The Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Defence Stephen Smith today announced the acquisition of 12 new-build Boeing EA-18G Growlers electronic attack aircraft to help cover the transition to a RAAF air combat fleet of at least 72 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The news came at the same time as the government released its
The Defence White Paper, due to be released on Friday, will confirm Australia will acquire 12 new build Boeing EA-18G Growlers but reaffirm the government’s commitment to an ultimate fleet of 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, news wire service Reuters has reported. According to the report, citing unnamed “defence sources and analysts”, the government’s faith
Emirates increases South-East Asia capacity
Emirates is to increase capacity to Asia with the introduction of a second daily A380 service to Bangkok and a fourth daily schedule to Hong Kong. Both additional services will begin on October 27. EK372 will depart Dubai at 0940 and arrive in Bangkok at 1840, with the return EK373 departing Bangkok at 2040 and
The first shipset of parts from BAE Systems’ advanced manufacturing facility at Edinburgh Parks was delivered to Marand’s F-35 vertical tail fin assembly line in Victoria this week. The shipset comprises around 30 complex titanium components of varying sizes that will form part of two vertical tails for each of more than 722 F-35s during
Boeing has rolled out the first F-15SA for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The F-15SA, the newest variant of the F-15, provides improved performance and increased survivability at a lower life-cycle cost, Boeing says. The aircraft has two additional wing stations for increased payload and capability. Flight-testing began this year on the F-15SA. The Royal
Accident-free 2012 for HNZ
After collating all the statistics from its operations worldwide, HNZ Global has enjoyed an accident free 2012, flying more than 65,000 hours in mostly specialised helicopter operations all around the world. “Operating in both the utility market as well as twin-engine IFR scene, this fantastic result is testament to the company’s strict adherence to safety
