Defence Helicopters news – Page 6
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NewsUS Army designates next-generation Bell tiltrotor as MV-75
The army’s number two officer confirms the designation for the developmental Bell rotorcraft while speaking at the service’s annual aviation summit in Nashville, Tennessee.
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In depthWatch: Thales shows off all-phase autopilot for H125 helicopter
After certificating a full-mission autopilot for the Airbus Helicopters AS350 light-single helicopter, French avionics manufacturer Thales leased one of the rotorcraft and converted it into a test asset for developing new military mission systems.
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NewsUAE cleared to buy six CH-47F Block II helicopters
The US government has cleared the possible sale of six Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters to the United Arab Emirates.
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InterviewLong life ahead for CV-22, but no plans for FLRAA in USAF special operations
In a wide ranging interview with FlightGlobal, the three-star general in charge of US Air Force special operations outlined his long-term plans for the USA’s air commandos, legacy platforms like the CV-22 Osprey and MQ-9 Reaper, and the next-generation tiltrotor Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
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NewsUK MoD takes delivery of lead H145 Jupiter HC2 rotorcraft
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received its first of six Airbus Helicopters H145s acquired under a £122 million ($161 million) deal to support duties in Brunei and Cyprus from 2026.
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NewsUS Army special operations to field T901 engine on MH-60 fleet
As the US Army begins the process of integrating the latest GE Aerospace T901 turboshaft into the fleet of more than 2,300 Sikorsky UH-60 helicopters, the service’s special operations aviators say they plan to also field the new engine for their small fleet of MH-60 Black Hawks.
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NewsDARPA to fund assembly of only one High Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing design
Bell and Aurora Flight Sciences have taken radically different approaches in a Pentagon X-plane contest to develop an experimental aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, while also achieving fixed-wing jet speeds in horizontal flight.
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NewsNew Zealand to replace Seasprites with new naval helicopter
Wellington has allocated funds for the replacement of its Kaman Aerospace SH-2G(I) Seasprite naval helicopters. The New Zealand government has earmarked NZ$2 billion ($1.2 billion) for the helicopter replacement programme as part of a broader NZ$12 billion in funding to upgrade the defence force over the next four years, according ...
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NewsUS Army targets ‘obsolete’ aircraft for cuts, including AH-64D and MQ-1C
In a sweeping overhaul of the service’s force structure, senior Pentagon officials have directed the US Army to end procurement of “obsolete” and “outdated” aircraft platforms, including the Boeing AH-64D and General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle uncrewed aerial vehicle.
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NewsIraq receives first H225M Caracals
Iraq has taken delivery of an initial pair of Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracals dating from a September 2024 order for a dozen units of the heavy-twin.
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NewsNMH acquisition moves forward, as Leonardo Helicopters submits ‘best offer’ to UK MoD
Procurement of a new battlefield transport through the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme continues to progress, with sole bidder Leonardo Helicopters having recently submitted its best and final offer to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
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NewsAutonomy firm Near Earth to develop pilotless capability for US Army UH-60Ls
As part of the US Army’s push to expand automated flight within its existing aviation fleet, autonomy developer Near Earth will retrofit a Sikorsky UH-60L for pilotless operations.
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NewsItalian army receives initial UH-169D Light Utility Helicopter
Italy has received the first of an eventual 25 Leonardo UH-169D Light Utility Helicopters (LUHs) at a 28 April ceremony held at the army aviation headquarters in Viterbo.
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NewsUK deploys Crowsnest helicopters with full operational capability boost
The UK Royal Navy’s Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control system has achieved delayed full operational capability status.
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NewsBell nears completion of final Osprey for US Air Force
Rotorcraft manufacturer Bell expects to deliver the final CV-22 variant Osprey tiltrotor for the US Air Force in the coming months, as the company moves toward winding down production on the pioneering aircraft.
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AnalysisTextron hints at unmanned capability for FLRAA tiltrotor
Textron, parent company of rotorcraft manufacturer Bell, says the US Army wants to incorporate unmanned flight capability into the next-generation tiltrotor known as the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
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AnalysisBell secures Osprey production though 2027, spanning gap until FLRAA work begins
The rotorcraft manufacturer confirms that an order from the US Navy for five CMV-22 Osprey variants will sustain the Amarillo, Texas production line through 2027, around the same time work on the US Army’s next-generation tiltrotor is expected to ramp-up at the site.
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NewsKorean Air triumphs in UH-60 upgrade bid
A team led by Korean Air has been named the preferred bidder to upgrade 36 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in service with South Korea’s military.
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NewsSpanish army welcomes its final remanufactured CH-47F Chinook
The Spanish army has received its last remanufactured Boeing CH-47F Chinook transport helicopter, and enhanced its training capabilities for the tandem-rotor type.
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NewsUS approves Philippines to acquire TH-73 trainer helicopters
The $120 million package covers Manila to begin negotiating to purchase an unspecified number of the Leonardo trainer helicopters.