Donaldson Aerospace & Defense, a business unit within Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), today announced the appointment of Lars Hesbjerg as its global director of sales. Hesbjerg, a company veteran who joined Donaldson in 2002, is responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing within Donaldson’s Aerospace & Defense businesses. His performance and history of… Read more »
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) marked its first successful flight demonstration of a flight critical aircraft component built using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, July 29. An MV-22B Osprey completed a test flight outfitted with a titanium, 3-D printed link and fitting assembly for the engine nacelle. This link and fitting assembly is one of four… Read more »
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, will leverage its assets in Colombia to provide BLACK HAWK helicopter operators in Mexico with maintenance, component repair and pilot simulator training, the company announced today as a step toward establishing Colombia as a nexus for supporting BLACK HAWK operators throughout Latin America. The initiative will enable Mexico’s growing BLACK… Read more »
The Vice President of the Republic of Panama, Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado, visited Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s factory in Vergiate (Varese) recently, home to the company’s main helicopter final assembly lines. The Vice President of Panama and a senior accompanying delegation had the opportunity to view the industrial capabilities and modern range of products that make… Read more »
Airbus Helicopters has carried out the first flight of the initial UK MFTS aircraft, bringing delivery one step closer. With 12 UK MFTS aircraft already in production at the company’s site in Donauworth, the programme is meeting the challenging deadlines by delivering key programme events to time including production ramp up and initial ground runs… Read more »
SMi Group have released online three military presentations from the second event in their series of helicopter conferences: ‘Helicopter Technology Eastern Europe’, which was hosted in May this year. The unique presentations now available to download include those from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Swedish Air Force, and European Personnel Recovery Centre, entitled: ‘Concept of… Read more »
The Royal Navy’s instructors at the Lynx Simulator Facility at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton were recently awarded the Breitling Trophy for achieving the best overall performance during the annual Naval Flying Standards inspection. The inspection was conducted by the office of the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff – Aviation and Carriers (ACNS-A&C) for… Read more »
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed a seven-year contract with Denmark’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), to support 14 RTM 322-powered EH101 Merlin operated by the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF). Over 50 engines will now be covered by Safran’s Global Support Package (GSP This agreement satisfies the RDAF requirement for optimum availability of engines… Read more »
A new commander took charge of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point during a change of command ceremony in front of Marines, sailors, families, friends and other honored guests here, July 28. Colonel Todd Ferry assumed command of MCAS Cherry Point from Col. Chris Pappas III on the headquarters parade field. The change of command… Read more »
AEM has been selected to provide its new generation loudspeaker systems to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd for two B429 helicopters purchased by the Indonesian National Police. The aircraft were signed for at the 2016 Singapore Airshow during a formal signing ceremony. As the official police force for Indonesia, the aircraft will support law enforcement activities… Read more »
CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CPI Aero®) (NYSE MKT: CVU) today announced that management will participate in two investor conferences: Jefferies 12th Annual Industrials Conference in New York City on August 9. Management is scheduled to participate in a fireside chat at 3:20 PM ET and will hold one-on-one meetings with investors throughout the day. Canaccord Genuity… Read more »
Seyer Industries Inc.,* St. Peters, Missouri, is being awarded a $27,316,194 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide support equipment for the V-22 in support of the Navy and Air Force. Parts to be procured include support equipment, spare parts and assorted adapters, kits and assemblies. Work will be performed at St. Peters, Missouri, and is expected… Read more »
Advanced Acoustic Concepts LLC, Hauppauge, New York, is being awarded a $13,806,148 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the Common Acoustic Simulation Environment Fidelity Implementation (CASE-FI) in support of the P-8A and MH-60R aircraft. CASE-FI will provide tactical operational flight trainers and weapons tactics trainers with high fidelity improvements to the anti-software warfare tactical… Read more »
Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $9,561,182 for modification P00010 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-12-C-0033) for the procurement of one MV-22 TiltrotorContainerized Flight Training Device for the government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Chantilly, Virginia (90 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (8… Read more »
Lockheed Martin has delivered the 24th, and final, MH-60R SEAHAWK® helicopter to the U.S. Navy in support of the Navy’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The milestone delivery took place during a July 27 ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York facility. The event marked the official transfer of… Read more »
Technavio’s latest report on the global helicopter simulator market provides an analysis on the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2016-2020. Technavio defines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline. The global helicopter simulator market is… Read more »
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the successful execution of the VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program Critical Design Review (CDR), signaling the program is ready to proceed to assembly, test and evaluation. The joint Sikorsky/Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) VH-92A helicopter program team met in July with key collaborators from government and industry for an… Read more »
HMAS Canberra has successfully landed a United States Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft on its flight deck for the very first time. The trial was conducted as part of the Sea Phase for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 off the north east coast of Hawaii. Commander Air, HMAS Canberra, Commander Adrian… Read more »
Several Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion that is now part of Joint Base McGhee-Tyson in Knoxville, Tenn., were awarded the Sikorsky Rescue Award July 10, for participating in three different lifesaving missions in Eastern Tennessee earlier this year. “To be eligible to receive the Sikorsky Rescue Award, and individual… Read more »
The “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Attack Squadron (HSM) 74 and the U.S. Navy saw an operational breakthrough July 12 when transiting through the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. For the first time, an MH-60R Seahawk, the Navy’s next-generation submarine hunter and surface attack helicopter, was swing loaded with both AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon… Read more »
The following statement from the US Dept of Defense yesterday indicates that four MV-22 Ospreys are to be built for Japan, with the wording carefully crafted due to the way that the Far Eastern country had regarded their defence operations since 1954 – for example, they use “Air Self-Defence Force” in place of “Air Force”… Read more »
MBDA and Boeing have successfully completed a series of physical trials and firings of Brimstone on the AH-64E attack helicopter to confirm the feasibility of integrating the missile with the United Kingdom’s future Apache AH-64E fleet. These trials validate a prior UK MOD study contract with MBDA and Boeing that confirmed integration was expected to… Read more »
General Dynamics Mission Systems–UK has worked closely with Leonardo Helicopters, previously known as AgustaWestland, to develop and integrate a Link 16 datalink system for the first export variant of the AW159 Wildcat helicopter. The advanced Link 16 datalink system is one of the most advanced for a rotary platform, providing a full Command and Control… Read more »
The defence ministry in Hungary signed a contract on 7th July with Russian Helicopters for the overhaul of their four Mi-17 helicopters. The contract calls for all four to be completed within 24 months, with each airframe being completed within 10 months of arrival. The work will be carried out at Novosibirsk, and the contract… Read more »
The U.S. Army awarded the LONGBOW Limited Liability Company (LLC) an $89.8 million contract to upgrade the Apache attack helicopter’s LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR). The LONGBOW LLC is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC). The contract includes the production of 84 Radar Electronics Units (REUs) as well… Read more »
Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc (NYSE: TXT) company have signed an agreement to work together in support of India’s aviation and defense modernisation initiatives with an emphasis on ‘Make in India’. Under this agreement TASL and Bell Helicopter will join forces to develop both commercial and government (including military) rotary… Read more »
Thales announces that Scorpion® helmet-mounted sight and display (HMSD) has been selected for Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) for South Korean Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and to equip after completion on LAH EMD. At the end of an open competition, KAI made the choice of efficiency, modern technology and reliability. Thales will provide 400 HMSD… Read more »
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) unveiled a European-built Sikorsky BLACK HAWK helicopter at the Farnborough International Airshow, showcasing the types of weapons that can be integrated onto the multirole aircraft. Armed external wings on either side of the displayed aircraft feature a total of four weapons stations, with launchers for a mix of air-to-ground missiles, a… Read more »
Kaman Aerosystems (Kaman), a division of the aerospace segment of Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), announced today that its Air Vehicles and MRO (AVMRO) unit has been awarded a three-year contract with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for the establishment of depot level maintenance capabilities for the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) SH-2G(E) helicopter program. The contract has… Read more »
Leonardo announced at Farnborough International Air Show it recently received a contract award notification for the avionics and engine upgrade of five Lynx Mk95 helicopters currently in service with the Portuguese Navy. The contract is expected to be signed in the coming few weeks. Leonardo welcomes this further recognition of the outstanding naval & modern… Read more »
Registration is now open for the conference Future Helicopter Technology taking place in Prague on the 26th and 27th October 2016. This, the 3rd event in SMi’s series of helicopter technology conferences, revered as the highest level meeting for rotary fleet commanders from the most forward thinking military nations, will focus on effective strategies for… Read more »
Airbus Helicopters has awarded a contract to Mahindra Aerostructures to make airframe parts for the AS565 MBe Panther. These parts will be produced at the Mahindra facility in Bengaluru. They will be shipped directly to the Airbus Helicopter production line in Marignane, France where they will be integrated with the rest of the airframe assembly… Read more »
Lockheed Martin is exploring options to bring its weapons integration expertise to bear on the European-built S-70 BLACK HAWK helicopters made by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company. The goal is to produce an armed kit scalable to the requirements of customers that procure International BLACK HAWK aircraft direct from Lockheed Martin. “Last year’s acquisition of… Read more »
The new arrangement recognises the mutual relationship between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland), and includes commitments to working together on year-on-year improvements in cost effectiveness. It also recognises our respective roles in enhancing national prosperity through exports, where success generates revenue for the company and helps sustain valuable UK jobs and… Read more »
Safran has been selected to supply engines for the training aircraft selected for Rotary Wing training under the UK’s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme. Safran Helicopter Engines will provide Arrius 2B2Plus and Arriel 2E turbines for the fleet of Airbus Helicopters H135 and H145. Safran maintains its position of preferred engine manufacturer for helicopter… Read more »
Sikorsky and its subsidiary PZL Mielec have today signed a memorandum of understanding with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), one of the largest defence groups in Europe, under which PGZ companies would have significant involvement in the S-70i™ BLACK HAWK helicopter programme if Sikorsky and PZL Mielec are selected by the Polish government to provide a… Read more »
Boeing will deliver 50 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the British Army under an agreement signed between the U.S. and UK governments, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced today. The agreement is also a precursor to potential, significant long-term support opportunities for Boeing. David Pitchforth, vice president and managing director of Boeing Defence UK… Read more »
Piedmont Propulsion Systems, LLC (PPS), a world leader in propeller maintenance and overhaul for the regional airline and military markets, announced today a major milestone in its advance into the military helicopter MRO market. PPS has received approval from the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering command for maintenance and overhaul activities on the UH-60… Read more »
Combining technology, innovation and the operational experience of their people, who have served in the UK armed forces around the world, Inzpire, based in Lincoln, UK, will be demonstrating their unique capabilities at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow11-15 July 2016. Since its inception in 2005 Inzpire has rapidly expanded its customer base by successfully… Read more »
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $73,939,536 for modification P00053 to the previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm target multi-year contract (N00019-12-C-2001). This modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of one CV-22 tilt rotor aircraft for the Air Force pursuant to the variation in quantity clause. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas… Read more »
A delegation from the Republic of Myanmar Defense Ministry, headed by Air Force Major General Khin Aung Myint, visited the Kazan Helicopters facility of the Russian Helicopters The delegation inspected the facility’s recently upgraded sites, including modular assembly and paint shops, as well as a stationary helicopter exhibition. The guests were presented Mi-17V-5 and Ansat… Read more »
CAE was awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to provide Airbus Helicopters H135/H145 synthetic training equipment in support of the United Kingdom’s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) program. CAE will provide a total of seven flight training devices (FTDs) and one command and tactics trainer (CTT) for the Airbus Helicopters H135/H145 family, which were recently… Read more »
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for Excess SH-60F Sea-Hawk Helicopter equipment and support. The estimated cost is $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 5, 2016. The Government of Israel has requested to… Read more »
Cobham plc is pleased to announce the appointment of David Mellors as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). His starting date is to be confirmed but not expected to be later than 1 January 2017. David is currently CFO of QinetiQ Group plc, the FTSE 250 science and engineering company that operates primarily in the defence, security… Read more »
Bell have announced that they will Helicopter will showcase the Bell 407GXP at Farnborough Air Show, which opens next Monday in the UK. The aircraft was shown this last weekend at Heli UK Expo, and is pending delivery to Topflight Helicopters – an order announced earlier this year at the HAI Heli Expo in Louisville. … Read more »
BIRD Aerosystems would like to invite you to visit our Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS-MV) static demo at Farnborough 2016. During the show, BIRD will be presenting an installation of AMPS-MV on MI-8 Helicopter. The AMPS-MV is the most advanced AMPS configuration, including the MACS confirmation sensor, that enables practical zero False Alarm Rate and… Read more »
Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is being awarded a $40,382,466 cost-plus-incentive-fee delivery order 4019, against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0019), for non-recurring engineering efforts in support of the MH-60R aircraft for the integration of software product improvement. These services are in support of the U.S. Navy and the Government of Australia. Work… Read more »
PZL-Świdnik, a Leonardo-Finmeccanica company, is pleased to inform that it is handing over to the Polish Armed Forces the last in the second series of four W-3PL Głuszec helicopters, which will bring the total number of Głuszec helicopters in the service of the Polish Army to eight. Moreover the handover of the first two out… Read more »
Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, delivered two medium military-transport helicopters to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia. The rotorcraft was manufactured at Kazan Helicopter Plant. The delivery was carried out under a contract signed by Rosoboronexport. The agreement was signed in September 2015 and was fulfilled on time. In addition… Read more »
The presentation of an update yesterday on the Norwegian investigation of April’s EC225 accident brings us closer to the issue being one that puts the onus on Airbus rather than CHC – see earlier article. If, and we stress it is still conditional, the final report continues in the same way, then Airbus Helicopters have… Read more »
Five new MD-530 Cayuse Warrior helicopters arrived at Hamid Karzai International Airport June 17, 2016, via a C-17 Globemaster III from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. [HeliHub.com editor note – these include MD serial numbers 0223FF, 0256FF and 0257FF] The MD-530s were delivered to the Afghan Air Force providing them an expanded capability to support… Read more »
In a major boost to Army’s medium lift helicopter capability, CASG has delivered three additional CH-47Fs Chinooks two and half months ahead of schedule. The addition of three CH-47Fs to the existing fleet of seven significantly expands Army’s battlefield capability in the areas of air mobile, air assault, aero medical evacuation and amphibious operations, as… Read more »
AAR Airlift Group Inc., Palm Bay, Florida, has been awarded task order HTC711-10-D-R026/0003 for $21,789,000. This contract award will provide two rotary wing aircraft to move cargo and passengers throughout Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, with an expected completion date of March 31, 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance funds in the amount… Read more »
Columbia Helicopters Inc., Aurora, Oregon, has been awarded task order HTC711-11-D-R021/0004 for $24,983,704. This task order award will provide two rotary wing aircraft to move cargo and passengers throughout Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Afghanistan, with an expected completion date of March 31, 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of… Read more »
Airbus Defense & Space Inc., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $73,082,640 modification (P01000) to contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 to add a six-month period of performance with four one-month option periods to procure Program Year 11 contractor logistic support for the Army’s UH-72 Lakota aircraft fleet. Work will be performed in Herndon, Virginia, with an estimated completion date… Read more »
Erickson has been selected to provide helicopter transportation services for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in Alaska. Under the firm, fixed-price purchase order, Erickson’s Bell 212 helicopters will transport USCG Research and Development Center (RDC) staff and equipment to various locations in the Nome, Alaska area through the end of August. The contract work began… Read more »
The Australian Army recently marked the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Black Hawk accident that took the lives of 18 Army personnel, with commemorative services held around Australia. On the evening of 12 June, 1996, two Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters collided in the air during a night training exercise near Townsville. The first Black Hawk crashed… Read more »
Following its recent demonstration flights in Nepal, Bell have taken the 412EPI to the Royal Thai Army’s Aviation Day held June 14 at Sa Phan Nak Aero, Royal Thai Army Aviation Centre at Lopburi. They took the opportunity to present the aircraft to visitors at the event. “The Bell 412EPI continues to attract customers worldwide… Read more »
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that it was awarded a $9.4 million contract in support of a major U.S. ally for helicopter avionics training systems, including twoKratos-developed Maintenance Blended Reconfigurable Aviation Trainers (MBRATs). Under the awarded contract, Kratos will provide on-site and post-delivery support for the training systems, which provide high fidelity hands-on,… Read more »
Bluedrop Performance Learning Inc. (“Bluedrop”) [TSX-V: BPL] together with Boeing [NYSE: BA], announced today that it has completed a major milestone in the development of the next-generation CH-47 Chinook helicopter Rear Crew Trainer with the integration of its Canadian-built fuselage with Boeing’s cockpit training simulator system. The fuselage is part of a forty-two foot-long mock-up… Read more »
Just two weeks after the Turkish Government announced the start of the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP) to build a fleet of multi-role T70 utility helicopters based on the S-70i™ BLACK HAWK aircraft, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, has accepted the program’s prototype aircraft produced by its Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec. “On-time delivery and the… Read more »
Lockheed Martin today announced the CH-53K King Stallion successfully completed an external lift of a 27,000 pound payload at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Test Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The aircraft executed an “out of ground effect” (OGE) external load test at 100 feet above the ground while performing hover maneuvers to demonstrate its excellent… Read more »
A recent report in the Jakarta Post noted that the Indonesian Air Force has stopped flying its fleet of Super Pumas, believed to be 12 strong. Air Force spokesman First Marshal Wieko Sofyan has reportedly said that Air Force chief of staff, Marshal Agus Supriatna, had instructed the suspension pending the result of study by… Read more »
In preparation for the planned replacement of the C-2 Greyhound, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) received a V-22 Osprey from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 for landings and takeoffs, June 12. The V-22 is being tested and evaluated as it is scheduled to become the singular logistics platform on an aircraft carrier… Read more »
Reuters is reporting that the Republic of Singapore has put a pause on making a decision for a helicopter fleet purchase of around $1 Billion after the CHC EC225 accident in Norway on 29th April. The Airbus H225M is short-listed along with the AgustaWestland AW101 in a Navy order to replace the 32 Super Pumas,… Read more »
Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc. has received a US$13 million contract from Sikorsky to provide instructors and training courseware for pilots and maintainers learning to operate Canada’s new fleet of 28 CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopters. The agreement extends by three years the training that Bluedrop has provided to the programme — known as the Canadian… Read more »
A new H135 helicopter has been test flying recently from the Airbus Helicopters factory in Donauworth, in the colours of Carabineros de Chile – the national police force of Chile. HeliHub.com believes this order was not announced, but the aircraft is seen in the photo here carrying a German test registration, prior to it taking… Read more »
LORD Corporation – a leader in the management of vibration, noise and motion control – celebrated the completion of the first ship-set of the V-280 Valor elastomeric rotor bearings to Bell Helicopter for the V-280 Valor Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program. LORD designed and built the units in just 28 months at the LORD… Read more »
Russian Helicopters has made the first experimental tail set for the new Russian Yak-152 light trainer aircraft. The project is implemented jointly with Irkut Corp, which is building four prototypes of promising aircraft at the Irkutsk aviation plant. The structure of the tail of Yak-152 includes more than 250 items, which are produced at the… Read more »
The mountainous kingdom of Nepal is well known for Mount Everest, but last year became the focus point of a significant relief effort after a massive earthquake. After that natural disaster, the Nepalese Army added two Mil Mi-17s to the one they already had, but that exacerbates a problem of having a small fleet spread… Read more »
Danish Defense celebrated the delivery of its first three MH-60R Seahawk® helicopters by the U.S. Navy during a ceremony on June 6 in Copenhagen Harbor, Denmark. To mark the new additions to Danish Defense, the ceremony commenced with a Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk helicopter landing aboard a Danish frigate of the Iver Huitfeldt class. The… Read more »
CybAero has selected Mr. Brian Lawrence to be the new Sales Director, North America. He assumed the position on June 7th, 2016. “With his broad expertise and experience within the aerospace industry, especially within the industry of selling unmanned systems, we are confident that Mr. Lawrence will contribute to future sales and marketing of the… Read more »
A team from the Royal Navy’s ‘emergency service’ has saved the day – and potentially £20m – with a speedy fix for the Army. The Service Modifications team at 1710 NAS has developed a system for the Army Air Corps Gazelle helicopter to be adapted to airlift casualties from the battlefield. And within two days… Read more »
U.S. Apache helicopters have entered the fight in Iraq against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters. “Commanders have used the Apache capability that we positioned there and that [President Barack Obama] authorized them to use some months ago,” Carter said as he traveled to Brussels for meetings… Read more »
Over 35 NATO helicopters from the Polish 1st Army Aviation Brigade, 25th Air Cavalry Brigade and the U.S. 12th Combat Aviation Brigade “Task Force Griffin,” participated in a battalion size air assault of over 400 Sky Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, during exercise Anakonda 16, June 10-11, at the 21st… Read more »