The two-year delay to Australia’s F-35 acquisition program announced last week was confirmed by Tuesday’s federal budget, but budget documents also reveals that the last phase of the AIR 6000 program to procure the JSF has also been delayed, as has the project to acquire the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to replace the Orion, plus
The RAAF’s C-130H Hercules will be retired early to save $250 million in operational and maintenance costs, the federal government’s budget for 2012-13 released Tuesday evening reveals. The eight flyable C-130Hs, operated by 37SQN from RAAF Richmond, were due to be retired from 2013, but last October Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Material Minister
Phantom Media farewells Andrew McLaughlin
Friday May 4 was long-serving Australian Aviation deputy editor and more recently sister-mag Australian Defence Business Review editor Andrew McLaughlin’s last day at Phantom Media. The team at Phantom Media wishes Andrew all the best, and thanks him for his hundreds of great stories, his knowledge and his enthusiasm. He will be missed.
RAAF Hornet deep maintenance out to tender
Defence has released a tender for deeper maintenance of the RAAF classic F/A-18 Hornet fleet, with the new contract expected to take effect from April 2013. “This contract will provide all deeper maintenance requirements for the 55 single-seat and 16 dual-seat aircraft and associated systems. This includes operational fight trainers, computer‑based training systems, maintenance training
Shadow 200 operational in Afghanistan
The Australian Army’s new Shadow 200 Tactical Unamnned Aerial System (TUAS) has officially commenced operations in Afghanistan, providing an enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ITSAR) capability to the International Security Assistance Force. The Shadow 200 replaces the ScanEagle which has been in operation since mid-2007. Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Ash Power
First South Carolina built 787 completed
Boeing has completed the first 787 to be assembled at its new South Carolina plant, the first time a Boeing airliner has been built in the southeastern US. The milestone 787 will now undergo system checks and engine runs before flight testing and then delivery to customer Air India in mid-2012. Boeing chose North Charleston,
