The USAF has contracted Northrop Grumman to re-engine two of its fleet of Boeing 707 based E-8C Joint-STARS battlefield surveillance aircraft at a cost of US$223m (A$246m). The contact covers the cost of eight P&W JT8D-219 engines, engine pylon assemblies and associated systems, and FAA certification work for the aircraft. Pending a successful conversion and
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) started the first maintenance training program to be conducted under the five-year In-Service Support (ISS) contract for the RAAF’s six Boeing 737-based Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft on February 15. The 147 day program started with 32 students from the RAAF’s 2SQN at Williamtown, and will comprise classroom and computer-based lessons, Operational Flight
The RNZAF Red Checkers aerobatics team has been grounded for the rest of the current display season following a training accident on March 1, its second incident in two months after a fatal crash in January. Reports indicate the March 1 accident saw two aircraft touch each other in flight before both landed safely. “We
Boeing Defence Australia has signed a $44 million contract with the ADF to increase the scope of its Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) scheme. The original contract, signed in 2007, called for Boeing to provide Army Black Hawk and Kiowa pilot, aircrew and technician training, as well as operational fleet maintenance and support
The Commonwealth has revealed few changes in its first planned six monthly update of the 2009 Defence Capability Plan (DCP). Many of the changes in the updated version reflect projects that have matured to first pass approval since the previous version was published in July 2009, including the seven new CH-47F Chinooks to be acquired
The RAAF has officially accepted the first of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets at a ceremony at NAS Lemoore in California on February 18. The aircraft, A44-203, was signed over to the DMO by representatives of the US Defense Contract Management Agency in the presence of RAAF and US Navy officials. Aircrews and maintenance personnel from
