14-Apr-2010Source: Helsingin Sanomat
Other alternatives include donation to museums, or scrapping – the disposal being brought about by the acquisition of NH90 helicopters.... Read more
14-Apr-2010Source: Star-Telegram
AVX Aircraft, composed largely of ex-Bell employees, has proposed what it says is a low-cost way for the Army to upgrade its OH-58 fleet while significantly improving performance, safety and combat capability of the aircraft.... Read more
14-Apr-2010Source: Flightglobal
Yulista Aviation has installed on an OH-58 a completely new instrument panel, featuring two glass cockpit displays from Sagem Avionics.... Read more
14-Apr-2010Source: Reuters
The Colombian government plans to purchase nine Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky, sources at the Colombian embassy in Washington told Reuters... Read more
14-Apr-2010Source: Cavok
Bolivia has signed for a Falcon 900EX jet, and is considering both Antonov An148 fixed wing and Mil-17 helicopters... Read more
13-Apr-2010Source: Focus Taiwan
The U.S. sale of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to Taiwan is expected to be finalized in May, a weekly said here Monday.... Read more
13-Apr-2010Source: Eurocopter
Matthieu Louvot has been named Vice President, Head of Corporate Strategy & Company Development for the Eurocopter Group and will be reporting directly to Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling. After having begun his career as an inspector at the General Inspectorate of Finance in the French finance ministry, Matthieu Louvot, who is 35, was then budgetary... Read more
13-Apr-2010Source: Trend
Iran will hold a parade on National Armed Forces Day April 18 with the participation of Iranian Air Force bombers and a new unmanned helicopter... Read more
13-Apr-2010Source: Boeing
MADRID, April 13, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has successfully completed its industrial cooperation program for the third phase of the CH-47D Chinook rotorcraft upgrades performed for the Spanish Army’s Airmobile Force, FAMET. Boeing finished the industrial cooperation program on schedule while exceeding the $80 million requirement, demonstrating the... Read more
13-Apr-2010Source: FlightGlobal
“MD’s failure to secure financing … left it holding a massive inventory as it was only able to deliver about 40 helicopters globally in 2009, 30 aircraft short of its target” quotes the FlightGlobal article... Read more
13-Apr-2010Source: FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has received a $12.4 million order from the U.S. Army for its Star SAFIRE(R) II stabilized multi-sensor systems. The units delivered under this order will be deployed on UH-60 helicopters in support of ongoing Medevac operations. This order adds to the more than 200 Star SAFIRE... Read more
12-Apr-2010Source: DSCA
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on April 8 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of 36 T55-GA-714A engines and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support for an estimated cost of $71 million. The Government of Canada has requested a possible sale of 36 T55-GA-714A engines, spare and repairs parts, support and... Read more
10-Apr-2010Source: BAE Systems
BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) has been declared by the U.S. Navy ready to enter production. The decision, known as “Milestone C,” signifies that the APKWS development program has met its objectives and the system is ready to be deployed. The system will now enter low-rate initial production, with the first systems... Read more
10-Apr-2010Source: US Navy
During a routine test flight, a MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Take-off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) supported its first drug interdiction with USS McInerney (FFG 8) and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (USCG LEDET) Apr. 3. McInerney launched one of its two embarked Fire Scout’s to test different functions and settings when... Read more
10-Apr-2010Source: Vancouver Sun
The Antonov 225, the world’s largest aircraft, will transport the building, the Canadian Helicopters choppers, and a variety of smaller cargo to Kabul for the U.S. Armed Forces just as easily.... Read more
10-Apr-2010Source: Manawatu Standard
The building is split into two hangar areas for 13 new helicopters, eight NH90 medium utility helicopters and five A109 light utility helicopters, which are worth about $900m.... Read more
9-Apr-2010Source: Ness Technologies
Ness Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ and TASE: NSTC), a global provider of IT services and solutions, today announced a multi-million dollar contract with a Latin American government, to install a command and control system in military helicopters and ground command posts. This is an additional contract following the contract announced by Ness in June 2009, through... Read more
9-Apr-2010Source: Indra
Indra, with the support of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism along with the Ministry of Defence, started up an R&D project to develop an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) of rotary wings and with dual character, either for civil or defence fields. The system will be launched in 2012 and will be one of... Read more
9-Apr-2010Source: Courier Post
Boeing began its search in October and decided to move into the former Millville Jet Center site at the airport before Thanksgiving. The company began modifying CH-47 F Chinook helicopters for the Army in January, and delivered its first one this week... Read more
9-Apr-2010Source: DefPro
Quote “The report referred to by the daily press does not reflect the actual status and, respectively, the actual contractual background”... Read more
9-Apr-2010Source: Royal Air Force
The Kandahar Air Wing of the Afghanistan National Air Corps has come on leaps and bounds since its arrival in October 2009. Now there are 572 personnel established on the wing, including experienced pilots, trainee pilots, engineers, logistics and admin. Wednesday and Sundays are official training days when taskings are concentrated on developing the combat... Read more
9-Apr-2010Source: Cubic
Cubic Defense Applications, Inc., the defense systems unit of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), announced today that it has formed an Executive Advisory Board composed of leading defense, intelligence, counterterrorism, industry and retired flag officers to help the company evaluate strategic growth opportunities, enter new markets, and assess technology investments. The Executive Advisory Board members include:... Read more
7-Apr-2010Source: Pratt & Whitney Canada
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has named Maria Della Posta Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing. Keyvan Fard, who previously held the position, will focus his efforts on developing growth opportunities in key markets for P&WC. Pratt & Whitney Canada is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company. Prior to assuming her new role Della Posta was... Read more
7-Apr-2010Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Apache Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract is now fully operational just six months after contract award and a whole 12 months earlier than originally planned. In the six months since contract award AgustaWestland has moved from being a supplier to a capability provider, enabling the... Read more
7-Apr-2010Source: Prensa Latina
With 31 cooperation contracts signed during Putin’s visit, Russia used the event to deliver four Mi-17s... Read more
7-Apr-2010Source: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] hit the target in two tests featuring DAGR guided rockets launched from an airborne OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter. This is the fourth aircraft DAGR has fired from in the past year—prior platforms include the AH-64D Apache and the AH-6 Little Bird. Two DAGRs were launched from the OH-58D Kiowa in airborne... Read more
7-Apr-2010Source: Royal Navy
Mr Quentin Davies MP, (the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support) took time out from an extremely hectic schedule, which included a visit to AgustaWestlands aircraft factory in Yeovil, to receive a Command update from Captain Jon Pentreath RN, CO Commando Helicopter Force on the Force’s current operations in Afghanistan. The main purpose of the... Read more
7-Apr-2010Source: Novinite
Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry intends to alter the scope of some its of weapon purchases because of a shortage of money, Defense Minister Angelov has announced.... Read more
6-Apr-2010Source: UK Ministry of Defence
Defence Estates (DE) is overseeing an important project to build bespoke new facilities for the four Sea King helicopter squadrons based at the Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall. Construction work is well underway on the first of two new buildings at the base, which will co-locate key engineering and maintenance areas with... Read more
6-Apr-2010Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Bulgarian Border Police has taken delivery of its first AW109 Power light twin helicopter during an official ceremony held at Sofia Airport today in the presence of Representatives of the Bulgarian Government. This helicopter will provide a reliable air surveillance capability on the outer EU... Read more
5-Apr-2010Source: Tribune India
The maiden test flight of the 5.5-tonne attack chopper, a derivative version of Banagalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) flagship product Dhruv– on March 29 was termed by pilots who flew it as “very goodâ€.... Read more
5-Apr-2010Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that its Operational Flying Training Centre (OFTC) located at Newquay Cornwall Airport, in South West England, was officially opened today. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme, South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall Council, Newquay Council and Newquay... Read more
27-Mar-2010Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a £42 million contract extension by the UK Ministry of Defence for the upgrade of 10 more British Army Lynx Mk.9 helicopters with LHTEC CTS800-4N engines. The contract was announced by Quentin Davies MP, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, during a visit to AgustaWestland’s... Read more
27-Mar-2010Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter Chile and Eurocopter Cono Sur, subsidiaries of Eurocopter, the world’s leading helicopter manufacturer, announced during FIDAE 2010 the contract signatures for the purchase of 7 helicopters and the delivery of 5 aircraft to several para public and private operators from Argentina and Chile. In addition, Eurocopter’s training centre for pilots and technical representatives from... Read more
27-Mar-2010Source: US Army
RONKONOMA, N.Y., March 26, 2010 – When Chief Warrant Officer Herb Dargue joined the Army as a helicopter pilot, the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” topped the charts, the UH-1C Huey was the hottest “chopper†flying, and actor William Shatner was “Star Trek’s†Captain Kirk on prime time TV. Forty-three years and 21,000 flying hours later, Dargue... Read more
27-Mar-2010Source: Defpro
The first 109 LUH has been modified in Italy, and was recently flown home to Malmen in Linköping by Helicopter Wing personnel. Helicopters will also soon be on location in Djibouti in Africa once the mission in the Gulf of Aden has been initiated.... Read more
26-Mar-2010Source: RIA Novosti
Russia has delivered the first batch of Mi-35M Hind E attack helicopters to Brazil, a Russian state arms exporter said on Thursday.... Read more
26-Mar-2010Source: U.S. Navy
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Capt. Thomas Huff, Commander, Naval Test Wing Atlantic (center left) and Lt. Col. Roger Cordell, Commander, U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (center right), pose with the Tactical Airlift, Adversary and Support programs (PMA-207) and USNTPS UH-72A team with the five new UH-72A Lakota helicopters in front of... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: AgustaWestland
Northstar Aerospace (Canada) Inc., a subsidiary of Northstar Aerospace, Inc. (“Northstar”), has been awarded a $7 million contract to manufacture rotor heads for the AgustaWestland Lynx helicopter, a multi-purpose helicopter used in military applications. Northstar will manufacture the rotor heads at its Milton, Ontario site with delivery to AgustaWestland’s Yeovil, England facility to begin in... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: Shephard Press
Elbit Systems and ATK are working on a JV to provide a lightweight low-cost armament package for light helicopters. Light Enhanced Armament Package (LEAP), as it’s known, has been revealed on a mock-up of a Eurocopter EC635 at the FIDAE Airshow in Chile... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: RPP
Deputy head of International Cooperation of the Russian Technologies corporation, Sergei Goreslavski, avoided comment in Santiago on how many helicopters would buy Chile, but the figure of five aircraft had been earlier... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: Gander Beacon
The House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence agreed to undertake a review of Canadian Forces SAR response times, including those for Squadron 103 at 9 Wing Gander.... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: CT Now
The companies, divisions of United Technologies Corp., sued the government in 2005 in an attempt to keep the documents under wraps after Connecticut news reporters requested copies of them... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: DynCorp International
The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command has awarded a contract to DynCorp International to provide helicopter maintenance support services for the Royal Saudi helicopter fleet. The contract, which was awarded under the Foreign Military Sales program, has a two year base period with a contract value of $17.2 million, and three one-year option periods.... Read more
25-Mar-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Eurocopter, or predecessor Aerospatiale to be precise, started the AS350 serial numbers at 1001 and have in recent months been fast approaching 4999. The manufacturer then faced a dilemma, as the AS355 numbers start from 5001 and are currently approaching 5800, with production continuing and could potentially exceed 1,000 units taking the serial numbers over... Read more
24-Mar-2010Source: Sikorsky
BOGOTA, Colombia, March 24, 2010 – Sikorsky Aerospace Services announced today an agreement with the Colombian Ministry of Defense to establish an S-70™ BLACK HAWK Helicopter Training Facility at the Colombian Air Force Base in Melgar, Colombia. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:... Read more
23-Mar-2010Source: CAE
Montreal, March 23, 2010 – (NYSE: CAE; TSX: CAE) – CAE today announced that the Government of Canada has awarded CAE a contract valued at approximately C$250 million for a comprehensive CH147F Chinook helicopter aircrew training solution. The contract was awarded under the program called the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) and is in support... Read more
23-Mar-2010
Reports differ on the casualties here. Some reports say 1 killed, but the NATO/ISAF report (the first link in our list) does not mention it – when they always would do if there was a loss of life.... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: Mer et Marine
Flying from bases at Le Touquet, Cherbourg, Lanvéoc-Poulmic and La Rochelle Hyères, the 35F unit flew 529 operational missions in 2009, flying 750 hours and rescuing 196 people... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: Flug Revue
The EC135 helicopter fleet at the Army Aviation Training School in Bückeburg has achieved since 2000, the number of 50,000 flight hours.... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: HeliHub.com
After two years operating in the UK, the two British Mi-17s have now been shipped to Afghanistan, where they have been donated to the local forces. Purchased from Bulgaria, and serialled ZB697 and ZB698, the two helicopters were shipped out Thursday last week aboard an An-124 freighter operated by Polet, and were still in their... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: Australian Dept of Defence
Greg Combet, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today announced the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) has signed a contract with the US Army Security Assistance Command to acquire seven CH-47F Chinook helicopters, two Simulators and associated spares. “The aircraft will replace the existing fleet of six CH-47D Chinooks operated by C Squadron of... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: KVIA ABC7
Texas deploys military OH-58 Kiowa and UH-72 Lakota helicopters to the area between El Paso and Brownsville as part of the first phase of the state’s spillover violence contingency plan.... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: Mer et Marine
Two Dauphins for delivery in 2011 and 2012 will replace two French Air Force Super Pumas... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: Yahoo! Philippines
The Republic of Singapore Navy has achieved a milestone in its air and sea capabilities. For the first time, it has naval helicopters working alongside its frigates to accomplish what is described as “the best of both worlds”.... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: US Coast Guard
KODIAK, Alaska – Eight Alaska-based Coast Guardsmen from Air Station Kodiak will be awarded the American Helicopter Society’s prestigious William J. Kossler Award at the American Helicopter Society Forum in Phoenix May 12 for saving the lives of seven commercial fishermen in 2009. “It’s great to see this national-level attention for the great work done... Read more
22-Mar-2010Source: Dedalo
Two Agusta-Bell AB.212 helicopters of 21 ° Gruppo of the 9th Wing of the Air Force returned yesterday from Afghanistan to Italy in a USAF C-17... Read more
20-Mar-2010Source: Helibras
Eurocopter and its Helicópteros do Brasil-Helibras affiliate company today marked the construction start-up for a new rotary-wing center of excellence in Itajuba, Brazil, where Helibras will produce, assemble and maintain EC725 helicopters being acquired by the Brazilian armed forces. Production of the EC725 at Itajuba will result in a doubling of production capability for Helibras... Read more
20-Mar-2010Source: US Army News Service
A retired warrant officer received a Bronze Star last week for actions he took some 40 years earlier as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Phillip Daniel O’Donnell of Stafford, Va., his wife Monica, son Antonio, other family members, friends and Army representatives gathered in the Russell Senate Office Building in... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: Australian Defence
Australia’s GDP will increase by about $661 million from 2011 to 2024 if the NH90 NFH is selected by the country’s military, according to a report from economic consulting firm Access Economics.... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: US Embassy in Islamabad
Pakistan has procured 13 AH-1F Cobras from the United States for use as spare parts for its helicopter fleet.  The helicopters will be shipped from a U.S. facility in Alabama later this year. The 13 aircraft are part of a larger 2007 transaction under which Pakistan also procured and refurbished 12 AH-1F Cobras for its... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: AOL
Less than a year ago, the US rushed four Russian-built Mi-17 helicopters to Pakistan after an urgent request from the country’s senior leadership. Now they are being returned after a serious crash resulted in at least one fatality.... Read more
19-Mar-2010Source: CAVOK
On Friday, Helibras, the only producer of helicopters in Latin America, will lay the cornerstone for the work of doubling its plant in Blumenau, in southern Minas Gerais, generating 700 direct jobs.... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Back in 1982, British Forces captured two Agusta A109A helicopters from the Argentine Army during the conflict to recapture the Falkland Islands. Within 3 years, these were then added to with a second pair of 109s bought new from Italy, and these four helicopters became dedicated to the Special Forces In order to camouflage the... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: Forecast International
In a new study, “The Market for Medium/Heavy Military Rotorcraft,†Forecast International projects that 4,319 such rotorcraft will be produced during the 10-year time period between 2010 and 2019. The value of this production is estimated at $92.3 billion in constant 2010 U.S. dollars. In general, Forecast International defines a medium/heavy rotorcraft as one with... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: Flightglobal
Hindustan Aeronautics has decided against seeking an international partner for its light observation helicopter programme, and will undertake the development by itself.... Read more
18-Mar-2010Source: Vought
Vought Defense Systems Corp. (Other OTC: VDSC) announced today that it has signed a contract to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Cyber Aerospace, LLC, which is a designer and manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Systems which has provides services to law enforcement, military and commercial operation globally. Cyber Aerospace owns and operates http://www.cyberaerospace.com... Read more
17-Mar-2010Source: Selex
SELEX Communications signed a contract worth nearly 19 million Euros with Agusta Westland to provide Communication, Navigation and Identification equipments and systems for the 16 Chinook ICH-47F helicopters recently ordered by the Italian Army. The supply, which is aimed at increasing the efficiency and operational capabilities of the helicopters, includes the replacement of some of... Read more
