DefenceTalkA flock of geese caused the deaths of four US airmen whose military helicopter crashed over a nature reserve in eastern England, investigators said Wednesday. The US Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk, based at Lakenheath airbase, came down in Norfolk on January 7 while on a training mission. As the helicopters approached, a flock of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/geese-caused-deadly-us-military-chopper-crash-60091/

DefenceTalkAgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the Brazilian Navy’s Naval Aviation has signed a contract for a major midlife upgrade of eight Lynx Mk21A helicopters. The contract, valued in excess of US$160 million (€117 million), includes replacement of the aircraft’s engines with the CTS800-4N product from LHTEC, navigation, displays suite and mission avionics. A comprehensive […]https://www.defencetalk.com/brazilian-navy-signs-contract-for-lynx-mk21a-upgrade-60017/

DefenceTalkSikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to develop new combat search and rescue helicopters. Sikorsky will develop a derivative of the UH-60M Black Hawk model for the Air Force’s rescue mission. The award of an estimated $1.28 billion Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract includes […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sikorsky-to-develop-us-air-force-new-combat-rescue-helicopter-59983/

DefenceTalkBrazil: The first “built-in-Brazil” EC725 was provided to the Brazilian Navy last Friday, marking a major milestone in Airbus Helicopters’ cooperation with the country to supply mission-ready multi-role rotorcraft for its three military services and to develop a capable national helicopter industry. This milestone aircraft’s handover occurred at the new rotary-wing center of excellence operated […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-helicopters-delivers-the-first-ec725-produced-in-brazil-59938/

DefenceTalkThe first of the RAF’s fourteen new Chinook helicopters have been unveiled today by the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, following its entry into service on time. During a visit to RAF Odiham in Hampshire, the home of the Chinook force, Philip Hammond also announced a new £115 million agreement with Boeing Defence UK to maintain […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raf-flying-high-in-new-chinook-helicopter-59908/

DefenceTalkTAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) and Finmeccanica – AgustaWestland are pleased to announce that the Turkish Armed Forces have taken delivery of their first “T129 ATAK” Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter on 22nd of April 2014. This delivery, celebrated during an official ceremony on June 10th, is the first of 59 helicopters, 9 in T129A […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkish-armed-forces-takes-delivery-of-t129-atak-helicopter-59859/

DefenceTalkApache helicopters, teamed with Gray Eagle and Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles, are a winning combo, according to Col. Thomas von Eschenbach. Apache AH-64E models, teamed with unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs, are now increasingly performing the armed aerial scout missions, once performed by Kiowa helicopters, and, Eschenbach said, they’re doing a fantastic job. Eschenbach, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-sees-uavs-as-kiowa-replacement-59547/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy today announced that Sikorsky Aircraft has been selected to build the next fleet of Marine One helicopters for the Office of the President. With the selection comes a $1.24 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to modify, test and deliver six FAA-certified S-92 helicopters and two trainer simulators to the U.S. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sikorsky-wins-us-navy-contract-to-replace-marine-one-helicopter-fleet-59527/

DefenceTalkBoeing’s AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter has flown for the first time in its production configuration, moving the program another step closer to full-scale production while continuing to prove the helicopter’s close air support and attack capabilities. Boeing pilots flew the aircraft for less than 20-minutes at low speeds in forward, rearward and sideward flight at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/maiden-flight-for-boeing-ah-6i-light-helicopter-59481/

DefenceTalkAutonomy options for the Marines have taken a major step forward, as officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced today two successful helicopter flight demonstrations with unmanned flight capability at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., part of the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) program. AACUS will enable the Marine Corps to rapidly resupply […]https://www.defencetalk.com/robocopter-new-technology-brings-new-capabilities-to-the-marine-corps-59253/