The US Army's Special Operations Forces is to equip its 37 Sikorsky MH-60L Black Hawk helicopters with in-flight refuelling probes by April 2004. This will bring the helicopters in line with newer MH-60Ks and Boeing MH-47D/Es. The helicopters, operated by the 160th Special Operations Air Regiment, are the only army machines equipped for in-flight refuelling.
Source: Flight International
MBDA is to assemble Brimstone air-to-surface missiles in Germany for the first time, following its receipt of a contract to equip the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter combat aircraft.
The US government has blacklisted more private companies over alleged connections to the training of Chinese military aviators, including two firms operated by former test pilots in the UK Royal Air Force and South African Air Force.
The troubled aerostructures manufacturer has become an important supplier of several key US defence programmes, including the air force’s new stealth bomber and the army’s next-generation tiltrotor.
