Eight USN Super Hornets and supporting aircraft arrived in Townsville recently to participate in the two-week exercise Black Dagger as part of the qualification of joint terminal attack controllers. Regular photo contributor to Australian Aviation, Dave Parer, took these images at the aircraft arrived in Townsville. Talking to the Townsville Bulletin, commanding officer of the
Even as a US government report has given the beleaguered F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program improved marks, the next-generation fighter has emerged as a prime target of Pentagon planners looking for ways to slash the defence budget, according to reports in the US media. With the Pentagon needing to find some $46 billion in savings
The first production version of Airbus Military’s A400M airlifter has completed its maiden flight, with the company saying the aircraft is on schedule for delivery to the French Air Force by June. ‘On schedule’ is, of course, a relative term. France was initially supposed to receive its first A400M roughly three years ago. But after
Airbus Military and Thales UK have signed an 18-year contract with the UK’s Ministry of Defence to supply training services for the RAF’s fleet of 22 A400M Atlas transports. The multimillion pound contract will include the design, construction and management of the A400M training school, the installation and maintenance of full flight simulators and support
UPDATED: The fleet-wide grounding by the US Department of Defense of the F-35 Lightening II has been lifted, following the completion of engineering analysis on the cracked blade. The cautionary flight suspension was implemented on February 21 following the discovery of a 15.24mm crack on a third stage turbine blade during routine inspections of a
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency has advised Congress of the possible sale to Australia of up to 12 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 12 EA-18G Growlers under the Foreign Military Sales program. The contract includes airframes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support, at an estimated cost of US$3.7 billion. The notification was
