The RAN’s new amphibious ship, the Landing Ship Dock (LSD) HMAS Choules, sailed into its new homeport of Sydney on December 21. “It was terrific to see her sail through Sydney Harbour flying the White Ensign for the first time,” Commander of Australian Fleet, RADM Steve Gilmore said. Originally commissioned into service with the UK’s Royal Fleet
Lockheed Martin says Japan’s selection of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter will benefit Australia’s New Air Combat Capability (NACC) aspirations by providing greater weight to production numbers at the same time as Australia’s aircraft are being built, as well as providing lower logistics costs in our region. Speaking from Fort Worth by phone to Australian
The fifth Airbus Military A400M, ‘Grizzly 5’, has made its first flight, taking off from Seville, Spain, on a 2hr 10min flight on December 20. Grizzly 5 is the fifth and final member of the A400M flight test fleet, which to date Airbus Military says has now completed more than 2500 hours of the planned 3700 hour
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of 10 Alenia C-27J transport aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of US$950 million. The December 19 notification says Australia has requested a possible sale of the aircraft
Japan will purchase 42 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as it moves to cope with increasing security concerns in northeast Asia. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) said Japan’s initial letter of agreement will include four conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35As to be delivered in 2016 and built as part of low-rate
Northrop Grumman has successfully completed first flight of its re-engined E-8C Joint-STARS battlefield surveillance test aircraft. The US Air Force last year contracted Northrup to overhaul a pair of its E-8Cs by replacing their TF33 turbofans with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines. The Boeing 707 based Joint-STARS fleet has suffered in availability and field performance
