Ryan Finnerty
Ryan Finnerty is the Americas defence reporter for FlightGlobal.com and Flight International magazine, covering military aviation and the defence industry. He is a former United States Army officer and previously reported for America’s National Public Radio system in New York and Hawaii covering energy, economics and military affairs.
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- News
General Atomics lands first order for modernised Gray Eagles
On the heels of successful engine testing for the new type, uncrewed aircraft manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems scored its first order for the GE-25M Gray Eagle, a modernised version of the venerable MQ-1C UAV, from the US Army National Guard.
- News
General Atomics completes durability testing on new heavy fuel engine
The new powerplant will be incorporated into the modernised MQ-1C Gray Eagle, with manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems promising reductions in field maintenance and 40% more time between engine replacement compared to the current engine.
- News
Canada’s Hawk jet trainers report for retirement duty
Although Ottawa retired the single-engined trainers in March, the Royal Canadian Air Force plans to make continued use of its CT-155s as an instructional platform for new maintenance technicians.
- News
Canada announces $8bn acquisition of 71 trainer aircraft for RCAF
While Ottawa has not yet selected a new training jet for the instruction of new fighter pilots, the government is contracting for more than 70 smaller turboprops and helicopters under the Future Aircrew Training programme.
- News
Next-generation Bell tiltrotor advances in DARPA X-plane competition
Bell’s proposal for the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies project involves a tiltrotor-like aircraft, with the addition of a third, jet-powered flight mode in addition to the rotor-driven vertical and horizontal flight modes found in existing designs.
- News
Canada to integrate Smith Myers mobile phone tracking system into search and rescue fleet
UK technology firm Smith Myers will integrate its Artemis mobile phone detection package into Ottawa’s fleet of CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopters as part of a Leonardo-led mid-life upgrade programme.
- News
Belgium pledges 30 F-16 fighters to Ukraine
At a bilateral meeting in Brussels, the leaders of Belgium and Ukraine signed a $1 billion agreement, including a pledge of 30 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to the beleaguered Eastern European country.
- News
DARPA reveals six concepts for new ship-based VTOL
Known as the Advanced Aircraft Infrastructure-Less Launch and Recovery – or ANCILLARY – programme, the effort aims to radically improve the range, payload, endurance and weight of vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
- Analysis
Sierra Nevada plans to purchase five commercial jets from Korean Air
Although the US defence contractor would not confirm the intent behind the purchase, the acquisition comes just weeks after Sierra Nevada secured a $13 billion Pentagon contract to build a new fleet of nuclear command and control aircraft.
- News
Airbus to demonstrate unmanned UH-72 helicopter for US Marines
The demonstration project comes as the USA’s maritime combat force is exploring methods for resupplying shore-based troops in contested environments from ships at sea.
- News
Australia and New Zealand launch military evacuation flights from New Caledonia
More than a week of unrest in the overseas French territory of New Caledonia has stranded thousands of civilians from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, for whom the South Pacific island is a popular holiday destination and mining hub.
- News
USA agrees to terms for withdrawal from Niger air base
Niger has cleared the US military to operate evacuation flights in support of a plan for US forces to withdraw from the country by 15 September.
- News
Aurora reveals new details of experimental fan-in-wing design
The fan-in-wing prototype recently advanced in DARPA’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies project to develop a new high-speed jet aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing.
- News
Latest F-35 configuration may not be ready for service until 2025
Already months behind schedule, US government auditors now predict the latest Technical Refresh 3 configuration of the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter will not be ready for service until 2025, as the airframer struggles to resolve technical issues hindering flight certification of the new systems.
- News
Aurora now sole designer in Pentagon heavy-lift seaplane effort
Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences is now the sole participant in a Pentagon effort to develop a heavy-lift amphibious transport, after a proposed design from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems was eliminated over schedule and technical concerns.
- In depth
‘It will improvise’: Shield AI’s dogfighting algorithm developed novel fighter tactics
The founder of Shield AI, the company behind the artificial intelligence that recently powered an autonomous F-16 fighter in US Air Force dogfighting drills, says its algorithm has shown ability to improvise, and has even developed novel air combat tactics no human pilot would likely employ.
- News
Hermeus begins testing pre-cooler technology for hypersonic engine
Hypersonic developer Hermeus has begun testing a proprietary pre-cooler technology that will allow a standard Pratt & Whitney F100 jet engine to operate at higher speeds and with greater efficiency.
- In depth
L3Harris poised to deliver first OA-1K Armed Overwatch turboprop
Although the Armed Overwatch programme to develop a new close-air support turboprop has been criticised by government auditors, US Special Operations Command stands by the concept and contractor L3Harris is poised to deliver the first aircraft.
- News
US F/A-18s overfly Guyana amid border dispute with Venezuela
The government of Guyana says it gave permission for two US Navy Boeing F/A-18 fighter jets to pass over the capital Georgetown, amid a border dispute with neighbouring Venezuela over access to valuable oil fields.
- News
A-10s escort US ballistic missile submarine during strait transit
Ground-attack A-10 fighters from the US Air Force overflew the USS Nebraska ballistic-missile submarine during a transit through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, as the air force continues seeking new missions for the ageing jets.