19-Mar-2010Source: Australian Defence
Australia’s GDP will increase by about $661 million from 2011 to 2024 if the NH90 NFH is selected by the country’s military, according to a report from economic consulting firm Access Economics.... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: US Embassy in Islamabad
Pakistan has procured 13 AH-1F Cobras from the United States for use as spare parts for its helicopter fleet.  The helicopters will be shipped from a U.S. facility in Alabama later this year. The 13 aircraft are part of a larger 2007 transaction under which Pakistan also procured and refurbished 12 AH-1F Cobras for its... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: AOL
Less than a year ago, the US rushed four Russian-built Mi-17 helicopters to Pakistan after an urgent request from the country’s senior leadership. Now they are being returned after a serious crash resulted in at least one fatality.... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: CAVOK
On Friday, Helibras, the only producer of helicopters in Latin America, will lay the cornerstone for the work of doubling its plant in Blumenau, in southern Minas Gerais, generating 700 direct jobs.... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Back in 1982, British Forces captured two Agusta A109A helicopters from the Argentine Army during the conflict to recapture the Falkland Islands. Within 3 years, these were then added to with a second pair of 109s bought new from Italy, and these four helicopters became dedicated to the Special Forces In order to camouflage the... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: Forecast International
In a new study, “The Market for Medium/Heavy Military Rotorcraft,†Forecast International projects that 4,319 such rotorcraft will be produced during the 10-year time period between 2010 and 2019. The value of this production is estimated at $92.3 billion in constant 2010 U.S. dollars. In general, Forecast International defines a medium/heavy rotorcraft as one with... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: Flightglobal
Hindustan Aeronautics has decided against seeking an international partner for its light observation helicopter programme, and will undertake the development by itself.... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: Vought
Vought Defense Systems Corp. (Other OTC: VDSC) announced today that it has signed a contract to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Cyber Aerospace, LLC, which is a designer and manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Systems which has provides services to law enforcement, military and commercial operation globally. Cyber Aerospace owns and operates http://www.cyberaerospace.com... Read more
17-Mar-2010Source: Selex
SELEX Communications signed a contract worth nearly 19 million Euros with Agusta Westland to provide Communication, Navigation and Identification equipments and systems for the 16 Chinook ICH-47F helicopters recently ordered by the Italian Army. The supply, which is aimed at increasing the efficiency and operational capabilities of the helicopters, includes the replacement of some of... Read more
16-Mar-2010Source: Boeing
ST. LOUIS, March 15, 2010 — The Boeing [NYSE: BA] A160T Hummingbird has successfully completed a cargo delivery demonstration under a U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory contract, proving the unmanned rotorcraft’s ability to resupply frontline troops in rough terrain. The Hummingbird met or exceeded all of the demonstration requirements during the tests, conducted March 9... Read more
15-Mar-2010Source: Sikorsky
MIELEC, Poland, March 15, 2010 – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and PZL Mielec, its company in Poland, today announced the completion of final assembly on the first S-70i™ BLACK HAWK helicopter, an international variant of the BLACK HAWK helicopter. This new international variant is the first BLACK HAWK helicopter assembled in Europe using a global supply... Read more
15-Mar-2010Source: NASA
The second crash test of a small lightweight helicopter at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., was a smashing success, literally — just as engineers had predicted. “Three, two, one, release,” said the technician on the loudspeaker at the Landing and Impact Research Facility. With that countdown the helicopter smacked hard into the concrete.... Read more
15-Mar-2010Source: Rockwell Collins
The Kingdom of Bahrain has selected the Rockwell Collins Transportable Blackhawk Operations Simulator (T-BOS) to train their UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter pilots. The T-BOS will be delivered to the government of Bahrain under a Foreign Military Sale contract administered by the U.S. Army’s Utility Helicopter Project Office (UHPO). The Bahrain T-BOS is the second foreign sale... Read more
14-Mar-2010Source: United States Forces - Iraq
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi Air Force helicopter medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) system reached a major milestone March 7 as parliamentary elections were underway. For the first time an Iraqi MEDEVAC crew was there to provide point-of-injury care at the scene of a medical emergency. Since its rebirth in late 2004, the Iraqi Air Force had used... Read more
14-Mar-2010Source: Hartford Courant
“Anyplace outside of Connecticut is low-cost,” United Technologies Corp.’s chief financial officer, Gregory Hayes, told Wall Street investment analysts — paraphrasing previous remarks by another UTC executive, Jeff Pino, president of Sikorsky Aircraft.... Read more
13-Mar-2010Source: US Marine Corps
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – The MV-22 Osprey, long touted by the Marines as an advanced, flexible, transformational and all-around “great piece of gear,” didn’t do anything spectacular in a landing zone capability exercise at LZ 16 at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital here March 9. The tilt-rotor helicopter... Read more
13-Mar-2010Source: Rotorhub
Helicopter crews from the Swedish Armed Forces development unit are carrying out an operational evaluation of the AgustaWestland AW109... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Flightglobal
A leaked document states “The aircraft must be able to “detect missile seeker signals”, with an “early warning and countermeasure system” to help their crews avoid “missile and artillery fire attack”... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has recently been chosen by the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force to supply the next generation of training helicopters for the JGSDF Pilot Training Program. The program calls for the first evaluation helicopter to be delivered in 2010, with a total of 30 aircraft to be delivered by 2014. Enstrom was chosen... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Sky News
A British pilot got shot between the eyes as he flew his Chinook helicopter into a firefight in Afghanistan – but he still managed to land safely and rescue all 20 people on board.... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Boeing
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced it has begun offering a new, compact, energy-efficient camera that provides three-dimensional images for military and commercial applications. Boeing Directed Energy Systems and wholly owned Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab have jointly developed the camera using their own research and development funding, and successfully tested it over the past two... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Lockheed Martin
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a contract to support the Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS) and Modernized TADS/PNVS (M-TADS/PNVS) systems on the AH-64 Apache helicopter at the Arizona Support Center (ASC). The contract has a potential value of $36.8 million for the next three years. Located in Gilbert, AZ, the... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Defense News
The first prototype of the Surion utility helicopter, co-developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Eurocopter, successfully completed its first flight March 10, about seven months after its rollou... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Brahmand
The government has invited proposals for procuring multi-barrel gatlin guns which can be mounted on MI-17 and ‘Dhruv’ helicopters for use by security forces like the NSG and para-military commandos.... Read more
12-Mar-2010Source: Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced today that Helicopter Support Incorporated (HSI), a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, has been chosen to provide a Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) program for U.S. Navy Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) at Patuxent River, Naval Air Station under its contract with EADS North America. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the aftermarket business of Sikorsky... Read more
11-Mar-2010Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a contract has been signed by the Government of India for the acquisition of twelve AW101 helicopters that will perform government transport duties. The contract, valued at around € 560 million, includes an extensive five year logistic support service and initial aircrew and technician training. Over 180... Read more
11-Mar-2010Source: AOL News
U.S military was reportedly so desparate for helicopters in December that, even after scouring the marketplace for private companies to provide the needed aircraft, it could only find one firm able to offer the necessary cargo helicopters.... Read more
10-Mar-2010Source: HeliHub.com
As part of the continued expansion of HeliHub.com, all of our news articles are now available on the Google Buzz platform. Seen initially as a cross between Facebook and Twitter, Buzz is fast carving out its own niche in the social networking world. Google’s launch of Buzz was not without its controversy, but has now... Read more
10-Mar-2010Source: Rolls-Royce
Indianapolis, IN — Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has been awarded a $75 million MissionCareâ„¢ contract by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). Under the eleven-month contract, which includes four option years, logistics support will be provided for the Rolls-Royce AE 1107C-Liberty engines that power the U.S. Marine Corps’ MV-22 Osprey and U.S.... Read more
10-Mar-2010Source: Bell
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (Mar. 9, 2010) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to modify the final 30 OH-58D aircraft under the Kiowa Warrior Safety Enhancement Program (SEP). These 30 aircraft will form Lot 13 of the Kiowa Warrior SEP... Read more
8-Mar-2010Source: Rotorhub
AgustaWestland saw new orders for helicopters fall by nearly 40 % in 2009, the company’s results have revealed.... Read more
8-Mar-2010
Probably a Eurocopter SA330J Puma... Read more
5-Mar-2010Source: Yeovil Express
LIEUTENANT Commander Gavin Simmonite, of RNAS Yeovilton, was last week presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by the Queen during a ceremony at Windsor Castle. (Photo Crown Copyright/MoD)... Read more
5-Mar-2010Source: EADS North America
Arlington, Virginia and Columbus, Mississippi, March 04, 2010 Latest milestone marks another accomplishment for one of the most successful acquisition programs in U.S. Army aviation history EADS North America delivered its 100th UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter to the U.S. Army today, marking another on-time and on-budget achievement for a highly successful program that supports... Read more
4-Mar-2010Source: Flightglobal
The UK Ministry of Defence has lifted the veil on a previously secretive helicopter training service being provided to future Afghan national security force pilots.... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: Express Buzz
“The Japan plant, which produced more than 100 cabins so far, will stop production from now on,†AJS Walia, the Managing Director (India & South Asia) for Sikorsky said... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: FlightGlobal
he British Army’s remaining Lynx AH9 utility helicopters will be modified to AgustaWestland’s improved AH9A configuration, following MoD approval to extend the effort to all 22 aircraft.... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: Milenio
The Brazilian government sent two UH-60 helicopters to Chile to help victims of the earthquake of 8.8 Richter scale... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: Elbit Systems
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, March 3, 2010 – Elbit Systems of America, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) has been awarded the Silver Level of recognition by The Boeing Company for superior performance in 2009. Elbit Systems of America, Service and Support Solutions’ (International Enterprises, Inc.) repair facility in Warner Robins,... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com continues its expansion with the addition of a gallery on the popular image bank website Flickr.com The Flickr gallery provides users of HeliHub.com the opportunity to upload their own photos, and over time this will become a very valuable resource. In time, HeliHub.com will utilise this gallery to provide imagery on the website itself... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: New Straits Times
Army chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin said Malaysia is looking at procuring attack helicopters for the purpose of tank-hunting and to destroy enemy radars, bunkers and troop formations... Read more
3-Mar-2010
Philippine Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena told reporters the eight W-3A Sokol helicopters would cost P3 billion or roughly P375 million each... Read more
3-Mar-2010Source: Polish Ministry of Defence
Defense Minister Bogdan Klich has announced the completion of the tender to purhase an additional five helicopters Mi-17 designed to strengthen the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan. The tender winner was Metalexport company whose bid has been set at 313 million zÅ‚oty (around US$106M).  The tender was carried out the “same but cheaper” principle adopted... Read more
2-Mar-2010Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Problems cited include limited clearance for getting in and out, rear ramp too weak, seats unable to accommodate soldiers weighing >110kg and no room for a door gunner.... Read more
2-Mar-2010Source: Mainichi Daily News
The environmental assessment of the area around Camp Schwab, Okinawa may need to restart after officials hinted MV-22 Osprey could be deployed to the new base.... Read more
2-Mar-2010Source: US Army
The U.S. Army is leveraging cutting-edge technologies from its Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to give the Block III Apache aircraft increased power, lift, maneuverability and hard-landing ability, service officials said. The Army S & T community, a subset of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA ALT), has been... Read more
2-Mar-2010
SOUTH Australia-based Mincham Aviation has won a key contract to supply parts for international defence giant Boeing’s globally-used helicopters, the CH-47 Chinooks.... Read more
2-Mar-2010Source: Financial Times
Boeing makes Chinooks in Philadelphia and is due to deliver 10 of the 22 new ones direct from the US during the course of 2012 and 2013. It has now offered to shift final assembly for half the order to Britain.... Read more
1-Mar-2010Source: Russian Helicopters
The Russian helicopter industry continued to increase its output in 2009: Russian Helicopters enterprises produced 183 helicopters for local and international customers, increasing the total by 14 compared to 2008. The 8.3% growth was made possible through a joint effort by all Russian rotorcraft industry specialists. The deliveries breakdown stayed similar to that of 2008:... Read more
1-Mar-2010Source: Luminator
Luminator is selected to provide its LS16 Searchlight on the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter for Security and Support missions. From Luminator’s initial design stage our objective for the LS16 searchlight is to improve flight safety, integrate the latest technology, improve reliability, simplify assembly, and lower maintenance cost. The search light uses solid-state... Read more
28-Feb-2010Source: Vistagy
VISTAGY, Inc., a leading provider of industry-specific engineering software and services, today announced that Kaman Helicopters, a division of Kaman Aerospace Corporation (NASDAQ-GS: KAMN) has entered into an agreement to license FiberSIM® composites engineering software. The software will be used to streamline the design-to-manufacturing process for large composite helicopter blades by providing early visibility into... Read more
28-Feb-2010Source: ITAR-TASS
“The European Union and NATO should sell armaments and military hardware to countries, which do not pose the risk of regional tensions,†Latvian Defense Minister Imants Liegis said. “Before concluding strategic deals, EU member countries should hold internal consultations on items that may call into question the security of other members,†he noted.... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Reuters Alertnet
The United States plans to provide Yemen with helicopters, transport equipment and training to expand its air and ground offensive against al Qaeda, a Pentagon document showed on Thursday.... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Ya Libnan
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman returned Friday from a two-day official visit to Moscow and announced that Russia had agreed to provide his country with Mi-24 helicopters... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Al-Jazeera
Several newspapers said an inquiry ordered by [the late police chief] Tounsi into bribery allegations involving helicopter parts suppliers had implicated Woustache. “The perpetrator did not accept the conclusions of this inquiry,” the Arabic-language Echorouk daily said... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Dothan Eagle
Company officials said workers spent about a year converting a former U.S. Army UH-1 Huey airframe into a Bell Huey II for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Selex Galileo
SELEX Galileo’s sonic system OTS-90 was demonstrated successfully during recent flight trials performed in Australia. In a demo flight during the PAC2010 Exhibition, the helicopter NH90 (NHF) deployed the sonic sensor for a dip just in front of the Sidney Opera House (see picture). SELEX Galileo’s OTS-90 is an integrated system combining dipping sonar and... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS) demonstrated how the U.S. Army and other land forces could rely on its ability to ferry unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and other logistics items into combat zones during the Army’s recent Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) at Fort Benning, Ga. Fire Scout demonstrated how the... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Boeing
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has signed an AU$44 million change proposal with the Commonwealth of Australia to increase the scope of the Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract. Awarded the contract in 2007, Boeing subsidiary Boeing Defence Australia has been supporting the Australian Army’s Black Hawk and Kiowa helicopters with pilot, aircrew and technician... Read more
27-Feb-2010Source: Rotorhub
The first Swedish AgustaWestland AW109s – locally designated Hkp15 – have been modified in Italy ready for anti-piracy operations in Africa.... Read more
26-Feb-2010Source: Night Flight Concepts
Night Flight Concepts (NFC) of Port Saint Lucie, FL, a leading provider of comprehensive night vision technology (NVT) solutions and Gladstone Aerospace Corporation (GAC) a leading solution provider to the aerospace, defense and security (ADS) markets based in Ottawa, ON today announced they are working together to deliver a new Night Vision Goggle (NVG) inspection,... Read more
26-Feb-2010Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation would like to announce that they will be providing 16 480B advanced turbine training helicopters for the Royal Thai Army. The 480B was selected in a competitive bidding process that included aircraft from 7 different major manufacturers. In October Enstrom hosted a delegation of officials from the Royal Thai Army led by... Read more
25-Feb-2010Source: Australian Government
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the Government has given first pass approval for a major project to provide the Australian Defence Force with a new naval combat helicopter. Project AIR 9000 Phase 8 is included in the Defence Capability Plan to provide naval warships with a new combat helicopter. Senator... Read more
25-Feb-2010Source: Australian Government
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the Government has given second pass approval to a major project to acquire seven CH‑47F Chinook helicopters for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at a cost of around $755 million. “The Government has now approved the details of this procurement, announced in last year’s White... Read more
25-Feb-2010Source: Aviation Week
The Sikorsky X2’s attempt to break the world speed record for rotorcraft later this year could determine the future path of helicopter development at the Connecticut-based company.... Read more
24-Feb-2010Source: Lockheed Martin
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a follow-on Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract to support the Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS) and Modernized TADS/PNVS (M-TADS/PNVS) systems on the AH-64 Apache helicopter. The contract has a potential value of $90 million for 2010. This is the third option for the original... Read more
