All articles by Ryan Finnerty – Page 4
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NewsCanada will field initial 16 F-35As, still weighing options for remaining 72 aircraft
Ottawa confirms it will take delivery of 16 Lockheed Martin F-35As already under contract but is reviewing plans for the remaining 72 aircraft originally planned under its fighter modernisation programme.
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NewsSikorsky reveals ‘Nomad’ rotor-blown aircraft, with full-scale demonstrator in ground testing
Sikorsky has revealed the ‘Nomad’ trade name for its family of autonomous rotor-blown wing aircraft, with full-scale testing of the Group 3 variant expected in the coming months as the manufacturer targets US Army reconnaissance requirements.
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In depthEmbraer developing options for KC-390 assembly in USA
Brazilian airframer Embraer is developing plans for local assembly of its KC-390 Millennium tanker-transport aircraft as part of a bid to secure a US Air Force contract for the Next Generation Air Refuelling System programme.
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AnalysisUS Navy exploring seawater-to-jet fuel conversion technology
The US Navy is funding research into a process for converting seawater into jet fuel, awarding a $9.4 million contract to Sea Dragon Energy to develop shipboard fuel production systems that could in theory sustain carrier strike group operations indefinitely.
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NewsPolish air force pilots demo F-15EX during US visit
Polish air force officers including inspector general Ireneusz Nowak travelled to Boeing’s Missouri facility to evaluate the F-15EX Eagle II multi-role fighter, conducting familiarisation flights as Warsaw considers the twin-engined jet alongside its F-35A acquisition programme.
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NewsWhite House taps Pacific veteran to lead US Air Force amid China tensions
General Kenneth Wilsbach, former Pacific Air Forces commander with extensive Indo-Pacific experience, has been nominated to lead the US Air Force as tensions with China escalate in the Western Pacific region.
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NewsUS Army moves forward with operational fielding of CH-47F Block II
The US Army has authorised procurement of Boeing’s CH-47F Block II Chinook using fiscal 2025 and 2026 funds, planning to outfit two combat aviation brigades with the upgraded heavy-lift helicopters.
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AnalysisEngine makers accelerate plans for new class of small turbofans targeting autonomous fighters
Pratt & Whitney, GE Aerospace and Honeywell are advancing small turbofan designs as the Pentagon emphasises rapidly fielding low-cost, autonomous fighter jets known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
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NewsSikorsky lands nearly $11bn Pentagon order for up to 99 CH-53K helicopters
Rotorcraft manufacturer Sikorsky has received a nearly $11 billion Pentagon contract covering deliveries of the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter across multiple years. The $10.9 billion deal announced on 26 September by US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) covers up to 99 of the three-engined King Stallion helicopters for the US Marine ...
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NewsBoeing and labour union to resume talks as strike drags on
Contract negotiations between Boeing and striking machinists at its St. Louis fighter aircraft facility will resume on Monday with federal mediation assistance, as the dispute enters its third month.
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NewsUS Coast Guard presses ahead with plans to retire MH-65s
The US Coast Guard has awarded contracts worth more than $28 million for turboshaft engines and multi-mode radars as part of a $3 billion aviation modernisation programme that will see the service’s fixed-wing fleet grow and its rotary-wing fleet consolidated to a single helicopter type.
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NewsL3Harris unveils podded Viper Shield electronic warfare system for F-16
Military systems provider L3Harris has introduced a podded variant of its Viper Shield electronic warfare system, offering F-16 operators enhanced flexibility and reduced aircraft downtime compared to the internally integrated configuration.
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NewsAnduril plans to use new aircraft design for US Navy uncrewed fighter programme
Defence start-up Anduril Industries plans to develop a completely new uncrewed aircraft for the US Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme, rather than adapting its existing Fury design for carrier operations.
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NewsUSAF targeting 2040s for single successor to C-17 and C-5M strategic airlifters
The US Air Force is targeting the mid-2040s to field a new strategic airlifter that would serve as the single successor to both the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy, according to the service’s air mobility chief.
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NewsUS Air Force exploring all options for next-generation survivable tanker
The head of Air Mobility Command says the US Air Force is open to all potential solutions for a next-generation survivable tanker, including a stealthy blended-wing body, a converted business jet and a “signature managed” conventional tanker.
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NewsBoeing F-47 to fly in 2028, with production underway on first aircraft
Boeing’s developmental F-47 sixth-generation fighter will make its first flight in 2028, with assembly work already underway on the initial aircraft following the company’s selection for the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance programme.
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NewsFirst flight ‘imminent’ for Anduril’s YFQ-44A autonomous fighter prototype
Anduril executives say they are wrapping up ground testing on the YFQ-44A, taking extra time to further develop the autonomous flight software that will enable the uncrewed jet to make its first flight without any remote piloting inputs.
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NewsBeehive Industries prepares to ship first Frenzy turbojet prototype to USAF
Colorado propulsion start-up Beehive Industries is preparing to deliver its first Frenzy turbojet prototype to the US Air Force Research Laboratory, marking a significant milestone in developing new engines for cruise missiles and uncrewed aircraft.
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In depthExclusive: Textron shows off new Beechcraft M-346N trainer in first US public flight
Textron Aviation has conducted the first public demonstration flight of its Beechcraft M-346N military trainer in North America, as the US Navy prepares to launch its competitive selection process for a new jet trainer under the Undergraduate Jet Training System programme.
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NewsPratt & Whitney launches family of small turbofans for collaborative combat aircraft
US engine maker Pratt & Whitney is developing a new line of small turbofans for uncrewed tactical jets.