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
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
Two QinetiQ Australia engineers have been internationally recognised for their contribution to a best practice manual for the teardown inspection of aircraft structures. The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP), an international organisation that collaborates in the exchange of technical information and program harmonisation, has presented an achievement awarded to John Boyes and Kevin Watters, members of
The Norwegian government has requested approval from the country’s parliament to buy six F-35 Lightning II aircraft for delivery in 2017, in a plan that sees it bring forward its initial purchase by a year but stretch out subsequent deliveries over a longer period. Norway’s revised F-35 acquisition plans envisage delivery of six aircraft each
