The first upgraded CH-53GA medium lift helicopter for the German army has made its maiden flight from Eurocopter’s Donauwörth facility near Munich. The upgrade has been designed to extend the life of the aircraft out to 2030, and comprises improved digital avionics, cockpit displays and a new automatic flight control system; the addition of auxiliary
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 UK Ministry of Defence has ordered 22 CH-47 Chinooks for the RAF as it seeks to bolster its rotary wing capability. The new helicopters will allow an increase in capability in extreme conditions such as in Afghanistan, however the first 10 aircraft are not due to be delivered until 2013 at the earliest. Analysts
BAE Systems Australia has won two major support contracts for the Australian Army’s fleet of S-70A-9 Black Hawks and the Navy’s S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters for the remainder of both types’ service lives. The Black Hawk contract, valued at $35 million, will see BAE continue to support the Army’s fleet of 34 Black Hawks at its
CHC has appointed the ANZ Bank to ‘test the market’ for interested buyers of its Australian EMS and SAR operations while at the same time bidding for a £5bn (A$8.9bn) search and rescue contract for the UK Ministry of Defence/Maritime and Coastguard Agency. “We are conducting a strategic review in Australia with a view of improving
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
