The World of Aviation

Lockheed Martin successfully test fired its direct attack guided rocket (DAGR) from an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter on March 29. Two DAGRs were launched from the OH-58D Kiowa in airborne tests at ranges of 3.5 and 5km. Both rockets hit within 1 metre of the laser aimpoint. DAGR is a laser guidance kit designed for

Work is underway on Boeing’s 787 final assembly line and delivery centre at its Charleston, South Carolina facility, with the placing of the first steel column on Monday. “This new facility will expand our production capability and strengthen the 787 program as we work toward rate,” said Marco Cavazzoni, vice president and general manager of

The Pentagon has offered to extend the bid deadline for the USAF’s drawn out KC-X tanker replacement program by 60 days from May 10 to July 9 in order to give EADS time to prepare a stand-alone proposal for the contract. EADS had asked for 90 days in order to prepare a bid based on its

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has formally established 149SQN, its first locally based Boeing F-15SG unit, at Paya Lebar Air Base in the island nation’s east. The inauguration was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean and coincided with the arrival of the first F-15SGs on delivery from

Darwin based CareFlight helicopter pilot Jeff Konemann and his crew assisted police and RAAF ATC to locate a man who was allegedly pointing a laser beam at aircraft landing at the city’s airport late on March 31. Numerous pilots reported being targeted by a laser beam including the CareFlight crew whose BK117B2 was hit by

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) prototype made its first flight on March 29, performing a series of low speed, low altitude checks during its 20 sortie from the company’s Bangalore helicopter complex. The 5.5 tonne LCH is a tandem two-seat attack helicopter, derived from HAL’s Advanced Light Helicopter, powered by twin HAL/Turbomeca Shakti