14-Jan-2010Source: Boeing
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has selected Science Engineering Services Inc. (SES) to perform disassembly, inspection and repair on AH-64D Apache helicopters in preparation for their upgrade to the Block III configuration. The program will create approximately 70 new positions for aviation and avionics mechanics, structural installers, and aviation quality inspectors within SES. “Boeing is... Read more
14-Jan-2010Source: Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company announced today that it has received a follow-on, multi-million dollar contract from Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S. ( “STM†Corporation) for the provision of the ASIST system and integrated track to be fitted on the second MiLGEM Corvette, TCG Büyükada. Work for this contract will be performed at INDAL Technologies,... Read more
13-Jan-2010Source: Elbit Systems of America
Elbit Systems of America, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. ( ESLT) announced receipt of contracts from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for Elbit Systems of America Helmet Display and Tracker System (HDTS) for the USMC AH-1W Attack Helicopter. The contract effort covers the development of retrofit kits to incorporate HDTS... Read more
13-Jan-2010Source: CTV
430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron was honoured Monday for its contribution to Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan.... Read more
12-Jan-2010Source: USMC
The 40-year legacy of the CH-46 “Sea Knight†is built on stories of valor and heroism from Marines in combat missions around the world, but that era is coming to a close as the Marine Corps replaces the Sea Knight with it’s newest bird of prey, the MV-22 “Osprey.†In 2006, the Marine Corps became... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: Safran Group
Since August 10, 2009, the three Tiger combat helicopters deployed by France in Kabul have been playing an active operational role in Afghanistan. After arriving in Afghanistan in July 2009, the three helicopters from the 5th Combat Helicopters Regiment, Pau, first of all underwent firing certification tests. These tests were successfully completed, and the Tigers... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: Bell-Boeing
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 11, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Bell Helicopter delivered two MV-22 Osprey Containerized Flight Training Devices (CFTD) to the U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in California in the last quarter of 2009. “Before the deliveries to Miramar, Marines would have to spend months at a time... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: US DoD
WASHINGTON — Discussions about the Army’s use of unmanned systems in the combat theater are likely to focus on bomb-detecting robots and ground vehicles able to navigate through hazardous terrain. Chances are the discussion won’t immediately go to one of the fast-growing fields in the Army: unmanned aircraft systems. These systems, operated at the tactical... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: US Army
Army Special Operations aviation needs faster helicopters to meet the speed and range requirements needed to conduct operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the 160th SOAR commander. Col. Clayton M. Hutmacher, commander, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), discussed regiment initiatives during the Association of the United States Army’s Institute of Land Warfare Army... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: Sikorsky
STRATFORD, Connecticut – Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced that an Integration Design Review (IDR) of the CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter program has charted a course for a successful Critical Design Review in 2010. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Sikorsky’s CH-53K program team hosted a two-day meeting in November to... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: Canadian Press
The aim of the project by Canada’s defence research branch, launched last fall, is to improve on the current generation of remote-controlled devices designed for the battlefield.... Read more
11-Jan-2010Source: Turbomeca
Turbomeca has delivered its 2,000th Makila engine to Eurocopter. The 2A1 variant was installed in an EC225 and has just entered into service. In nearly 30 years of service, the Makila has built a reputation as a safe and reliable power unit for Super Puma and EC225 operators. Turbomeca VP, Engine Programs, Cyrille Poetsch says... Read more
9-Jan-2010Source: Asian Defence
The Army is now hunting for advanced night-vision goggles (NVGs) for its pilots flying helicopters like Cheetahs, Chetaks and Dhruv advanced light helicopters to ensure they can operate effectively after sunset.... Read more
9-Jan-2010Source: Sikorsky
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced the appointment of Shane Eddy as Vice President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, responsible for strategic leadership and general management of the growing billion-dollar business. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. ( UTX). Eddy joins Sikorsky after a 14-year career at Textron’s Bell Helicopter company where he most... Read more
9-Jan-2010Source: Northrop Grumman
A Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) land-based MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System, designated P7, successfully demonstrated interoperability with the Army’s One System(R) Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT) at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., the week of November 23. Fire Scout’s OSRVT demonstration illustrates its readiness to support Brigade Combat Teams. Designed and produced by AAI Corporation,... Read more
8-Jan-2010Source: Globe and Mail
The development of the cockpit equipment for the Canadian Forces’ new fleet of maritime helicopters is still posing a “major challenge†to the program, which is already running four years late, a retired officer has warned.... Read more
8-Jan-2010Source: Rotornews
Jeff Lowinger, executive vice president, Engineering, is pleased to announce the following organizational changes in conjunction with the Integration of the Engineering and XworX organizations... Read more
8-Jan-2010
It was confirmed that the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Merlin HC3 medium-lift helicopters is to be transferred to the Royal Navy, replacing the current fleet of Sea Kings.... Read more
8-Jan-2010Source: Strategy Page
Pakistan wants more helicopter gunships, in particular it wants 20 AH-1W models, to supplement, and replace the 32 AH-1S and AH-1F gunships. The 6.6 ton W model was configured for naval use, and has two engines and protection against sea water corrosion.... Read more
7-Jan-2010Source: US Army
In order to meet the Army’s dwell-time goal, the service will add a new combat aviation brigade. “That’s coming out of resources we already have; we are still wrestling with where that’s going to go, where that’s going to stand up,” said Maj. Gen. James O. Barclay III, commanding general of the Aviation Center of... Read more
7-Jan-2010Source: Turbomeca
Further to HeliHub.com breaking the story earlier today…. The Brazilian Army Aviation signed a contract with Helibras and Turbomeca do Brasil to upgrade its 34 AS365K Panther helicopter fleet. Through this contract, Turbomeca do Brasil will strengthen its partnership with the Brazilian military forces, providing full support for the 68 Arriel 2C2 CG engines. The... Read more
7-Jan-2010Source: Rotorhub
The United States Air Force has restarted its search for Common Vertical Lift Support Platform (CVLSP). The programme will replace USAF’s fleet of aging Bell UH-1Ns which ard currently used to guard the country’s ICBM silos, fly VIPs and carry out a range of utility and support missions.... Read more
7-Jan-2010Source: NLR
Due to blowing sand, a helicopter pilot’s in-flight visibility can be severely restricted during landings in deserts. At the request of the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) has recently started working on finding solutions to support pilots during these precarious desert landings. Missions in Afghanistan and Iraq have made the issue... Read more
7-Jan-2010Source: HeliHub.com editorial team
The Brazilian Army has signed contracts with both Turbomeca and Helibras Brazil which will result in the modernization of 34 of their Eurocopter AS565K Panthers, or “Pantera” as they are known locally. These aircraft were acquired in 1988. The upgrades include installation of new engines, avionics and navigation radios. Military engineers will be involved in... Read more
6-Jan-2010Source: Rotorhub
Spanish medical evacuation helicopters have marked a milestone 3,000 flying hours in Afghanistan.... Read more
6-Jan-2010Source: AAR
AAR (NYSE: AIR) announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation under which the two companies will work together to identify opportunities to expand their business relationship. In addition, AAR was named the exclusive supplier of composite interiors for the Sikorsky S-92® helicopter program and will provide precision... Read more
6-Jan-2010Source: DGA
The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has ordered the renovation of a second batch of five Cougar helicopters, including 4 from the Army and one from the Air Force. These are part of the contract to upgrade 27 Cougars, reported to Eurocopter in January 2008 amounting to 220 million euros. The goal of the renovation... Read more
6-Jan-2010
As the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed shortly before Christmas, the Dutch Armed Forces has taken delivery of the first NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), the naval version of NHIndustries’ NH90. However, this first helicopter (designated NNLN03), from a total order of 12 NH90 NFH for the Netherlands, is not yet ready to be deployed... Read more
6-Jan-2010Source: Marine Corps Times
Eventually, all Marine and Navy assault support rotary wing aircraft will be equipped with the M3M FN Herstal GAU-21 .50-caliber machine gun.... Read more
6-Jan-2010Source: Sikorsky
Helicopter Support Inc. (HSI) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Goodrich Corporation to collaboratively promote an advanced aircraft maintenance solution to the worldwide rotary aircraft market. HSI is a support and distribution company of Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS), the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary... Read more
5-Jan-2010
The Russian Army will receive the latest state-of-the-art Ka-52 helicopters along with the Mi-28N, upgraded Mi-8 and Mi-26 helicopters in 2010... Read more
5-Jan-2010Source: Textron
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) will release its fourth quarter 2009 financial results on Thursday, January 28, 2010. The company will also host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss the results and the company’s outlook. The call will be available via webcast at www.textron.com or by direct dial at (877) 209-9919 in the... Read more
5-Jan-2010Source: Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences announced that it reached and successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) and 100% model release milestones for the CH-53K main rotor pylon (MRP) program. These two events define the transition from engineering design to manufacturing of the MRP structure for the System Development and Demonstration SDD aircraft. “Aurora Flight Sciences is... Read more
5-Jan-2010Source: Boeing
Boeing announced that a fifth U.S. Army unit has fielded the CH-47F Chinook helicopter. The 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Campbell, Ky., completed all required training and officially assumed operation of 12 CH-47F Chinooks on Dec. 8. “I am proud of B Company for completing the CH-47F New Equipment Fielding and... Read more
1-Jan-2010Source: Helicopters magazine
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30-Dec-2009Source: Raytheon
The TALON LGR rounds were launched from a U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and hit targets at 3,500 meters (2.17 miles). This exceeded accuracy requirements for the Department of Defense’s Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II program.... Read more
30-Dec-2009Source: Alabama Live
The new UH-72A Lakota will be unveiled at 10 a.m. on Jan. 9 at Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport... Read more
24-Dec-2009Source: BAE Systems
BAE Systems has successfully installed the Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system on U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook aircraft.... Read more
24-Dec-2009Source: AgustaWestland
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24-Dec-2009Source: Mizzima
Quoting a high-level source in ‘Rosoboronexport’, close to the Russia-Burma negotiation process, Nikolsky said the contract includes delivering 20 MiG-29 fighter jets worth Euro 400 million (US$ 570 million) and 8 to 10 Mi-35 attack helicopters worth Euro 50 million (US$ 71 million).... Read more
23-Dec-2009Source: AgustaWestland
The order represents the third helicopter to be sold to the Korea Coast Guard and the sixth AW139 helicopter to be sold to the Republic of Korea... Read more
23-Dec-2009Source: Rotorhub
The Swiss federal procurement, technology and real estate competence centre, armasuisse, handed over the last of 20 EC635 helicopters to the Swiss Air Force.... Read more
22-Dec-2009Source: Northrop Grumman
Fire Scout was equipped with the Telephonics’ radar and FLIR Electro Optical Infrared system, and highlighted the versatility of the unmanned helicopter’s modular payload architecture and its flexibility in integrating off-the-shelf payloads.... Read more
22-Dec-2009Source: Ottawa Citizen
Sea trials for the new Cyclone helicopter will take place before the end of January on the east coast, Defence Watch has been told. Sources originally said the first of the new maritime helicopters was supposed to arrive at CFB Shearwater in December but now that delivery has slipped slightly.... Read more
22-Dec-2009Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The aircraft are part of more than $604 million worth of vehicles and equipment that the U.S. plans to give Mexico in the coming months.... Read more
22-Dec-2009Source: Korea Times
AgustaWestland is bidding for a contract to provide Korea with its T-129 attack helicopters. The T-129, being developed for the Turkish Army, is an upgraded variant of the Agusta A129 Mangusta... Read more
22-Dec-2009Source: Royal Navy
Chief Petty Officer Aircrewman Dave Rigg, serving in 771 Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall, has been awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his part in a dramatic rescue operation far to the southwest of Land’s End... Read more
21-Dec-2009Source: Business Week
Albania signed a euro78.6 million ($113.2 million) deal Friday to buy five military helicopters from France-based Eurocopter.... Read more
21-Dec-2009Source: Korea Times
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration is in favor of developing a homegrown light attack helicopter under the Korea Attack Helicopter program, multiple military sources said Sunday.... Read more
21-Dec-2009Source: US Marine Corps
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 entered a new era in aviation as the MV-22 “Osprey†landed to begin the replacement of the CH-46 “Sea Knight†and its 44-year legacy.... Read more
21-Dec-2009Source: Forsvaret
Three helicopters at Bardufoss Air Station and three computers in Maymana, highlighted that the Armed Forces Bell 412 has flown 100 ,000 hours.... Read more
21-Dec-2009Source: Boeing
Boeing have confirmed the Nov. 30 delivery of the first converted Chinook Mk3 helicopter to the Royal Air Force... Read more
21-Dec-2009Source: Defense Industry Daily
The Australian government recently announced a multi-year In Service Support contract to BAE Systems Australia Ltd... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: Rotorhub
The government of the Czech Republic has announced it is deploying helicopters to Afghanistan for the first time.... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: Falmouth Packet
The announcement by the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the future plans for UK military helicopters will have a positive effect on operations at RNAS Culdrose.... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: LaBarge
LaBarge has been awarded a multi-year contract valued at approximately $18.9 million from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to produce electronic assemblies for various models of UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopters through 2014... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: US Navy
The newest MV-22 Osprey flight trainer was delivered to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. Nov.16. The fully self-contained, $8.6 million containerized flight training device (CFTD) is the second of four MV-22 trainers for fleet use at MCAS Miramar, Calif.... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: QinetiQ
QinetiQ has successfully completed the integration of a beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) satellite communications system into each of the RAF’s fleet of 22 Mk3 Merlin’s in preparation for their possible deployment to Afghanistan.... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: BAE Systems
BAE Systems, in concert with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, scored four hits in four shots during the final phase of integrated testing of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a technology that adds low-cost precision laser guidance to 2.75-inch airborne rockets.... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: Canadian Dept of National Defence
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, announced that Canada’s new fleet of 15 F-model Chinook helicopters will be based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario.... Read more
18-Dec-2009Source: Sikorsky
Sikorsky Global Helicopters announced that its Light Helicopters Division has delivered the first two S-434(TM) helicopters to the Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [Note: This is in line with Sikorsky’s official press release, but HeliHub.com reported this delivery on 17th June 2009….]... Read more
17-Dec-2009Source: Scheibel
Schiebel recently conducted, in cooperation with Boeing, a demonstration for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, integrating the CAMCOPTER® S-100 and ground unmanned systems for psychological operation missions in-theatre.... Read more
15-Dec-2009Source: Sikorsky
Sikorsky Military Systems and Elbit Systems have successfully completed the Armed BLACK HAWK (ABH) demonstrator program, proof-of concept for the development BATTLEHAWK(TM) helicopter.... Read more
15-Dec-2009Source: Press Trust of India
In a big relief to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, pilot error was found to have caused the crash of the defence PSU’s Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) “Dhruv” in Ecuador in October... Read more
15-Dec-2009Source: Western Telegraph
The fight to keep 24-hour search and rescue cover at RAF Chivenor has been taken to the Senedd by Pembrokeshire AMs.... Read more
14-Dec-2009Source: Marine Corps Times
During the past year, the U.S. military reduced to 42 minutes from 100 minutes the average time it takes for a badly wounded service member in Afghanistan to reach a hospital, even as the casualty rate tripled, according to military commanders.... Read more
14-Dec-2009Source: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics named Joseph LaMarca, Jr., as VP Communications effective Jan. 4, 2010. “With more than 25 years of experience in communications and management, Joe brings a wealth of talent and leadership expertise to his new position,” said Ralph Heath, executive VP, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.... Read more
14-Dec-2009Source: ITAR-TASS
The Ulan-Ude aircraft plant that makes part of the Vertolyoty Rossii (Helicopters of Russia) holding, ends the year with a growth in sales of about 35 percent.... Read more
14-Dec-2009Source: UK MoD
The Sea King crews from 854 Naval Air Squadron were recently presented with their Afghanistan Operational Service Medals by Head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.... Read more
14-Dec-2009Source: Telegraph
The future King graduated with “flying colours†according to the Ministry of Defence after an intensive training course at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.... Read more
