All UK Royal Air Force articles – Page 3
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NewsBritish Army eyes rapid ramp-up of capability with new Apache fleet
With its first remanufactured Boeing AH-64E Apache now in flight testing, the British Army is confident that an initial squadron of eight attack helicopters will be ready for operations later this year.
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News‘No decision’ on Puma out-of-service date, insists UK MoD
UK defence officials insist no decision has been taken on the out-of-service date for any of the rotorcraft covered by its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, despite hints that retirements could begin as early as 2022.
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NewsSikorsky pitches Polish-built Black Hawks as UK Puma replacement
Sikorsky will offer Polish-built S-70M Black Hawk helicopters for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement, the manufacturer confirms.
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NewsFirst NMH delivery could take place in September 2024 under Puma replacement plan
Prospective bidders for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement have until 9 December to submit their initial responses to the Ministry of Defence.
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NewsUK could buy up to 44 helicopters under £1 billion NMH acquisition
UK defence officials are prepared to spend up to £1 billion ($1.3 billion) on as many as 44 aircraft under the country’s nascent New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, according to newly published tender documents. Posted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 11 November, the contract opportunity notice is the ...
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NewsRAF’s Shadow surveillance fleet to grow by two aircraft, get new defences
The UK Royal Air Force has ordered two additional Raytheon Shadow R1 reconnaissance aircraft to grow its fleet to eight examples.
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NewsSikorsky could complete Black Hawks in the UK as it eyes NMH bid
Sikorsky remains confident that its “combat-proven” UH-60 Black Hawk can see off the competition for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme and does not rule out completing the rotorcraft in the country – potentially alongside a rival bidder – if selected.
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NewsAirbus picks Broughton for H175M production line as part of Puma replacement bid
Airbus Helicopters has selected Broughton in North Wales as the location of the final assembly line for the H175M should the super-medium-twin be selected to replace the Royal Air Force’s Puma HC2 fleet.
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NewsA330 MRTT could be first to use 100% sustainable fuel in Rolls-Royce tests
Rolls-Royce is hopeful that it will shortly be able to start test flights of military transport aircraft powered by its engines and using blends of 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
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NewsRolls-Royce targets military market with all-electric trainer
Rolls-Royce has identified the market for military elementary trainers as one of the first commercial applications for technologies being matured as part of a bid to break the speed record for an all-electric aircraft.
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NewsTempest powers ahead with latest £250 million development contract
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has kicked off the next stage of its Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, awarding a £250 million ($350 million) contract to BAE Systems to lead the definition and initial design phase activity.
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NewsRoyal Air Force to buy 13 additional General Atomics Protector UAVs
The UK Royal Air Force plans to buy 13 additional Protector RG1 unmanned air vehicles from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
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NewsLeonardo ramps up AW149 push for Puma replacement
Leonardo Helicopters has underscored the credentials of its 8.6t AW149 super-medium-twin as a replacement for the UK Royal Air Force’s Puma HC2 transports, particularly against what it describes as rival “paper aircraft”.
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NewsRAF to receive 14 new Block II Chinooks in £1.4 billion deal, but sees fleet shrink
The UK is to become the first international customer for the upgraded Block II version of the Boeing Chinook helicopter, with the Royal Air Force (RAF) to take them in the MH-47G special forces guise.
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AnalysisContenders for RAF Puma replacement face new procurement landscape
With the UK set to replace its Royal Air Force fleet of 23 Puma HC2 helicopters by the middle of this decade, the contenders are already lining up. But the competition will be one of the first major procurements in the country to be conducted under new rules designed to make economic and social factors a core part of the selection process, potentially tilting the field.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters claims Chinese content on H175 can be replaced if offered to UK military
Airbus Helicopters insists it can overcome obstacles related to Chinese content on its H175 should the super-medium-twin be offered as a replacement for the UK Royal Air Force’s Puma fleet.
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NewsUK signs Spear 3 missile production deal for F-35 fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded MBDA a £550 million ($750 million), seven-year demonstration and manufacturing contract for its Spear 3 air-to-surface missile, which will arm its Lockheed Martin F-35Bs.
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NewsLockheed Martin moves to connect USAF F-35 simulators in USA and UK in 2021
Lockheed Martin plans to connect full-mission simulators in the USA and in the UK at RAF Lakenheath through a software upgrade starting in 2021, allowing US Air Force pilots to virtually train with one another across international borders.
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NewsBAE Systems working on ‘Skyborg’ technology for USAF drone concept
The aerospace manufacturer expects to start working with the USAF in the first quarter of 2021 on system designs for “attritable” unmanned air vehicles.
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NewsRoyal Air Force’s Protector makes first flight
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems completed first flight of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Protector RG1 unmanned air vehicle (UAV) on 25 September.