Category: Military & Defense

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

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

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

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

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.

The KC-390 Millennium new-generation multi-mission medium airlifter has successfully concluded the testing campaign for gravity airdrop and extraction drop of heavy loads by the use of the Container Delivery System (CDS) and Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD), respectively. The KC-390 Millennium has a fully automated Cargo Handling and Aerial Delivery System on the cargo compartment, where a loadmaster can perform all activities, while reducing workload and improving awareness. For the pilots, a system called CCDP (Continuously Computed Drop Point) calculates the optimum airdrop release point for better accuracy on the mission accomplishment. Both systems were developed by Embraer. The tests, Read more

The Czech Air Force has signed a contract for the acquisition of two additional Airbus C295 medium airlifters. The aircraft, equipped with winglets and ordered in transport configuration, are due to be delivered in the first half of 2021. The agreement takes the Czech Air Force’s total C295 fleet up to six aircraft. Together with this agreement, an additional contract was also signed for the upgrade of the four C295s currently in operation with the Czech Air Force.