The VH-71 US Presidential Helicopter program has been allocated US$100m (A$109m) in funding despite a decision by the Obama administration to cancel the program due to huge cost overruns. The funding will see work continue on the aircraft’s mission systems and will allow the EH101-based Lockheed Martin/AgustaWestland VH-71 to remain a viable contender for any
The experimental X-51A Waverider unmanned hypersonic aircraft was carried aloft for the first time under the wing of an NB-52H ‘mothership’ at Edwards AFB in California on December 9. The captive carry test was a key test point prior to the X-51’s hypersonic flight test ampaign which is due to commence next February. “After takeoff
The Airbus Military A400M completed its successful maiden flight on December 11, taking off from Seville, Spain, at 10:15 local time and landing 3hr 47min later, with the crew of MSN 1 confirming the aircraft and its engines performed as expected. “We have had a very successful first flight – the takeoff performance was impressive,
The first Israeli Aerospace Industries Heron Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV is scheduled to be delivered to the RAAF on December 10 under Project Nankeen. The aircraft will wear the A45-262 designation, and will be the first of an unspecified number of Herons operated on a lease arrangement from Canadian firm MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates
Raytheon has announced that it successfully tested an AIM-9X air-to-air missile against a ground target in September. The missile, the latest iteration of the Sidewinder family of air-to-air missiles, was fired from an F-16C at a fast moving armoured boat target, and follows previous successful tests against a manoeurvring boat and against a moving armoured personnel
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has taken delivery of its first Predator B UAV configured with a maritime surveillance radar. The unarmed aircraft, dubbed ‘Guardian’, will be employed by CBP on reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting acquisition missions in the Great Lakes region on the US-Canada border alongside Predator Bs already configured for the
