Sikorsky awarded $244M for UH-60M helicopters
Source: US DoD, 15-Jun-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded a $244,863,014 modification (P00077), to a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price, multi-year contract (W58RGZ-12-C-0008), for the procurement of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. Fiscal 2013 procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
US Army researchers chase helicopter performance gains
Source: US Army, 13-Jun-13
A new study by Army researchers looks at inserting carbon nanotubes into the structural design of helicopter rotor blades to improve performance. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory hopes this approach could lead to the design and fabrication of the next generation of rotor blades and fixed wings. Dr. Bryan Glaz, Dr. Jaret Riddick and Ed [...]
Boeing Receives US Army Contract for Up to 215 Chinooks
Source: Boeing Defense, Space & Security, 12-Jun-13
In an agreement that will save the U.S. government more than $800 million, the Army and Boeing (NYSE: BA) have signed a $4 billion multi-year contract for 177 CH-47F Chinook helicopters, with the Army holding options that could increase its total buy to 215 aircraft. Deliveries from the agreement, which is a cost-effective alternative to [...]
Hundreds rally at American Eurocopter to urge for UH-72A funding
Source: American Eurocopter, 10-Jun-13
U.S. Representatives Joe Barton and Marc Veasey joined leaders of American Eurocopter, EADS North America and Turbomeca at a rally Friday to call on Congress to restore funding for the Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The rally took place at EADS North America’s American Eurocopter facility in Grand Prairie, Texas, [...]
AVX Aircraft Company Selected at Category 1 competitor for JMR-TD
Source: AVX Aircraft Company, 07-Jun-13
AVX officials announced that AVX Aircraft Company’s submission for the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator has been selected by the U.S. Army as a category one proposal. AVX is now in negotiations with the Army. JMR TD contracts are expected to be awarded by mid- September 2013. The AVX proposal offers the capabilities the Army wants [...]
250th UH-72A Lakota in operation with US Army with Becker Avionics
Source: Becker Avionics, 06-Jun-13
With the recent delivery of the U.S. Army’s 250th UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) aircraft by EADS North America/Eurocopter, the program is just over two-thirds complete, and remains on schedule and within budget. Nevertheless, there have been some recent changes to the Lakota program due to Department of Defense budget pressures. In Fiscal Year [...]
Bell V-280 Valor™ Selected for Army’s JMR-TD Program
Source: Bell, 05-Jun-13
Bell announced that the Bell V-280 Valor™, its third generation tiltrotor design, has been selected by the U.S. Army for the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) program. The Army is expected to award JMR-TD contracts by September 2013, with first flight scheduled for 2017. “The Bell V-280 Valor will provide the Army’s most sought-after capability with [...]
Mississippians call on Congress to restore funds for UH-72A program
Source: American Eurocopter, 31-May-13
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper and U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee joined leaders of EADS North America and American Eurocopter at a rally Thursday to call on Congress to restore funding for the Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The rally took place at EADS [...]
Iraqi Army receives last of 24 Bell 407s
Source: US Army, 23-May-13
The Army completed a significant milestone in helping to maintain stability in Iraq now that the U.S. military have departed from that theater of operations. The Project Office for Armed Scout Helicopters, along with several representatives from different organizations on Redstone Arsenal, made the eighth delivery of the Iraqi Armed-407 Bell helicopters to Iraq. Three [...]
FLIR Systems awarded $81M US Army contract
Source: FLIR Systems, Inc., 16-May-13
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has been awarded a two year blanket purchase agreement from the U.S. Army to support the MEDEVAC program. The blanket purchase agreement is valued at $81 million and is for the Army MEDEVAC Mission Sensor (MMS) configuration of FLIR’s commercially developed military qualified Talon product, a [...]
Boeing awarded $18M contract modification for Apache long-lead parts
Source: US DoD, 15-May-13
Boeing, Mesa, Ariz., was awarded an $18,342,000 modification (P00005), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-12-C-0055), for the procurement of long lead material for the Apache helicopter. The cumulative total face value of this contract is $218,567,308. Fiscal 2012 procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is [...]
Budget freezes US Army Armed Aerial Scout program
Source: HeliHub.com, 14-May-13
The US Army has issued the following statement on helicopter procurement as part of a wider statement on how it responds to cuts in the military budget. It refers to the lack of “viable candidates” for the US Army Armed Aerial Scout program, which we read as “No candiates falls within our newly-tightened Budget constraints” [...]
Eaton awarded $25M more for CH-47 hydraulic parts
Source: US DoD, 09-May-13
Eaton Aerospace, Jackson, Miss., was awarded a $25,021,735 modification (0002), to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract W58RGZ-13-D-0060, for the procurement of hydraulic parts in support of the CH-47. Fiscal 2013 Procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity.
Kiowa Warrior upgrades alter aircraft profile
Source: US Army, 02-May-13
The newly updated Kiowa Warrior aircraft, the OH-58F, made a ceremonial “first flight,” April 30, at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. With new cockpit and sensor modifications installed, the OH-58F represents the first major upgrade or modernization to the Kiowa Warrior in 20 years. The “cockpit and sensor upgrade program,” called CASUP, converts OH-58D Kiowa Warriors into [...]
Boeing awarded $36M Apache blade contract
Source: US DoD, 30-Apr-13
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $36,599,871 modification (No. 0013), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-10-G-0006), to procure composite main rotor blades and associated support equipment for the Apache Block III configuration. Fiscal 2012 procurement contract funds are being obligated on this award. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the [...]
Eurocopter delivers 250th UH-72A Lakota to US Army
Source: EADS North America, 26-Apr-13
The U.S. Army has fielded the 250th UH-72A Lakota helicopter delivered to Army and National Guard units by EADS North America since 2006. Every Lakota — including an additional five produced for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School — has been delivered on time and on budget, by an American workforce that is more than [...]
Prototype Engineering awarded $10M Black Hawk overhaul work
Source: US DoD, 25-Apr-13
Prototype Engineering Inc., Gardena, Calif., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum value of $10,736,912 for the overhaul services in support of the UH-60 Black Hawk. Work location and type of appropriation will be determined with each order. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with two bids received. The Army Contracting Command, Redstone [...]
Sikorsky sales down 7% as military cuts take their toll
Source: CT News, 25-Apr-13
Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft actually delivered more helicopters in the first quarter of this year than a year ago, but sales revenue was down 7 percent to $1.24 billion, the aircraft maker’s parent corporation reported Tuesday. (See Full Story)
Boeing awarded $19M more for Apache support
Source: US DoD, 25-Apr-13
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $19,633,750 modification (No. P00022), to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (W58RGZ-09-C-0147), for the procurement Apache Block III AH-64D helicopters and related support. This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales for Taiwan. The total cumulative face value of this contract is $624,462,536. Fiscal 2009 procurement contract [...]
Rockwell Collins awarded $85M contract for US Army tactical avionics
Source: US DoD, 21-Apr-13
Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a maximum $85,153,904 for procurement of eight different types of spare part items for radio receiving sets, low frequency automatic direction finders, and tactical navigation systems for Army helicopters. The award is a firm-fixed-price, sole-source, ID/IQ long term contract. Location of performance is Iowa with an [...]
25th CAB named AAAA Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year
Source: US Army, 15-Apr-13
Combat Aviation Brigade was awarded the Army Aviation Association of American Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year Award at the 2013 AAAA Annual Professional Forum in Fort Worth, Texas on April 11. The Brigade’s primary mission was to conduct full spectrum aviation operations, to defeat the insurgency, support and improve governance and development. Their efforts [...]
EADS North America issues statement on proposed UH-72A program reduction
Source: EADS North America, 12-Apr-13
EADS North America Chairman and CEO Sean O’Keefe issued the following statement regarding the proposed reduction of the Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter program from the 41 aircraft remaining to be purchased down to just ten: “During times of budgetary pressure, an extremely successful program like the Lakota — with its demonstrated low cost and unbroken [...]
Selex ES delivers first M-LRFD for US Army Apache M-TADS/PNVS programme
Source: Selex ES, 11-Apr-13
Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has formally handed over the first of its Modernized Laser Rangefinder/Designators (M-LRFDs) to its Customer and prime contractor Lockheed Martin. The M-LRFDs will be installed on US Army Apache helicopters. The Company is under contract to supply the first three production lots of M-LRFDs, which have been awarded under the [...]
L-3 Link helo simulators to Taiwan
Source: upi, 10-Apr-13
The U.S. Army has selected L-3 Link Simulation & Training to build UH-60M Operational Flight Trainers for Taiwan (see full story).
09-Apr-12 Boeing AH-64 Pechigram district, Afghanistan (2F)
09-Apr-13
Two US soldiers killed in helicopter crash. A press release from the Pennsylvania National Guard named the pair as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner, 34, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder, 27.
Breeze-Eastern secures $6M order for Advanced Rescue Hoists
Source: Breeze Eastern, 03-Apr-13
Breeze-Eastern Corporation (NYSE MKT: BZC), the aerospace industry’s only dedicated hoist and winch specialist, today announced a $6 million, 59-unit order from the U.S. Army. The Army’s purchase of 59 HS-29900 High Performance Rescue Hoists will further enhance the medical evacuation and search and rescue capabilities of its BLACK HAWK helicopters. Deliveries are anticipated to [...]
Boeing awarded $18M contract for Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade
Source: US DoD, 22-Mar-13
The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Penn., was awarded a $17,900,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This is a modification for the design and engineering services in support of the CH-47 Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2017. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. [...]
16-Mar-13 Bell OH-58D Daman district, Afghanistan (1F)
16-Mar-13
Officials from the International Security Assistance Force said they have no indication that the helicopter was brought down by enemy activity in the area.
Eaton Aerospace awarded $9M contract for CH-47 axial pistons
Source: US DoD, 13-Mar-13
Eaton Aerospace, Jackson, Miss., was awarded a $9,336,811 firm-fixed-price, incrementally-funded contract. This increment is worth $394,680. The award will provide for the procurement of axial pistons that support the CH-47. Work will be performed in Jackson, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 8, 2014. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. [...]
Sikorsky awarded $45M contract for hub rotors
Source: US DoD, 13-Mar-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded contract SPRRA1-13-D-0025. The award is a firm-fixed-price contract for $45,266,450 for helicopter hub rotors. Location of performance is Connecticut with a March 5, 2018 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 Army Working Capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense [...]
US Army pushing back AH-64E purchase until after 2018?
Source: AL.com, 11-Mar-13
The Army is deferring the purchase of newly built AH-64E Apache helicopters for the next five years, according to industry sources. (see full story). The first response to sequestration?
11-Mar-13 Sikorsky UH-60 Daman district, Afghanistan (5F)
11-Mar-13
Helicopter went down during rain storm
L-3 awarded $18.6M contract for Chinook flight display units
Source: US DoD, 08-Mar-13
L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., was awarded contract (SPRRA1-13-D-0026). The award is a firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for $18,631,032 for Chinook (CH-47) Helicopter flight display units. Location of performance is Michigan with a March 7, 2017 performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 Army Working Capital [...]
Boeing awarded $40M of Chinook field service support
Source: US DoD, 07-Mar-13
The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pa., was awarded a $22,480,813 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for deployed field-service support for the CH-47 Fleet and the cargo helicopter project management office. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2015. One bid was solicited, with one bid [...]
Boeing awarded $41M of Apache modifications
Source: US DoD, 07-Mar-13
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $41,111,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for the incremental funding modification in support of AH-64 Apache Block III system development. Work will be performed in Mesa, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. [...]
US Army Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Class holds first reunion at Heli-Expo
Source: HAI, 05-Mar-13
When the graduates from U.S. Army Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Class 78-19 (Green Flight) decided to have their first reunion 35 years after graduation, they knew the ideal place to get together was at HELI-EXPO. Over a dozen of the original 20 class members and their wives will be attending this year. Class 78-19 set [...]
Air Methods receives $44.8M contract from Sikorsky
Source: Air Methods, 05-Mar-13
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, today announced that its United Rotorcraft Division has been awarded a contract in excess of $44 million from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation for MEDEVAC Interior Systems installed on new HH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopters. This supports Sikorsky’s new Army Multi-Year-8 BLACK HAWK production contract and covers [...]
Sikorsky, Boeing Propose X2™ Technology for US Army’s JMR Future Vertical Lift Requirements
Source: Sikorsky, 01-Mar-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. [NYSE: UTX], and Boeing [NYSE: BA] will submit a joint proposal to build a demonstrator aircraft based on Sikorsky’s X2™ Technology rotorcraft design for the Army’s Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 program. The JMR TD program supports the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift [...]
The Whys and Hows of Accident Reporting
Source: US Army, 26-Feb-13
While serving as a first sergeant years ago, I was frustrated when an accident report submitted to the U.S. Army Safety Center was returned to me for additional information. Unfortunately, because the accident occurred off duty and my Soldier had been rendered unconscious, I couldn’t provide any additional information. What I now realize is even [...]
L-3 Wescam demo’s MX25 EO/IR Imaging to US Army
Source: L-3 WESCAM, 22-Feb-13
L-3 WESCAM announced today the successful on-time delivery and in-flight demonstrations of its first MX™-25 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) imaging system. The MX-25 was delivered to the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, where it was evaluated by the Persistent Threat and Detection System (PTDS) Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) team as a plug-and-play upgrade path for the [...]
Helicopter loading system lightens burden on soldiers
Source: US Army, 18-Feb-13
With a primary mission of moving troops, equipment and life-saving supplies on the battlefield, the Chinook helicopter remains the heavy lift workhorse for Army aviation. The Cargo Helicopters Project Office is constantly striving to improve, upgrade and provide modifications to the Chinook in order to reduce the burden on the Soldier. One of those needed [...]
Raytheon/Thales team wins contract for helicopter helmet mounted displays
Source: Raytheon, 14-Feb-13
Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), together with teammate Thales Visionix Inc. (TVI), has won an award valued at $3.5 million for the engineering and manufacturing development of Common Helmet Mounted Display (CHMD) systems for the U.S. Army’s Air Soldier Program. Under the contract, the RTSC/TVI team will [...]
Three CH-47Ds arrive at Fort Carson for new combat aviation brigade
Source: The Republic, 31-Jan-13
Fort Carson will be the home of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, which will have up to 2,700 soldiers and 113 helicopters. The unit is expected to be activated in April. (see full story)
31-Jan-13 Boeing AH-64D Raleigh, US-North Carolina
31-Jan-13
Emergency landing after electrical malfunction
Three more 407s delivered to Iraqi military
Source: US Army, 25-Jan-13
The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command with U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command and Program Executive Office Aviation facilitated and delivered three Bell 407 Scout helicopters to Iraqi Army Aviation today. This marks the sixth completed delivery of Iraqi Armed 407 Scout helicopter through Foreign Military Sales that began in 2010. “Many of the organizations [...]
Sikorsky and Boeing partner for Joint Multi-Role Future Vertical Lift Requirements
Source: Boeing, 20-Jan-13
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. [NYSE: UTX], and Boeing [NYSE: BA] signed a teaming agreement on Jan. 13 to submit a joint proposal in response to the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate solicitation for the Army’s Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Phase 1 program. The JMR TD supports the [...]
Lockheed Martin awarded $90M US Army Apache M-TADS/PNVS contract
Source: Lockheed Martin, 20-Jan-13
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a $90.6 million Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Army for sustainment of the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) system. The firm, fixed price contract provides a comprehensive sustainment solution that enables mission readiness, reduces operation and support costs, and drives reliability and maintainability improvements. [...]
16th CAB upgrades Black Hawks
Source: US Army, 17-Jan-13
The 2-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion began fielding 30 new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, replacing the current UH-60L models, Jan 7, and is scheduled to finish receiving equipment sometime between late February and early March. The new model UH-60M Black Hawk features a complete digital cockpit versus the previous analog cockpit, making it more user-friendly for [...]
Telephonics wins US Army contract for TruLink comms system
Source: Telephonics, 16-Jan-13
Telephonics Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF), announced today that the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Command (AMCOM) in Huntsville, AL has awarded a five (5) year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for its TruLink® Wireless Intercommunication System with a value of $33M. This contract is for full-rate production of the [...]
US Army fields first AH-64E unit
Source: FlightGlobal, 11-Jan-13
“Right now, we are currently fielding the first unit equipped, our FUE [first unit equipped] unit, with Echo-models, and we’re on track to meet that fielding schedule,” says Col Jeff Hager, the army’s Apache programme manager. (see full story)
US Army CH-47Fs aid stranded Alaskan oil rig
Source: US Army, 11-Jan-13
The Royal Dutch Shell Arctic drilling rig Kulluk Salvage was hit with a storm New Year’s Eve that ran it onto an Alaska island and caused a power outage. The Kulluk is a circular drill barge that does not have propulsion, and needed heavy equipment to restore operational power. The U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 52nd [...]
US Army seeks more data before approving OH-58 replacement contest
09-Jan-13
U.S. Army leaders want more information before they approve a multibillion-dollar competition to replace the Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warriors, which may delay a decision on the matter by several months, an Army official said Tuesday. (see full story)
Medevac crews in Afghanistan increase en-route patient care
Source: US Army, 09-Jan-13
During the course of the last several months, two medevac companies in Task Force Hammerhead have participated in a trial program developed by the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade that enables flight medics to administer blood products to wounded Soldiers during the Soldiers’ en-route flight care and movement to a medical facility. The 3-25th General Support [...]
EADS North America arded $26M contract to support UH-72 Mission Equipment Packages
Source: US DoD, 04-Jan-13
EADS North America Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $26,298,512 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure contractor logistics support for Mission Equipment Packages for the Light Utility Helicopter program. Work will be performed in Columbus, Miss., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. One [...]
Cold spray system wins environmental technology award
Source: US Army Research Lab, 03-Jan-13
A project involving the U.S. Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL’s) cold spray technology was named one of six environment technology Projects of the Year, recognized for research and technology developments with significant benefits to the Department of Defense (DoD). The Supersonic Particle Deposition for Repair of Magnesium Aircraft Components project, led by Victor K. Champagne, Jr., [...]
Respected analyst predicts “no competition” for the Kiowa
Source: Star-Telegram, 01-Jan-13
Richard Aboulafia, analyst for The Teal Group in Washington D.C., expects the US Army will stick with the Kiowa “because it makes budget sense” (see full story)
Matrix Composites awarded contract for US Army’s Reduced Weight Missile Launcher program
Source: Matrix Composites, 19-Dec-12
Matrix Composites, Inc. announced today the award of a significant contract from Materials Sciences Corporation (MSC) to produce carbon fiber reinforced composite Hardback assemblies for the U. S. Army’s Reduced Weight Missile Launcher (RWML) Program. The project was awarded to Matrix Composites to continue the US Army’s Armed Scout Helicopter (ASH) and Joint Attack Munition [...]
US Army Black Hawk flies autonomously over California
Source: US Army, 06-Dec-12
Over the skies east of San Jose, a Black Hawk helicopter was seen flying low and slow Nov. 5. There were pilots aboard the aircraft, but all maneuvers during this flight were being conducted autonomously. The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s Aviation and Missile Center successfully demonstrated low-level autonomous behaviors in a flight [...]
General Dynamics delivers 1,000th OH-58D Kiowa Warrior mast housing
Source: General Dynamics, 28-Nov-12
General Dynamics Global Imaging Technologies has delivered the 1,000th precision-machined beryllium sensor housing to DRS Technologies, Inc. DRS integrates the sensor housings into the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) for the U.S. Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter. “We are very proud of the continued hard work and dedication exhibited by our employees on this project,” said [...]
Barfield wins five year US Army OH-58D contract
Source: Barfield, 28-Nov-12
The U.S. Army Contracting Command, global contracting support provider for the Army’s tactical aircraft, awarded Barfield a 5-year contract for the maintenance of its Alkan Electro Mechanical Release units, placed on the US Army’s Bell 406 Helicopters. Within the scope of this contract, Barfield will provide depot level repair solutions from its facility in Miami [...]
Pratt & Whitney to develop Advanced Variable Speed Turbine for Army rotorcraft
Source: Pratt & Whitney, 28-Nov-12
Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to research and develop an Advanced Variable-Speed Power Turbine (AVSPOT) to meet the range and lift requirements for current and future force rotorcraft. The AVSPOT program is an initiative by the U.S. Army’s Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, [...]
Boeing awarded $34M contract for AH-64E work
Source: US DoD, 20-Nov-12
The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $34,125,819 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. The award will provide for the funding of AH-64 Apache Block III System Development and Demonstration Phase. Work will be performed in Mesa, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2014. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting [...]
Sikorsky awarded $804M contract for UH-60M and HH-60M procurement
Source: US DoD, 20-Nov-12
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded an $804,426,634 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to provide for the procurement of UH-60M and HH-60M helicopters and to fund associated engineering, program management, provisioning, technical publications, logistics support and related funding. Work will be performed in Stratford, with an [...]
10th CAB Kiowa pilots receive awards from France
Source: US Army, 07-Nov-12
Two U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilots from 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, received the Cross of Military Valor with Silver Star, one of the highest French military awards, during a ceremony Oct. 23, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Capt. Benjamin H. March and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Keenan A. Bachmeyer each earned the [...]
Bell awarded $33M contract for Huey II aircraft and services
Source: US DoD, 02-Nov-12
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded a $33,410,210 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of Bell Helicopter Huey II Aircraft and related support services. Work will be performed in Hurst, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2013. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army [...]
US Army redesignates Apache Block III as AH-64E
Source: US Army, 01-Nov-12
The Defense Acquisition Board decision regarding full-rate production for the Apache Block III helicopter program was announced Oct. 24 by Army officials at a briefing in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Apache project manager Col. Jeffrey Hager confirmed that the Apache Block III is being redesignated as an AH-64E model. The announcement event was attended by 20 [...]
US Army becomes first customer for Saab head-up display
Source: Saab, 01-Nov-12
Defence and security company Saab has received the first order for its HUD-system following flight evaluations by the US Army Aviation end customer with the system installed on a Blackhawk helicopter. Saab secured the order in cooperation with the contract prime, BAE Systems Inc. for the U.S. Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) [...]
Honeywell’s Spectra Shield® ballistic material selected for US Army helicopters
Source: Honeywell, 29-Oct-12
Honeywell announced that its Spectra Shield® ballistic material will be used to improve armor protection on U.S. Army helicopters. The Protective Group, Inc. (TPG), a leading developer and integrator of lightweight composite armor for military aircraft, is incorporating Spectra Shield material into armor upgrades for U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. “Spectra Shield [...]
US Army ‘retires’ last A model Apache helicopter
Source: US Army, 18-Oct-12
It was a proud, historic and emotional moment for the Army and especially for the soldiers in the 1-149th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion. The last AH-64A Apache helicopter, aircraft 451, was “retired” from the Army and handed over to the Project Office for Apache Helicopters during a ceremony on Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, [...]
US Army tests Eurocopter EC145T2 for Kiowa replacement
Source: US Army, 17-Oct-12
With all of the innovations that have taken place on the battlefield and in the air over the last 37 years, it might be difficult for some to believe that the Army is still using helicopters that were in use during the Vietnam War. Yet, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopter is still widely used [...]
Army UH-1H finds new home with Air Force
Source: US Air Force, 15-Oct-12
The Inter-American Air Forces Academy at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland recently landed a new training tool that upgrades the helicopter maintenance courses it offers to students from Latin American partner nations. The arrival of an Army UH-1H helicopter at IAAFA’s 318th Training Squadron is expected to meet the growing needs of students who are here [...]
Apache Block III product manager leaves milestone legacy
Source: US Army, 12-Oct-12
After going through three major acquisition milestones, battling through challenges such as a Nun-McCurdy breach, and countless days of travel associated with the job and being away from the family, the product manager for Apache Block III is retiring from the Army after more than 20 years in service. Lt. Col. Dan Bailey relinquished his [...]
Kentucky Army Aviation helps keep the National Guard in the air
Source: US Army, 08-Oct-12
It is often thought that a warrant officer in an Army Aviation unit is only a pilot. That is certainly not the case. The aviation field also demands that experts are on hand as maintenance technicians to ensure that those pilots have a working aircraft to fly. In the Kentucky National Guard, some aviation warrant [...]
Simmonds Precision Products awarded $32M contract for Black Hawk actuators
Source: US DoD, 08-Oct-12
Simmonds Precision Products, Vergennes, Vt., was awarded a $32,728,880 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of electro-mechanical actuators for the Black Hawk helicopter. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2016. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The [...]
Honeywell awarded $14M CH-47 support contract
Source: US DoD, 08-Oct-12
Honeywell International, Tempe, Ariz., was awarded a $13,965,978 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of equipment in support of the CH-47 aircraft. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 26, 2017. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, [...]
