Category: Military & Defense

Savback Helicopters signs LoI for 25 Mayman Aerospace Speeders

Speeder will add new capabilities to the Savback Helicopter portfolio ©Savback

Having been appointed as the exclusive marketing and sales representative for Speeder in the Nordic countries in June 2022, Sweden-based Savback Helicopters (Savback) has confirmed it has signed a Letter of Intent with Mayman Aerospace for the acquisition of 25 Speeder Air Utility Vehicles (AUVs), making Savback the first civilian purchaser for the aircraft. The announced deal has a book value of US$45 million (£37 million). Savback chairman, Michael Savback, anticipates Speeder’s core attributes, including its incredible manoeuvrability, high-speed and heavy payload capabilities, will be extremely attractive to military customers in the Scandinavian region. Speeders are compact, fast, powerful, and Read more

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The B-21 Raider, the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft, unveiled by Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force

Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force introduced the B-21 Raider ©Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force have unveiled the B-21 Raider, the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft which has been designed to meet the most complex of missions. Its sixth-generation capabilities include stealth, information advantage and open architecture and the aircraft will form the backbone for the future of U.S. air power, delivering a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. “The Northrop Grumman team develops and delivers technology that advances science, looks into the future and brings it to the here and now,” said Kathy Warden, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and Read more

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Development of FCAS combat aircraft back on track after Airbus and Dassault reach agreement

©Dassault Aviation

For the past year, Airbus – representing German interests – and Dassault – representing French interests, had been unable to reach agreement over the workshare for the new Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The new aircraft, intended to replace the Eurofighter and Dassault’s Rafale, will be a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft and are projected to enter into service in 2040. However, while Dassault had been given the role of project leader, Airbus had lodged several objections over what it saw was an unfair division of the work involved in the FCAS. Consequently, while the current stage is still Read more

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Japan Air Self-Defence Force orders two more Boeing KC-46A tankers

Japanese KC-46A on first refuelling flight ©Boeing/Kevin Flynn

Boeing has been awarded a contract to deliver two additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers to the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF), bringing the total on contract for Japan to six aircraft. Boeing delivered the first KC-46A tanker to Japan in October 2021 and a second in February 2022. Designed to refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refuelling procedures, the proven Pegasus has flown more than 10,000 sorties and is delivering millions of pounds of fuel every month to allied forces around the globe. In addition to refuelling, the KC-46A delivers multi-mission capabilities necessary for the 21st century Read more

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AAR And WZL-2 inaugurate state-of-the-art aircraft overhaul facility in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Piotr Skrzyński, President of WZL-2, Mark Brzezinski, U.S. Ambassador to Poland and Jay Pereira, General Manager of Government Programmes for AAR hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility in Bydgoszcz, Poland ©AAR

AAR, a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, and Polish aviation leader Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 (WZL-2) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month for their new state-of-the-art aircraft overhaul facility in Bydgoszcz, Poland. U.S. government personnel, including Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, Polish government officials and leaders from AAR and WZL-2 celebrated the official opening of a depot capability supporting the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) F-16 fleet. In addition to leveraging collaboration across AAR, WZL-2, and government partners to deliver consistent mission readiness for U.S. forces and allies, Read more

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RAF Voyager takes to the skies powered entirely by 100% SAF

RAF Voyager takes to the skies powered entirely by 100% SAF ©Crown

The Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engine has helped the Royal Air Force (RAF) and industry partners to carry out a world-first 100% sustainable fuel flight using a military aircraft of its size, and the first of any aircraft type in the UK. An RAF Voyager – the military variant of an Airbus A330 – took to the skies over Oxfordshire powered entirely by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), paving the way for a range of possibilities for the future of flying military and civilian aircraft. The flight was a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S and industry partners Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Read more

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Boeing reorganises Defense, Space & Security business unit

©Boeing

Boeing has announced a series of executive leadership changes and reorganisations aimed at accelerating operational discipline, first-time quality and performance while streamlining senior leadership roles and responsibilities. Effective immediately, Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) will consolidate its eight divisions into four, including: Vertical Lift, led by Vice President and General Manager Mark Cherry. Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, led by Vice President and General Manager Dan Gillian, which will include KC-46, SAOC, E-7, VC-25B, P-8, Bombers, AWACS/AEW&C, 777X components and all executive transport programmes. Air Dominance, led by Vice President and General Manager Steve Nordlund, which will include classified programmes; the F/A-18, F-15, Read more

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Lufthansa Technik hands over A350 “Konrad Adenauer” to German Armed Forces

A350 hand-over and christening in Hamburg ©Lufthansa Technik

Lufthansa Technik has formally handed over the second Airbus A350-900 government aircraft to the German Armed Forces. The aircraft, bearing the tactical registration 10+01, will soon join the fleet of the Federal Ministry of Defence’s (BMVg) Special Air Mission Wing for long-haul political-parliamentary flight operations. It is equipped for the first time with a full government cabin. The Airbus A350 christened on November 16, arrived factory-fresh at Lufthansa Technik at the end of March 2021 and has since undergone an extensive modification programme at the company’s competence centre for Special Aircraft Services in Hamburg. The main focus was on the Read more

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Boeing delivers 20th CH-47F Chinook to Royal Netherlands Air Force

With Boeing’s 20th CH-47F delivery to the RNLAF the country’s fleet updates are complete ©Fred Trolio

Boeing has delivered the 20th CH-47F Chinook to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), concluding the country’s latest fleet update. “Our continuing partnership with the Royal Netherlands Air Force exemplifies the value of a modern and versatile Chinook fleet,” said Ken Eland, Vice President and H-47 programme manager. “These state-of-the art aircraft will significantly improve its defense and humanitarian assistance capabilities.” The Netherlands is one of eight NATO countries to operate the Chinook and has fielded the aircraft continuously since receiving its first CH-47D models in 1995. In 2016, the RNLAF purchased 14 new CH-47F Chinooks through the U.S. Department of Read more

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Tunisian Air Force takes delivery of first Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System

Beechcraft T-6C Texan II ©Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation Defense has reported the delivery of the first Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System to the Tunisian Air Force in support of operations at No. 13 Squadron at Sfax Air Base in Tunisia. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract comprises eight T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, in-country field service and logistics support representatives, programme management support, interim contractor support for the first year, training for pilots and maintenance professionals, spare engines, spare parts and aircraft support equipment. Textron Aviation Defense expects to deliver the second Tunisian Air Force T-6C in late 2022. The remaining six aircraft are slated for Read more

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