The Airbus Helicopters UH-72 Lakota fleet has exceeded the 1 million flight-hour mark, some 15 years after the first Lakota UH-72A entered service for the U.S. Army and following the first delivery of the newest UH-72B to the National Guard, as announced at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) trade show in Washington, D.C.
Germany signs on for five Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft
Boeing P-8A Poseidon
The German Ministry of Defense today signed a letter of offer and acceptance for five Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. With this order, Germany becomes the eighth customer of the multimission maritime surveillance aircraft, joining the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Norway, Korea and New Zealand.
U.S. Army Special Missions Equipped Beechcraft King Air 300 surpasses 50.000 flight hours
Beechcraft 300 Special Missions / Textron Aviation
Textron Aviation celebrates its leadership of the twin-engine turboprop segment by announcing a Beechcraft King Air 300, delivered in 1987 and in service in the U.S. Army fleet of aircraft since 2009, has surpassed a significant 50,000 flight hours milestone.
Leonardo delivers first TH-73A training helicopter to U.S. Navy
Leonardo Company TH-73A
At a ceremony on its Philadelphia campus and under the backdrop of the Stars and Stripes, Leonardo officially delivered the first TH-73A training helicopter to the U.S. Navy earlier today.
Boeing logistics contract builds on decades of support for Israel Apaches
Boeing announced a contract to provide the Israeli Air Force (IAF) with integrated logistics support for Israel’s AH-64A-model and D-model Apache helicopters.
Airbus qualified as bidder for Canada’s strategic tanker replacement
A330 MRTT / Airbus
Airbus has been qualified by the Government of Canada as a bidder for the Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project, a procurement process launched to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Airbus A310MRTT (CC-150 Polaris) multirole tanker fleet.
Japan ground self Defense Force expands its Special Missions King Air 350 fleet
Textron Aviation
Textron Aviation announced today it recently delivered a Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft equipped with multiple special mission modifications to Japcon Incorporated. The modifications include a removable, belly-mounted Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) installation, forward executive cabin, communications equipment and racks.
Defiant X to compete for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract, a top modernization priority for the Army
Sikorsky and Boeing today released details of its advanced helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft competition, known as FLRAA. The aircraft, named Defiant X, will be the fastest, most maneuverable and most survivable assault helicopter in history.
Embraer delivers the first modernized E-99 jet to the Brazilian Air Force
Embraer
In a ceremony held today at the Embraer facility in Gavião Peixoto (São Paulo, Brazil), Embraer delivered the first modernized EMB 145 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control), designated E-99, to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). Four additional E-99 aircraft will be modernized as part of the contract.
Bundeswehr orders 31 NH90 helicopters for shipborne operations
NH90 / Airbus
The German Bundeswehr has ordered 31 NH90 NFH helicopters, to be known as Sea Tiger, for the German Navy’s shipborne operations.
Boeing’s Australian unmanned aircraft completes first taxi
Boeing
The Boeing Loyal Wingman aircraft being developed with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) recently moved under its own power for the first time, a key milestone for the aircraft that’s expected to make its first flight this year.
NATO airlift management program expands C-17 training capability with Boeing services contract
A C-17 Weapons System Trainer, pictured here, will be stationed at Papa Air Base, Hungary, and be used to train NATO C-17 aircrews / Boeing
Boeing will provide aircrew training support for the Strategic Airlift Capability’s multinational fleet of C-17 aircraft under a new U.S. Air Force Foreign Military Sale contract for a C-17 Weapon System Trainer (WST) that will be stationed at Pápa Air Base, Hungary.
Bell Boeing delivers first V-22 Osprey to Japan
A V-22 Osprey aircraft bound for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) based at Camp Kisarazu departs Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, July 10, 2020. The ferry flight from MCAS Iwakuni marked the delivery of the first V-22 to the Japan Self Defense Force. Photo: Lauren Brune
Bell Boeing delivered the first V-22 Osprey to Camp Kisarazu in Japan on July 10. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is the first operator of the V-22 outside of the U.S. military.
Boeing completes helicopter deliveries to the Indian Air Force
Boeing
Boeing has completed delivery of all new AH-64E Apache and CH-47F(I) Chinook military helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final five of the 22 Apache attack helicopters were handed over to the IAF at Air Force Station, Hindan. Earlier in March, Boeing handed over the last five of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF.
Boeing delivers 2,500th AH-64 Apache helicopter
AH-64 Apache / Boeing
Boeing recently delivered its 2,500th AH-64 Apache helicopter, an E-model Apache for the U.S. Army, from the company’s production line in Mesa, Arizona.