Northrop Grumman has been awarded a US$10.8m (A$11.7m) contract to develop an electronic warfare payload for its MQ-8C Fire Scout vertical takeoff unmanned aerial system (VTUAS). The contract provides for initial work to develop and integrate the Multi Capability Pod (MCAP) onto the Fire Scout to provide “multiple electronic warfare sensors for employment in the
Sikorsky has commenced full system testing of its CH-53K heavy lift helicopter ground test vehicle with all seven main rotor blades and four tail rotor blades attached. The tests follow the previous ‘light off’ and ‘bare head’ test phases which saw the aircraft’s engines started and gearbox engaged for the first time, and is the
Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley has assumed the role of Chief of Air Force in a ceremony held at RNZAF Base Auckland on April 30, taking over from AVM Peter Stockwell as head of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). AVM Stockwell congratulated AVM Yardley, stating: “AVM Yardley is an experienced operational commander and strategic
Boeing has announced the first flight of a production configured AH-6i Little Bird light attack/reconnaissance helicopter. Based on the in-service OH-6A Cayuse which the US Army uses in the Special Operations support role, the AH-6i is designed for close air support and light attack, and features capabilities leveraged from the Apache attack helicopter. Saudi Arabia
The federal government-commissioned Commission of Audit review into government programs and spending has recommended the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) be abolished. Abolishing the DMO was one of a number of key recommendations for the Defence portfolio contained in the commission’s report, released on Thursday, which also included privatising shipbuilder ASC and Defence Housing, and streamlining Defence senior
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the former Chief of the ADF, ACM (ret) Angus Houston have announced that the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 will soon enter a new phase. Speaking to media in Canberra, PM Abbott said the search of the area where pings form the aircraft’s black box were thought to
