The Spanish air force has accepted into frontline use its first of five Lockheed Martin P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft upgraded by EADS Casa.
Redesignated P-3M, the aircraft has been equipped with EADS Casa's FITS mission system and a Link 11 datalink, plus new countermeasures, navigation and communications equipment. Spain's P-3s are assigned to the air force's 221 Sqn at Morón airbase near Seville.
Source: Flight International
An initiative led by a group of NATO members to develop a next-generation rotorcraft to enter service in the coming decades has moved a step forward with the award of concept study contracts to Airbus, Leonardo and Sikorsky.
Leonardo Helicopters has based its initial Proteus uncrewed technology demonstrator on the AW09 light-single, FlightGlobal can reveal.
GE Aerospace appears poised to develop a “revolutionary” new turboshaft engine for rotary-wing applications in a project with Airbus Helicopters.
