Canberra issues special forces helicopter RFP
Australia has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a requirement to obtain a fleet of light helicopters for use by the country’s special forces.
US government awards sonar contract for Indian, Danish MH-60Rs
Lockheed Martin has secured a $182 million contract for airborne low frequency sonars (ALFS) related to Indian and Danish Sikorsky MH-60R anti-submarine warfare helicopters.
Leonardo slows arrival of Kopter SH09 helicopter as it integrates new acquisition
Leonardo Helicopters has slowed the service-entry schedule for its recently acquired Kopter SH09 light-single and is also likely to build the rotorcraft at an existing production plant in to the north of Italy rather than Switzerland as previously planned.
US Army orders nine additional MH-47G Block II Chinooks
Boeing has secured a $265 million deal to supply nine additional MH-47G Block II Chinooks for the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC).
Airbus Helicopters accelerates VSR700 testing as UAV flies untethered
Airbus Helicopters expects to begin accelerating testing of its VSR700 unmanned air vehicle (UAV) prototype following its first free flight, as the airframer builds towards deck landing trials later this year and sea trials in 2021.
Indonesia’s intriguing Osprey opportunity
While Indonesia seems a surprising candidate to buy the V-22 Osprey, the tiltrotor would offer the island nation distinct advantages. But procurement and budget issues remain formidable obstacles to its acquisiton.
Rolls-Royce and Bell firm up engine option agreement for V-280
Rolls-Royce has confirmed an agreement with Bell to develop a propulsion option for the Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor, a competitor in the US Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft programme.
Qinetiq successfully teams H125 helicopter with ‘semi-autonomous drone’
Qinetiq has completed what it claims is the UK’s first demonstration of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) using a standard Airbus Helicopters H125 light-single working in concert with a “semi-autonomous drone”.
Lockheed Martin to sell 40% stake in AMMROC to Abu Dhabi’s Edge
Lockheed Martin plans to sell its 40% stake in Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center (AMMROC) to state-owned Edge of the United Arab Emirates.
Why Sea Kings still rule for HeliOperations
On the face of it, a UK company flying former Royal Navy (RN) Sea King helicopters on behalf of the German navy from a former coastguard base in the very south of England sounds an unlikely combination, or at least the set-up for a convoluted joke. But for Portland-based HeliOperations, that union is proving a lucrative one.