Defence Minister Stephen Smith has announced Australia has requested pricing and availability for a fifth C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlifter. The announcement was made at the Chief of Air Force’s dinner in Melbourne, a major event to coincide with the 2011 Australian International Airshow. The Minister said, “Recent events in Queensland and Christchurch have underlined
The RAAF’s AP-3C Orion Advanced Flight Simulator (AFS) has been awarded Level 5 accreditation by Simulinc, the highest available under ADF regulations. The AP-3C AFS was developed by a team form Thales in Australia and the UK and provides full flight performance, flightdeck and tactical training capabilities for the RAAF. With the awarding of Level
Boeing has been awarded a contract by the Pentagon for the USAF’s long-delayed KC-X tanker program. Boeing’s KC767AT (Advanced tanker) concept beat out a bid by EADS North America with its A330 MRTT-based KC-45. The new aircraft will be known as the KC-46A in USAF service. The win by Boeing surprised many analysts who had
Brisbane-based Australian Aerospace’s bid for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) lucrative Air 9000 Phase 8 naval helicopter program has received the backing of Queensland premier Anna Bligh. “In the past 10 years we have created 16,500 aviation, aerospace and defence jobs across Queensland on projects from aircraft design, manufacture, maintenance, modification, repair and overhaul; to
The US Air Force’s fleet of F-22 Raptors will continue to be maintained by Lockheed Martin this year, after the manufacturer received a US$726.6 million contract modification. Lockheed’s new deal for 2011, known as a Follow-On Agile Sustainment for the Raptor (FASTeR) sustainment contract, was initially awarded in 2008 with the USAF exercising an option
Australia Post has celebrated the RAAF’s 90th birthday with the release of an Air Force Aviation commemorative stamp issue. Four stamps featuring an F-111, F/A-18F Super Hornet, AEW&C Wedgetail, and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft were released on February 22 via mail order and online. The stamp issue will also be available at the International Air
