commercial helicopters for conversion to military gunships, having successfully delivered several armed Bell Helicopter 407s to its host country.
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News
Thai army to boost AW139 fleet size
The Royal Thai Army is to increase its fleet of AgustaWestland AW139 utility helicopters to 10 units, after awarding the manufacturer a follow-on order for eight of the intermediate twins.
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NewsUK Puma crash kills five in Kabul
A Royal Air Force-operated Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2 transport crashed in Afghanistan on 11 October, killing five of the 10 personnel aboard the upgraded type.
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NewsKEEP IT TIGHT: 10 flight display teams of note
With the South Korea air force “Black Eagles” display team featuring on the cover of this week’s Flight International, what better excuse to celebrate – somewhat at random and in no particular order – 10 military flight display teams that may be coming to an air show near you.
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NewsLockheed reaffirms F-35 production target despite supplier statement
Lockheed Martin has re-affirmed the full-rate production goal for the F-35 programme remains 17 aircraft per month, despite a supplier’s statement on 7 October that it is significantly less.
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NewsSierra Nevada touts Dream Chaser as X-37B alternative
Sierra Nevada Corporation believes its Dream Chaser could be a viable alternative to the Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for long-duration, recoverable experimentation in space.
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NewsUS clears GA-ASI to export MQ-9s to Spain
The US State Department has cleared General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to export four MQ-9 unmanned air systems to Spain, says the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in a notice to Congress on 6 October.
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NewsPoland to launch attack helicopter talks with bidders
The Polish defence ministry will soon start the next phase of technical dialogue with combat helicopter manufacturers under its Project "Kruk", which seeks replacements for its Mil Mi-24 fleet.
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News
DOD warns defence primes of high supplier profit margins
The Pentagon’s top acquisition office says first-tier subcontractors’ profit margins for production programmes are 7% higher on average than for the prime contractor, and this imbalance could be deterring major suppliers from bidding for new contracts as primes.
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News
Bell dismisses UH-X rethink claims
Japan's defence ministry is unlikely to reverse its decision to award a major procurement contract to a combined Bell Helicopter/Fuji Heavy Industries team - at least in the view of Bell chief executive John Garrison.
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NewsPentagon concerned about prime contractor consolidation
The Pentagon has very few tools in its arsenal to constrain major mergers and acquisitions between prime contractors – a fact that has become all too apparent to defence acquisition chief Frank Kendall with Lockheed Martin’s $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky.
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NewsNorthrop builds first F-35 centre fuselage for assembly in Japan
Northrop Grumman has built the first F-35 centre fuselage destined for Japan’s domestic joint strike fighter assembly plant, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).
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NewsLockheed considering laser weapon concepts for F-35
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 has not yet seen combat, but already the defence manufacturer is exploring “concepts” for installing and employing a high-power fibre laser weapon onto the new-generation combat jet for shooting down missiles and other airborne threats.
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NewsNorway reconfirms plans to acquire 52 F-35s
Norway's defence ministry has used a strategic defence review to underline its continued commitment to acquiring 52 Lockheed Martin F-35s, as well as outlining plans to acquire different types of manned and unmanned surveillance aircraft.
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News
Airbus Helicopters hopeful Japan will reverse UH-X decision
Airbus Helicopters remains confident that it can persuade Japan’s defence ministry to reconsider its decision to select a combined Bell Helicopter/Fuji Heavy Industries bid for its UH-X contest over the European manufacturer’s own clean-sheet proposal.
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NewsLockheed F-35C begins second round of sea trials as bombs drop
Two US Navy F-35C test aircraft have begun a second round of developmental testing at sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, aimed at smoothing the aircraft’s entry into service in 2018.