Northrop Grumman’s X-47B UCAS-D – Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration – aircraft made its first flight on February 4, taking off at 2.09pm local time for a 29 minute flight. In a flight designed to gather test data to verify and validate system software for guidance and navigation, and the aerodynamic control of the tailless
Among the attractions to be seen at next month’s Australian International Airshow at Avalon will be the US Air Force’s stealthy F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. “This is a special aircraft and we have been trying to get it to Avalon for many years,” Airshow CEO Ian Honnery said. “It is really exciting that at
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on February 1 of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Australia of a 10-year Through-Life-Support (TLS) package for 24 MH-60R Romeo helicopters, and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support for an estimated cost of US$1.6 billion. The request says the “Government of Australia has requested
Quickstep has signed a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with Northrop Grumman which will see it manufacture F-35 Joint Strike Fighter components at Bankstown in Sydney worth $700 million over the next 20 years. The LTA, signed in Sydney on February 2, will see Quickstep deliver the first JSF parts by 2012, with a projected annual
Defence Minsiter Stephen Smith and Defence Material Minister Jason Clare have announced that the MRH 90 helicopter project will be reviewed and that the Navy’s HMAS Manoora amphibious transport (LPA) ship will be decomissioned. In explaining the need for a gate review for the MRH 90 program, Minister Clare noted “There’s been some issues with
The last Lockheed Martin F-35B development aircraft made its maiden flight on January 28, taking off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. The STOVL jet, BF-5, has been assigned to developmental flight testing, and will ferry to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, later this year, where it will join four other F-35Bs and
