The World of Aviation

The USAF has confirmed reports that it is operating a previously unknown reconnaissance UAV out of Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan. The aircraft, designated the RQ-170 Sentinel, was photographed earlier this year and again in early November, and is believed to have been designed and built by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. The latest photographs of the

BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a contract to upgrade the Australian Army’s Advanced Air Defence Simulator (AADS). The $5 million contract will see the facility, located at the 16th Air Defence Regiment’s facility at Woodside near Adelaide, equipped with new projectors, upgraded computers and software, and other enhancements under Project Land 19 Phase 2B.

The first Boeing AH-64D Apache Block III structures test aircraft completed its first flight at Boeing’s Mesa, Arizona, facility on November 23. The test aircraft is equipped with new composite blades, a composite horizontal stabiliser, a split-torque face gear transmission and uprated engines. The upgrades follow earlier efforts to enhance the Apache’s networking ability and

Boeing announced on December 4 that Korean Air has ordered five 747-8 Intercontinentals, making it the first Asian airline to sign on for the passenger variant of the 747-8. Korean has indicated that the five aircraft, which have a list value of US$1.5bn (A$1.62bn), will slot in between the airline’s 777-300ERs and A380s and operate

Etihad Airways has announced that it will introduce the Permagard exterior cleaning program to its fleet, making it the first airline to bring the solution to long haul aircraft. Developed by Permagard Aviation in France, the system cleans and seals the aircraft’s exterior with a fine polymer which protects the paintwork and reduces the need

Northrop Grumman has re-stated its threat to not bid its A330 based KC-30 for the USAF’s troubled KC-X tanker program unless significant changes are made to the RFP conditions, according to a report by Reuters. In a letter dated December 1 and sent to Ashton Carter, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, Air