Defence Helicopter
Advanced Avionics (sponsored)
Mark Burnand, Chief Test Pilot at Leonardo Helicopters UK, talks through the advanced avionics on board the latest generation battlefield utility AW149 helicopter.
After giving European Tiger attack helicopters and NH90 large utility helicopters a chance to meet Australian needs, which encountered problems, the country has turned back to the US for Apaches and Black Hawks, respectively.
Aging aircraft, fewer platforms and a lack of replacements for retired systems has impacted the US Air Force’s lethality and training capabilities, according to the force’s deputy chief of staff for operations.
The US$80 million contract will provide the US Army Black Hawk helicopters with faster and more flexible technology on the battlefield, with upgrade work “actively” ongoing.
Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk and Boeing’s AH-46 Apache will soon form the bedrock of the Australian Army’s rotorcraft capabilities, as the army awaits further delivery of both types.
Mark Burnand, Chief Test Pilot at Leonardo Helicopters UK, talks through the advanced avionics on board the latest generation battlefield utility AW149 helicopter.
The Chinook has served in every RAF campaign of the past 40 years. But in Afghanistan, it faced greater pressure than ever before.
12th March 2024
V-22s have been cleared for flight three months after a fatal crash which led to a grounding but processes involved in the clearance mean it will be weeks or even months before full operations return.
11th March 2024
The agreement between the US and South Korea included engines, sustainment and logistical support for the MH-60R helicopters.
8th March 2024
The MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will bring improved functionalities to the Indian Navy and bolster its ability to address diverse maritime challenges.
7th March 2024
The V-22 Osprey, a joint-service multirole tiltrotor aircraft manufactured by Bell and Boeing in a joint venture, performs carrier resupply for the US Navy. With its grounding, however, C-2 Greyhounds have been called upon to carry out more work.
6th March 2024
Aircraft set for replacement under NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) include AW101, UH-60 Black Hawk, Puma and NH90.
5th March 2024
On 1 June 2022, the German MoD announced that it had selected CH-47F Chinook for its €5.2 billion (US$5.6 billion) heavy-lift helicopter procurement. The helicopters will replace a fleet of CH-53G helicopters approaching a service life of 50 years.
1st March 2024
The Brazilian Armed Forces has faced challenges in terms of it size and geography and has long had an emphasis on better serving Amazonia. Plans for a new battalion are set to become a reality and improvement of rotary capability is underway.
1st March 2024
Airbus, Leonardo and Lockheed Martin have progressed through to the Invitation to Negotiate phase of the New Medium Helicopter competition, but the initial goal of introducing new helicopters by 2025 remained unattainable.
29th February 2024
In October 2024, Australia announced it was standing down its version of the NH90, the MRH90. NHIndustries has been using the opportunity to salvage systems from the aircraft and boost it supply stocks for other users.
29th February 2024
The partnership between Leonardo and Bell has signalled a step towards advancing next-generation rotorcraft capabilities as the two company's embark on NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) Concept Study.
28th February 2024
Following more than two months of operational stand down of CV-22 Ospreys, two separate crashes of AH-64D Apaches have forced the US Army National Guard to ground its entire helicopter fleet.
28th February 2024
The British Army’s new fleet of attack helicopters are a major step-change from the previous various and the force has a strong focus on the opportunities for spiral development and crewed-uncrewed teaming.
27th February 2024
US Army Aviation has been pivoting to face a different kind of war. On the platform front that has meant investing in proven systems and improving platforms already in service.
27th February 2024
The UK MoD has published a draft plan to buy between 36 and 44 aircraft under its long-awaited New Medium Helicopter (NMH) acquisition programme to replace RAF Puma HC2, Army Air Corps Bell 212, RAF Bell 412 and Airbus AS365 Dauphins used by Special Operations Forces.
20th February 2024
China's Aviation Industry Corporation has showcased the Z-10EM, an upgraded version of its Z-10 attack helicopter, designed for export markets.
20th February 2024
Singapore’s air force chief has confirmed plans to extend the life of the RSAF’s Apaches to beyond 2030, as well as revealing the next steps for future purchases of F-35s, replacements for its UAV fleet and updates to its ground-based air defence systems.
19th February 2024
India has kickstarted an ambitious procurement process on a number of defence platforms for its Armed Forces with Airbus and France likely to be the main contenders for contract wins.
16th February 2024
Shephard will provide updates on the latest news, announcements and launches throughout the Singapore Airshow 2024.
9th February 2024
The cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) has reflected a shift in focus towards uncrewed systems in response to evolving battlefield dynamics and lessons learned from recent conflicts.