All UK Royal Air Force articles
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Airbus touts strong demand for H175M and eyes part-out potential of UK Pumas
Airbus Helicopters sees strong interest in the H175M – the military version of the super-medium-twin – and is already completing the integration of its HForce modular weapons system onto the platform. Meanwhile, its services and support arm is seeking inventory for part-out, and is already eyeing the UK’s Puma fleet.
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RAF Hawk T2s airborne again after short grounding, as trainer developer seals AirTanker pact
The UK has returned its BAE Systems Hawk T2 jet trainers to service following a short precautionary grounding due to engine issues.
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Lockheed details low Hawk T2 availability rates that will push UK training overseas
The UK is so short of operational jet trainer aircraft due to an engine issue afflicting the Royal Air Force’s fleet of BAE Systems Hawk T2s that it is having to send pilots abroad for fast-jet training.
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Four firms to fight for UK’s New Medium Helicopter requirement
Defence officials have whittled down the number of bidders for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest to four companies – Airbus Helicopters, Boeing, Leonardo Helicopters and Sikorsky – following an initial selection process.
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Ascent kicks off tender for UK military rear-crew training
Ascent Flight Training will later this year begin a tender process that will ultimately see it train rear crews for aircraft – plus pilots for unmanned platforms – across the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN).
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Airbus Helicopters details H175M Task Force to support NMH bid
Airbus Helicopters has unveiled what it calls the “H175M Task Force” – an industry grouping it has put together to support its bid for the UK’s New Military Helicopter (NMH) requirement.
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Boeing plans P-8 deliveries to New Zealand, Germany and South Korea
Transfer of the anti-submarine and rescue aircraft will be completed over the next two years.
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UK MoD squashes Mosquito’s flight ambitions as it axes £30 million project
UK defence officials have cancelled the Project Mosquito ‘loyal wingman’ technology demonstrator being developed by a team including Spirit AeroSystems Belfast and Northrop Grumman, to instead pursue smaller and cheaper alternatives.
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Leonardo picks electronics executive to head UK helicopter business
Leonardo has appointed Adam Clarke to head its UK helicopter business following the sudden departure of the unit’s previous managing director Nick Whitney in mid-May.
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Draken wins three-year UK ‘red air’ deal
Draken Europe is to provide aggressor training for the Royal Air Force using Aero Vodochody L-159Es to be operated from Teesside International airport under an initial three-year contract.
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Latest NMH contender breaks cover and touts ‘evolved and renewed’ Black Hawk bid
A surprise contender for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement has broken cover, pitching pre-owned Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks that would be extensively upgraded at a new facility in the northeast of England.
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Leonardo adds rockets to AW149 as NMH contest nears launch
Leonardo Helicopters continues to enhance its AW149 super-medium-twin, with the integration of laser-guided and unguided rockets onto the platform, as the start of the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) procurement nears.
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Leonardo Helicopters pans ‘pop-up’ production plans of NMH rivals
Head of UK campaigns Mike Morrisroe also underscores Leonardo Helicopters’ export ambitions for Yeovil-built AW149s in the event that it wins the NMH contract.
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RAF Pumas to replace Bell helicopters in Brunei and Cyprus
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed plans to temporarily replace two Bell helicopter types operated in Brunei and Cyprus with part of the Puma fleet currently flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF).
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British Army eyes rapid ramp-up of capability with new Apache fleet
With its first remanufactured Boeing AH-64E Apache now in flight testing, the British Army is confident that an initial squadron of eight attack helicopters will be ready for operations later this year.
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‘No decision’ on Puma out-of-service date, insists UK MoD
UK defence officials insist no decision has been taken on the out-of-service date for any of the rotorcraft covered by its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, despite hints that retirements could begin as early as 2022.
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Sikorsky pitches Polish-built Black Hawks as UK Puma replacement
Sikorsky will offer Polish-built S-70M Black Hawk helicopters for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement, the manufacturer confirms.
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First NMH delivery could take place in September 2024 under Puma replacement plan
Prospective bidders for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement have until 9 December to submit their initial responses to the Ministry of Defence.
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UK could buy up to 44 helicopters under £1 billion NMH acquisition
UK defence officials are prepared to spend up to £1 billion ($1.3 billion) on as many as 44 aircraft under the country’s nascent New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, according to newly published tender documents. Posted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 11 November, the contract opportunity notice is the ...
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RAF’s Shadow surveillance fleet to grow by two aircraft, get new defences
The UK Royal Air Force has ordered two additional Raytheon Shadow R1 reconnaissance aircraft to grow its fleet to eight examples.