Textron Aviation has been awarded a Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) through a full and open competition. The contract award is for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A. The initial Lot I award will procure ten new Beechcraft King Air 260 commercial
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a leading manufacturer of defence electronic products and systems for India’s defence sector, have concluded the agreements to form a joint venture that will extend product support services for India’s defence forces. The announcement was made during the Aero India 2023 being held at
With support from Safran Helicopter Engines, TotalEnergies and Airbus Helicopters, France’s defence procurement agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA) has carried out the first test flight of an NH90, during which one of its two RTM322 engines ran on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This fuel was produced by TotalEnergies from used cooking oil using
To ensure development and maintenance of the RM12 and RM16 fighter engines for the JAS 39 Gripen, the Swedish Armed Forces are investing in an extensive renovation and new construction of the engine test facility at GKN Aerospace in Trollhättan. GKN Aerospace currently develops and maintains the RM12 engine, while also building the same capability
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a US$2.3 billion (£1.9 billion) contract for the ninth production lot of 15 KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft, expanding its fleet of the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refueler. To date, 128 KC-46A Pegasus are on contract with the U.S. Air Force, with 68 delivered and operationally deployed worldwide. The KC-46A Pegasus
Field Aerospace (Field) has completed the Turkish Air Force KC-135 Block 45 modification, under a contract through the KC-135 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme office. The programme finished one year ahead of schedule. Türkiye is the second-largest operator of the KC-135 Stratotanker next to the USAF. The Block 45 modification removes the legacy autopilot system,
Lockheed Martin has reported the successful first flight of the F-16 Block 70 jet at its Greenville, South Carolina site. The flight occurred January 24, with a total flight time of approximately 50 minutes and included airworthiness checks, such as engine, flight control and fuel system checks, as well as basic aircraft handling. The F-16
CAE Defense & Security has been awarded the competitive, re-compete contract for the Fixed-Wing Flight Training Service programme by the United States Army. The contract provides comprehensive initial and recurrent training for more than 600 U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force fixed-wing pilots annually. The firm-fixed-price award has an approximate total value of US$250 million
The U.S. Army has completed the first flight of Honeywell’s EAGLE-M Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (EGI) with M-Code capabilities. Honeywell is ready to deliver these qualified units featuring next-generation M-code GPS in 2023 to the U.S Army and other customers. In collaboration with Honeywell, the Army conducted successful testing of the M-Code-enabled EGI units on
The Canadian government has announced that it is to procure 88 Lockheed Martin 5th-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The procurement has come about from the Future Fighter Capability Project competition. The procurement will also include a comprehensive training program. The F-35 strengthens Canada’s operational capability with its allies as
