Defence Helicopters news – Page 3
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NewsAir National Guard tests CSAR helicopter defences against fighters
Exercise pits F-15D against HH-60G Pave Hawk and HH-60W Jolly Green II to evaluate electronic countermeasures effectiveness in maritime environments.
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NewsSikorsky to upgrade US Army Black Hawks for UAS integration
Rotorcraft manufacturer receives funding to enhance UH-60M airframes with capabilities supporting unmanned aerial systems integration by 2026.
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NewsNew Zealand to acquire MH-60Rs, A321XLRs
Wellington has earmarked NZ$2 billion for naval helicopters and NZ$700 million for transport aircraft as part of defence modernisation efforts.
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NewsMalaysia reboots quest to fill helicopter capability gap
Kuala Lumpur is again looking for new utility helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), with a deal for Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks off the table.
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NewsAirbus completes first autonomous H145 flight using Shield AI’s Hivemind
The test flight was supporting the airframer’s effort to convert the H145-based UH-72B crewed helicopter into an unmanned, autonomous logistics rotorcraft for the US Marine Corps.
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NewsChina’s AVIC testing new tiltrotor aircraft
Images have emerged of a new Chinese tiltrotor aircraft undergoing flight testing, featuring a fixed-engine design similar to the US Army’s FLRAA programme.
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NewsUSMC Osprey performs first anti-submarine warfare mission
A US Marine Corps Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey has conducted anti-submarine warfare operations for the first time, deploying sonobuoys in cooperation with US Navy Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters in the Indo-Pacific region.
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NewsSouth Korea fast-tracks KF-21 ground-attack capability
Defence committee approves revised development plan that advances air-to-ground weapons testing by 18 months as the nation seeks to bolster military capabilities.
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In depthAirbus challenges claims that UH-72s are ill-suited for pilot training
Citing available features unused by the US Army and internal service policies, Airbus rejects that H145-derived UH-72 Lakotas cannot effectively or affordably serve as trainer helicopters.
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InterviewExclusive: new Canadian air chief affirms plans for ‘fifth-generation air force’
In an interview with FlightGlobal, newly appointed commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet says her service remains committed to a sweeping set of modernisations, including fielding Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighters.
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NewsJoby and L3Harris partner to develop new hybrid-electric VTOL
The partners will examine the potential of a turbine-electric hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) rotorcraft oriented toward low-altitude military missions.
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In depthAltitude discrepancies and pilot challenges emerge from Washington mid-air collision inquiry
Investigators examining January’s fatal midair collision near Washington have questioned the Black Hawk’s altitude data, while the inquiry reveals challenges faced by army pilots transitioning between helicopter variants.
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NewsFrance moots joint-fleet concept to solve Belgian NH90 capability gap
Despite their planned retirement in September, Belgium’s four NH Industries NH90 helicopters could linger on in service through a bilateral agreement to incorporate the battlefield transports into the French army’s fleet.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters eyes H160M export sales as Guepard flight testing begins
Airbus Helicopters has kicked off flight testing of the H160M Guepard it is developing on behalf of the French armed forces following a 17 July maiden sortie.
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InterviewWhy accountability and transformation are the watchwords at newly cool Bell
Two years into her role as Bell chief executive, Lisa Atherton is overseeing a business on the cusp of major transformation thanks to the US Army’s commitment for the MV-75 tiltorotor, but there are challenges ahead, not least in the civil space where the 525 super-medium-twin is still inching towards certification.
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NewsLosses on Canadian and Turkish helicopter programmes sting Lockheed
Via its vertical-lift subsidiary Sikorsky, US defence giant Lockheed Martin absorbed a combined $665 million in losses during the recent second quarter on helicopter programmes for Canada and Turkey.
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NewsUK flies Chinook self-protection update, trials FPV drone deployment
The UK has performed a first test flight of a Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter equipped with a new infrared suppression system installed to boost the platform’s survivability.
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In depthNMH win ‘critical’ for Yeovil but opportunities exist for AW159 and AW101, says Leonardo Helicopters UK chief
The new boss of Leonardo Helicopters UK has stressed the “criticality” for the business of winning the ongoing New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest, but believes the airframer can grasp other opportunities – even including selling new AW101s to the Royal Navy.
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NewsSouth Korea to perform local T55 engine MRO work
The US Department of Defense has approved maintenance, repair and overhaul work for Honeywell T55 engines to be performed locally in South Korea, streamlining support for CH-47 Chinook helicopters operated by both countries.
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AnalysisLeonardo seeks partner to offer TH-73 for US Army flight school contract
While Leonardo does not plan to bid for the Flight School Next programme as a prime contractor, the rotorcraft manufacturer wants to partner with a training services provider to offer its TH-73 light-single as the US Army’s next training helicopter.