Word from Defence and industry sources is that the long awaited AIR 8000 Phase 2 battlefield Airlifter (BFA) – i.e. the Caribou replacement – may fall victim to the Gillard Government’s stubborn ‘at all costs’ determination to return to a budget surplus next year. Defence has been trying to replace the Caribou’s fixed wing STOL
Boeing Defence Australia will establish a paint facility at RAAF Base Williamtown under a new $20 million contract to repaint the RAAF fleet. The contract covers preparing, remediating and painting the RAAF’s AP-3C Orions, C-130H Hercules’, F/A-18 classic Hornets and Hawk-127s. Boeing said it will set up a surface finishing facility at Williamtown and would
Raytheon Australia’s replacement of its Agusta A109E Power helicopters it has operated since 2007 for the Navy’s Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI) at Nowra with three new Bell 429s was a clever bit of marketing on the company’s behalf. Not only is Raytheon offering the 429 for the ADF’s AIR 9000 Phase 7 helicopter aircraft
Boeing has delivered the first of 148 F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18 Growlers to the US Navy under its Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) III contract. Awarded in 2010, the contract was initially for the delivery of 66 F/A-18E/Fs and 58 EA-18Gs. The Navy later added 24 additional Super Hornets. Boeing delivered 210 Super Hornet to the
The RAN’s 723SQN retired its three Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI) flight Agusta A109E Powers on March 9, in preparation for the arrival of its first new Bell 429s next month. The retirement ceremony was conducted after a flight around the Nowra and Jervis Bay region by the three A109s, and a water cannon salute
Boeing’s hydrogen powered, high altitude spy drone has taken a small step toward first flight with a spin around the runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Resembling the offspring of a glider mated with a zeppelin, the Phantom Eye features a 45.7m wingspan atop a pot-bellied fuselage capable of holding enough hydrogen to
