All articles by Ryan Finnerty – Page 14
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NewsUS Air Force conducts first-ever tri-bomber formation flight with fighter escort
The demonstration sortie over the Hyundai Air and Sea Show in Miami Florida saw all three of the USA’s dedicated bomber aircraft, plus multiple fighter types, flying in close formation for the first time ever.
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NewsCanada reveals designations and livery for new RCAF trainer fleet
At the 2025 CANSEC defence and security conference in Ottawa, the head of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) revealed the names, designations and liveries of the service’s fleet of 71 new trainer aircraft, including single- and multi-engined turboprops and helicopters.
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NewsGeneral Atomics developing Ghost strike and reconnaissance platform for US Air Force
UAV manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has received a $99 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to support development of a new reconnaissance and strike platform called Ghost, which will feature hybrid-electric propulsion and ducted fans for lift.
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In depthUS Army will accept some risk on MV-75 development to accelerate production
The service’s head of procurement for the tiltrotor says the service will make some programmatic adjustments intended to get the new MV-75 into service a year or two sooner.
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NewsHermeus completes first flight of subsonic Quarterhorse Mk 1
The subsonic test vehicle is the first flight-capable aircraft in the Quarterhorse line, with which Hermeus eventually hopes to break the Mach 5 hypersonic barrier.
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NewsLockheed outlines ‘turnkey’ bid for US Army helicopter training contract
The defence giant says it will offer a “turnkey” package to meet all of the army’s needs for a new trainer aircraft, including instruction services and sustainment, although a specific rotorcraft has not yet been identified.
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NewsAirbus still bullish on unmanned UH-72 despite US Army replacement effort
Airbus is competing an unmanned version of its UH-72B light utility helicopter, dubbed the MQ-72, for a US Marine Corps logistics programme designed to support ship-to-shore cargo deliveries.
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NewsBell pitches 505 as simplified trainer solution for US Army
The US Army is seeking a single-engined alternative to its Airbus Helicopters UH-72A basic trainer, with Bell pitching a 505-based package the company says will generate cost savings and better outcomes for trainees.
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NewsUS Army completes first flight with GE Aerospace T901 turboshaft
The army’s head of aviation procurement confirmed the recent milestone, amid ongoing uncertainty around the future of the new GE Aerospace turboshaft engine.
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In depthUS Army seeks to ‘pure fleet’ helicopter inventory by retiring older models
The US Army confirms that it hopes to retire all older D-model Boeing AH-64 attack and Sikorsky UH-60L/V utility helicopters as it seeks to downsize the rotary-wing fleet and operate more efficiently.
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NewsBoeing on track to deliver first Australian Apaches by end of 2025
Boeing’s head of attack helicopters says Canberra’s first tranche of AH-64Es are working their way through the company’s production line in Mesa, Arizona and will be delivered to Australia later this year.
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NewsUSAF reveals inventory target for new F-47 fighter
The service aims to field at least 185 of the sixth-generation Boeing fighters, with each aircraft having a combat radius of over 1,000nm.
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NewsRobinson offers R66 to US Army as new trainer
With the announcement that the US Army is seeking a no-frills, single-engined trainer to replace the Airbus UH-72 Lakota, American airframer Robinson sees a major opportunity to expand into the defence business.
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NewsUS Army designates next-generation Bell tiltrotor as MV-75
The army’s number two officer confirms the designation for the developmental Bell rotorcraft while speaking at the service’s annual aviation summit in Nashville, Tennessee.
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In depthWatch: Thales shows off all-phase autopilot for H125 helicopter
After certificating a full-mission autopilot for the Airbus Helicopters AS350 light-single helicopter, French avionics manufacturer Thales leased one of the rotorcraft and converted it into a test asset for developing new military mission systems.
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NewsBoeing begins Lot 2 deliveries of F-15EX as production ramps up
Boeing has now delivered nine of the so-called 4.5-generation fighters to the US Air Force, which is initially fielding the modernised twin-engined fighter to the Oregon Air National Guard.
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InterviewLong life ahead for CV-22, but no plans for FLRAA in USAF special operations
In a wide ranging interview with FlightGlobal, the three-star general in charge of US Air Force special operations outlined his long-term plans for the USA’s air commandos, legacy platforms like the CV-22 Osprey and MQ-9 Reaper, and the next-generation tiltrotor Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
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NewsUpgrades to Little Bird fleet, FLRAA fielding remain on track for SOCOM
The US Army’s premier aviation force is moving forward with its ongoing effort to upgrade the fleet of Boeing A/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters and field a the next-generation tiltrotor under development by Bell.
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NewsUS Army special operations to field T901 engine on MH-60 fleet
As the US Army begins the process of integrating the latest GE Aerospace T901 turboshaft into the fleet of more than 2,300 Sikorsky UH-60 helicopters, the service’s special operations aviators say they plan to also field the new engine for their small fleet of MH-60 Black Hawks.
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NewsDARPA to fund assembly of only one High Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing design
Bell and Aurora Flight Sciences have taken radically different approaches in a Pentagon X-plane contest to develop an experimental aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, while also achieving fixed-wing jet speeds in horizontal flight.