The RAAF ceased all DHC-4 Caribou operations today (November 27) with the delivery of the final aircraft, A4-140, to Canberra, where it was handed over to the Australian War Memorial. The final flight follows the delivery of another Caribou to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook on November 26, and the relocation of the remaining
Northrop Grumman delivered the first three production MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAVs to the US Navy on November 23, completing the first year of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Two of the three Fire Scouts have been deployed aboard the Perry class frigate USS McInerney on an operational deployment in the Caribbean Sea as part of
First flight of Northrop Grumman’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Aerial System, originally scheduled for the end of this year, has been delayed until the first quarter of 2010 following reported propulsion acoustic and engine-start sequencing issues. The aircraft is now not due to commence low speed taxi tests until late December before building up to first
Two ADF MRH 90 helicopters recently completed first of class sea trials with HMAS Manoora off the coast of Tasmania. MRHs A40-007 and 008 performed more than 200 deck landings during the trials, operating from the Manoora‘s three helicopter landing spots. More than 520 trial evaluation test points were completed, with the helicopters operating at
The RAAF took ‘initial delivery’ of two Boeing Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft at a ceremony at RAAF Williamtown on November 26. The ceremony was attended by Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Mark Binskin; the DMO’s AEW&C program manager, AVM Chris Deeble; and Boeing’s AEW&C program vice president Maureen Doherty, as well as members of the RAAF’s
Australia has committed to buy a first batch of 14 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) and associated training and support infrastructure for the RAAF at an estimated cost of $3.2 billion, Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner announced today, after cabinet’s National Security Committee granted second pass approval for the purchase. The announcement sees
