The fourth of six Wideband Global SATCOM satellites for the US and Australian militaries has passed a milestone integration test in preparation for its launch later this year. The satellite, known as WGS-4, was successfully mated with its Boeing 702 ‘bus’ recently prior to commencing rigorous environmental testing, including vibration and thermal-vacuum tests. The ADF
The Rolls-Royce/GE F136 engine for the F-35 JSF program has returned to test status after a minor redesign of a lug nut which was ingested by a test engine last year. GE spokesman Rick Kennedy told DOD Buzz that “Delay costs were minimal — there has been no re-programming of the F136, and we’re on
The USAF has ditched the CSAR-X project to find the next generation of combat search and rescue helicopter, and instead will buy more Black Hawk helicopters and modify these for the role. Speaking to US media, USAF Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said “a successor model” of the current HH-60 Pave Hawk CSAR variant
The RAAF’s AP-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance fleet celebrated seven years of continuous operations in the Middle East in late January. “This milestone is a great tribute to the men and women of Air Force’s Surveillance and Response Group who have worked long hours flying and maintaining the Orions. Maintenance staff have often worked in 50C
The prototype of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries XC2 jet transport, formerly called the C-X, finally took to the air for the first time on January 26 after a delay of more than two years due to reported structural integrity issues. The aircraft, which looks very much like a smaller, twin engined C-17, was developed locally
Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158 JASSM missile has successfully completed three more tests since late last year, giving it a record of 18 out of 19 since flight tests resumed in September. The latest tests have renewed confidence in the program after the USAF had threatened to cancel it early last year after a series of cost
