Category: Military & Defense

France, Germany and Spain to develop next-generation fighter jet prototype

It has been announced on Thursday that France and Germany have signed a €150 million deal to develop a next-generation fighter jet, with Dassault Aviation and Airbus building the aircraft. The intention is for the jet to be ready by 2040 with a view to replacing the current Dassault Rafale and German Eurofighter. “This is a very ambitious project between France, Germany and joined by Spain,” French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly told reporters after a signing ceremony, adding that: “It will enable our nations to face the threats and challenges in the second half of the 21st century … Read more

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Aery Aviation wins Naval Special Warfare contract

Aery Aviation has won an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Naval Special Warfare Contract to be executed in the second-quarter of 2020. Aery will provide air-to-ground ISR services in the form of Full Motion Video (FMV), specialized sensor, and communications equipment to support ground elements throughout the training and research/development exercise event. These services will be in the form of aircraft, flight hours, ground and flight crew, supporting equipment, FAA requirements for the safety of flight for MIP, and integration support necessary to support flight execution. Aery’s team will provide these services utilizing a C-208. Aery successfully bid, won, and Read more

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Kellstrom Defense signs multi-year contract extension with Ametek Sensors and Fluid Management Systems

Kellstrom Defense Aerospace (KDA) has signed a new multi-year extension to an existing distribution agreement with the Sensors and Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) business unit of AMETEK Aerospace & Defense. The agreement builds on a legacy of partnership, with KDA continuing to serve as the exclusive distributor for AMETEK’s SFMS products for the global military and government aftermarket, while also providing OEM repair management support and expanded cooperation for new aftermarket solutions for military aircraft sustainment.

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AAR signs Memorandum of Understanding with Korean Aerospace Engineering & Maintenance Services

AAR, a leading provider of aviation services to commercial airlines and governments worldwide, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide consulting services for Korean Aerospace Engineering &  Maintenance Services (KAEMS). The two companies will collaborate to define required capabilities and infrastructure for a new KAEMS facility in South Korea that will provide component maintenance for the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-16 fleet. The MOU includes training for KAEMS employees at AAR’s component repair facilities in Amsterdam and New York.

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Boeing Australia completes first Loyal Wingman fuselage

©Boeing Australia has completed the major fuselage structural assembly for its first Loyal Wingman aircraft

The Boeing Australia team has completed major fuselage structural assembly for the first Loyal Wingman. The aircraft is one of three prototypes that will be developed as a part of the Loyal Wingman – Advanced Development Program in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Australian team has applied digital engineering and advanced composite materials to achieve cost and agility goals for the 38-ft (11.7-meter) aircraft, which is designed to use artificial intelligence in teaming with other manned and unmanned platforms. This first Loyal Wingman prototype will provide key lessons toward production of the ATS, which Boeing Australia Read more

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Boeing and U.S. Navy successfully link piloted, unmanned Growlers

Boeing and the U.S. Navy successfully flew two autonomously controlled EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Patuxent River as unmanned air systems using a third Growler as a mission controller for the other two. The flights, conducted during the Navy Warfare Development Command’s annual fleet experiment (FLEX) exercises, proved the effectiveness of technology allowing F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers to perform combat missions with unmanned systems. “This demonstration allows Boeing and the Navy the opportunity to analyze the data collected and decide where to make investments in future technologies,” said Tom Brandt, Boeing Manned-UnManned Teaming demonstration lead. “It could Read more

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Airbus C295 successfully performs wet contacts as a tanker

AAR tanker flight test ©Airbus/Sergio Flores

The Airbus C295 tactical airlifter has successfully achieved its first wet contacts during an air-to-air (AAR) tanker flight-test campaign. First dry contacts of this flight test took place in December 2019 and were achieved using a closed ramp configuration, 100ft hose and remote vision system. The wet contacts, conducted out of Seville, Spain, took place in January 2020, between one Airbus C295 aircraft in tanker configuration and a Spanish Air Force C295 acting as receiver at flight speeds between 100-130 knots. In total the aircraft, fitted with the removable AAR kit, performed five wet contacts transferring a total 1.5 tons Read more

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Bell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey completes first flight

The maiden flight of the first CMV-22B Osprey ©Boeing

The first CMV-22B Osprey, built by Boeing and Bell Textron, has completed first flight operations at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center. The CMV-22B is the latest variant of the tiltrotor fleet, joining the MV-22 and CV-22 used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Navy will use the CMV-22B to replace the C-2A Greyhound for transporting personnel, mail, supplies and high-priority cargo from shore bases to aircraft carriers at sea. Bell Boeing designed the Navy variant specifically for carrier fleet operations by providing increased fuel capacity for the extended range requirement. The mission flexibility of the Osprey Read more

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Boeing and U.S. Navy complete first Super Hornet IRST Block II flight

An F/A-18 Super Hornet equipped with a Block II Infrared Search and Track prepares for its first flight with the long-range sensor.

In late 2019 and for the first time, Boeing and the U.S. Navy flew an F/A-18 Super Hornet equipped with an Infrared Search & Track (IRST) Block II pod. IRST Block II is a critical component of the Block III Super Hornet. The Block III conversion will include enhanced network capability, longer range with conformal fuel tanks, an advanced cockpit system, signature improvements and an enhanced communication system. The updates are expected to keep the F/A-18 in active service for decades to come. IRST is a passive, long-range sensor incorporating infrared and other sensor technologies for highly accurate targeting. Currently Read more

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U.S. Department of Defense orders 32 TH-73A helicopters from Leonardo

The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered 32 TH-73A helicopters ©Leonardo

Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract valued at US$176,472,608 for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73A helicopters, initial spares, support and dedicated equipment, and specific pilot and maintenance training services. This contract, as Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds, was competitively procured via a request for the proposal of various offers. Work will be mainly performed at Leonardo’s Philadelphia facility and is expected to be completed in October 2021.

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