France, India inaugurate H125 line as potential Rafale deal looms
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have inaugurated an Airbus Helicopters H125 assembly line in India, while a joint statement hinted at progress on New Delhi’s requirement for 114 Dassault Rafale fighters under the Make in India initiative.
AH-64 tests proximity-fused ammunition against drones
The US Army has successfully tested new 30mm proximity-fused cannon ammunition aboard the Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, enhancing the rotorcraft’s ability to engage unmanned aircraft systems at various ranges during trials at Arizona’s Yuma Proving Ground.
Royal Danish Air Force picks 2Excel for MH-60R conversion training
UK-based 2Excel Aviation has been selected by the Royal Danish Air Force to train personnel for conversion to the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
VH-92A to assume full presidential transport duties by 2030
The US Marine Corps will retire its VH-3D and VH-60N presidential helicopters by 2030, with HMX-1’s VH-92A fleet expanding to 16 aircraft as the Sikorsky type assumes full Marine One duties.
UK government continues talks with Leonardo over NMH as it pledges it will not allow AW149 offer to ‘time out’
UK defence ministers have met with senior executives from Leonardo twice over the past fortnight as they attempt to reassure the Italian firm over the government’s continued commitment to the long-running New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme and have promised a procurement decision ahead of an end-March deadline.
Lockheed Martin picks Robinson R66 for Flight School Next bid
Lockheed Martin has selected the Robinson Helicopter R66 NxG as its platform offer for the US Army’s Flight School Next training competition.
Israel to boost CH-53K performance with package of Elbit Systems equipment updates
Elbit Systems is to provide a range of new equipment for installation in a dozen Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters on order for the Israeli air force.
French navy praises H160 as service gears up for Guepard
An early naval operator of the Airbus Helicopters H160 has praised the medium-twin for its capabilities as it awaits the arrival of the military M-model variant of the civil platform.
Leonardo targets Indian helicopter production through Adani pact
India’s Adani Defence & Aerospace is to partner with Leonardo to set up a helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in the country, potentially including final assembly facilities for the Italian firm’s AW169M and AW190 TrekkerM platforms.
US Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Vipers to carry L3Harris Red Wolf long-range missiles
L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract to rapidly produce and deliver Red Wolf air-launched weapons to meet the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) requirement.