All Defence articles – Page 9
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NewsNorthrop Grumman prepares to deliver second and third MQ-4Cs to Australia
One of the maritime surveillance UAVs is already in service with the Royal Australian Air Force, with two more examples undergoing final evaluations before delivery.
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NewsFirst donated Mirage 2000-5 fighters arrive, as Ukraine also boosts F-16 fleet
Ukraine’s air force has received its first Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5 fighters from France, while also continuing to boost its fleet of donated Lockheed Martin F-16s.
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NewsRestored ‘Franken-bird’ F-35 returns to flight
After more than a year of work, engineers and maintenance experts from the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin successfully flew a regenerated F-35 fighter formed by splicing together sections from two damaged jets to form a single working aircraft.
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In depthUS Marine Corps plans mechanical improvements to address Osprey safety concerns
Following a tumultuous multi-year period of serious safety incidents for the iconic Bell-Boeing tiltrotor, the US Marine Corps says it is pursuing mechanical improvements of Osprey components blamed for at least one fatal crash and numerous groundings.
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NewsFinal US AV-8B Harriers to retire from service in 2027
The latest aviation strategy from the US Marine Corps calls for half of the service’s vertical/short take-off and landing AV-8B Harrier jump jets to be retired by 2026, with the remaining aircraft mothballed in 2027.
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NewsNo more ‘must win competitions’ for Lockheed under de-risking strategy: CEO Taiclet
Chief executive James Taiclet says the defence giant has repositioned its portfolio of development programmes, including by accepting some short-term penalties in 2024 on a secretive aircraft development programme.
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NewsRTX chief Calio to take added role as board chair, Hayes to step down
RTX chief executive Christopher Calio will succeed Gregory Hayes as chair of the company’s board, effective on 30 April.
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NewsPoland begins transition to F-35 with start of flight training at US base
After accepting its first two stealth fighters from Lockheed Martin in December, Poland has begun training its initial cohort of F-35 Lightning II pilots at a US Air National Guard Base in the state of Arkansas.
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NewsNight vision equipment and crowded airspace under scrutiny in Washington collision
A former helicopter pilot familiar with the incident area says city lights, crowded airspace and the use of night vision equipment by military pilots make for a hectic operating environment.
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NewsEuropean Defence Fund pledges €25m for next-generation rotorcraft engine research
Development of a next-generation military rotorcraft engine is to benefit from a €25 million ($26.1 million) boost after the European Defence Fund (EDF) announced backing for the project in its latest annual work programme.
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NewsPSA CRJ700 midair collision occurred in area frequented by military rotorcraft
The location where a PSA Airlines MHIRJ CRJ700 struck a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on 29 January is a busy flight corridor for military rotorcraft.
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NewsSearch and rescue aircraft from US Coast Guard re-tasked to support migrant deportations
The Coast Guard says it has assigned fixed-wing transport aircraft to support President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown on migrants living in the USA illegally, with search and rescue platforms being used to ferry detainees to deportation processing centres in Texas and California.
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News’In-flight malfunction’ caused F-35 crash during Alaska training flight: USAF
Dramatic video has emerged of a catastrophic F-35 crash at Eielson AFB in Alaska.
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NewsRoyal Navy’s upgraded Merlin fleet achieves FOC status
UK defence officials have declared full operating capability (FOC) status for the Royal Navy’s fleet of upgraded Leonardo Helicopters AW101 Merlin Mk4/4a rotorcraft.
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NewsSikorsky begins ground testing with new Black Hawk engine
The trials mark the first time one of the new GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines has been powered up inside a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk as part of a US Army plan to overhaul its fleet of the iconic utility helicopters.
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NewsBombardier hails Global 7500’s new Swiss role
Swiss defence procurement agency Armasuisse has unveiled its new Bombardier Global 7500 following its delivery in late 2024.
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NewsPentagon reduces withholding on F-35 payments, citing Lockheed’s progress on TR-3 development
Although the much-delayed Technical Refresh 3 update to the F-35 stealth fighter remains a work in progress, manufacturer Lockheed Martin has made sufficient advances that the Pentagon is now only withholding $3.8 million per aircraft, down from $5 million previously.
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NewsUS Air Force expands funding for sixth-generation engine development
Despite uncertainty over the future of its sixth-generation fighter development programme, the US Air Force is committing fresh funding toward a separate effort to develop a propulsion solution for “future air dominance platforms”.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters chief stays upbeat on H160 despite lacklustre 2024 sales
Airbus Helicopters chief executive Bruno Even has played down fears over the sales performance of its H160, following a year in which the airframer booked just four orders for the new medium-twin.
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NewsLockheed delivers final MC-130J to US Air Force
Aircraft number 5994 arrived at Kirtland AFB on 14 January after rolling off Lockheed Martin’s production line in Marietta, Georgia, in 2024.