The World of Aviation

The Bell AH-1Z Cobra helicopter has successfully completed its operational evaluation and has been deemed “operationally effective and suitable”. “This marks a significant milestone for the program,” said COL Harry Hewson, program manager for US Marine light and attack helicopters. “The AH-1Z has come a long way through development and it has finally proven itself

The USAF has awarded Boeing a contract to modernise the service’s B-52H fleet so that it may remain viable. The contract, which could total as much as US$11.9bn (A$12.2bn), doesn’t specify any particular upgrades at this stage, although Boeing says it expected the first delivery order to be awarded soon. The USAF still has 66

Boeing has confirmed the planned delivery of the first 747-8 Freighter has slipped from the last quarter of this year to mid 2011. After hinting at July’s Farnborough Airshow there may be a slip into 2011, Boeing announced the “schedule change” on September 30, attributing it to “recent flight-test discoveries” which include a low-frequency vibration

Rolls-Royce has announced that CEO Sir John Rose will retire from the company in March 2011, and will be succeeded by John Rishton. Sir John has been CEO since 1996 after joining the company in 1984. “John has led a transformation in Rolls-Royce which has few parallels,” said company Chairman, Sir Simon Robertson. “As he

The US Navy has awarded a US$5.297bn (A$5.5bn) contract to Boeing for the delivery of 66 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 58 EA-18G Growlers under a Multi Year Procurement (MYP) from FY2012 to 2015. Separate contracts are expected to be announced for the supply of F414 engines from GE, and radars and other sensors from Raytheon.

Boeing has successfully conducted two tests of a precision guided Laser JDAM version of the M-84 2000lb bomb. Already cleared for the 500lb Mk-82 and 1000lb Mk-83, the same Laser JDAM kit will allow the massive Mk-84 to hit moving targets as well as the fixed and relocatable target capability offered by the standard non-laser