Category: Military & Defense

The Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has achieved a new decisive milestone after the certification of its Automatic Low Level Flight capability, offering a unique capability in its class for a military transport aircraft.  The certification campaign, performed in April above the Pyrenees and central France, involved operations down to 500ft, including transitions from low level flight to other operations like aerial delivery.   This first certification phase concerns operations with Visual Meteorological Conditions, meaning with crew visibility. There will be a second phase including Instrumental Meteorological Conditions, without visibility, to be certified in the second quarter of 2021.

The U.S. Navy has received its 100th P-8A aircraft from Boeing as the global fleet, which also includes the Indian navy and the Australian and U.K. air forces, approaches 300,000 flight hours of hunting submarines and providing aerial reconnaissance capabilities around the world. The P-8 is a proven long-range multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and coastal operations. A military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation airplane, the P-8 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the battle space. This is the 94th mission-capable airplane to enter the U.S. Navy Read more

GKN Aerospace has signed a strategic agreement with Boeing to solidify a continued working partnership until 2023. The agreement covers the production of structural components and assemblies for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle and C-17 Globemaster III. GKN Aerospace has been a sole-source supplier for items such as external surfaces, internal structures, wing trailing and leading edges for these Boeing aircraft since 2001.

The Israel Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense have signed the first lease agreement for the Israeli Heron system, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). As part of the agreement, the Israel Ministry of Defense will lease the Heron system in its maritime configuration to Greece over three years, with an option to purchase the system upon completion of the leasing period. The Heron system, equipped with both day and night activity platforms, maritime patrol radars and satellite communications, offers extended operational endurance in a wide range of scenarios including maritime patrol, marine and land border Read more

GKN Fokker Services and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) have signed an extension of the existing total support contract for delivering standard parts for all of the RNLAF’s aircraft, helicopters and multiple support systems until 2022. The support is provided by GKN Fokker Services’ facility in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, and can be extended for an additional two years. Since the start of the original agreement in 2017, the scope of services has been increased in the extended contract. This includes the implementation of a solution for the RNLAF’s existing inventory to ensure all stock is used at the right Read more

A Boeing-led Australian industry team has presented the first unmanned Loyal Wingman aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force. The aircraft, which uses artificial intelligence to extend the capabilities of manned and unmanned platforms, is the first to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years. It is Boeing’s largest investment in an unmanned aircraft outside of the United States. As the first of three prototypes for Australia’s Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program, the aircraft also serves as the foundation for the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS) being developed for the global defense market. The Loyal Read more