The World of Aviation

The Northrop Grumman X-47B Navy Unmanned Combat Aerial System (N-UCAS) program has received a massive funding boost in the draft US Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), to the tune of US$2 billion over the next five years. The X-47B is a growth development of the former X-47A program, and is a stealthy B-2 like shaped aircraft

Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways have been forced to make some changes to aircraft entry into service schedules after it was found that a Japanese seat manufacturer admitted that its seats had failed safety tests. According to a report in The Times, Yokohama based Koito Industries has admitted to falsifying test data for strength

Embraer has brought its Phenom 100 demonstrator aircraft to Australia as part of an Asian sales tour which will cover Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, and Darwin. “We are excited about showcasing the Phenom 100 in Australia for the first time,” said José Eduardo Costas, Embraer’s VP of marketing and sales, Asia

Boeing Defence Australia has signed a $1.5 million contract with the ADF’s Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) to provide engineering support services for the RAAF’s fleet of 71 F/A-18A/B Hornets. The 30 month contract will see Boeing continue to deliver repair plans at RAAF Williamtown for faults uncovered during maintenance and provide engineering repairs for the

The Pentagon’s draft FY2011 defence budget has seen funding for 26 more Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft added. The 26 aircraft will be in addition to those already on order for the US Navy, and will replace EA-6B Prowlers currently operated by four US Marine Corps expeditionary squadrons in support of joint-force strike aircraft.

The fourth of six Wideband Global SATCOM satellites for the US and Australian militaries has passed a milestone integration test in preparation for its launch later this year. The satellite, known as WGS-4, was successfully mated with its Boeing 702 ‘bus’ recently prior to commencing rigorous environmental testing, including vibration and thermal-vacuum tests. The ADF