DefenceTalkAgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the first AW101 for the Italian Air Force, designated the HH-101A “CAESAR”, made its maiden flight at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in the UK today in the presence of the Italian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Pasquale Preziosa, the Italian Ambassador Domenico Terracciano, the Director of ARMAEREO Lt. General […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-italian-air-force-aw101-helicopter-makes-its-maiden-flight-59082/

DefenceTalkLONGBOW International, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, received a $96 million contract in 2013 from AgustaWestland to support LONGBOW Fire Control Radars on U.K. Apache AH Mk.1 aircraft. The five-year contract includes engineering services, integrated logistics support and an in-country repair capability. The effort is part of the overall Integrated Operational […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-to-upgrade-apache-helicopter-fire-control-59016/

DefenceTalkAirbus Helicopters today unveiled the latest member of its Super Puma helicopter family: the multi-mission AS332 C1e utility workhorse version, which comes with a standardized equipment definition for more rapid production times and cost-effective acquisition prices. The unveiling occurred at the 2014 Heli-Expo industry show in Anaheim, California, where the first production AS332 C1e is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-new-as332-c1e-is-ready-for-duty-58893/

DefenceTalkThe helicopter industry has been marked with notable ups and downs in 2013, both requested orders in transitioning economies and terminations in the West, such as in North America, the largest helicopter market in the world. The dialogue between industry and customers is therefore becoming increasingly challenging, blurring potential opportunities for OEMs on the short […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-helicopter-and-systems-market-thrives-in-emerging-countries-58860/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin received a contract from the U.S. Army Robotics Technology Consortium to conduct a fully autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition experiment using both its Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) unmanned ground vehicle and its K-MAX unmanned air vehicle. Contract terms are not being disclosed. In collaboration with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-receives-contract-for-smss-k-max-cooperative-teaming-demo-58814/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter for the first time. Conducted at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., the flight will allow the team to ramp up testing efforts to prepare the system for operations. Current tests are focused on validating the flight capabilities of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mq-8c-fire-scout-completes-first-flight-50712/

DefenceTalkRussia began to deliver Mi-17V-5, the military transport helicopters, to Afghanistan. A total 30 helicopters of this type must be transferred to Afghanistan under this contract between “Rosoboronexport” and the US government. To date, three vehicles have been already supplied to the Afghan side. According to ITAR-TASS, the remaining helicopters will be delivered during the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghanistan-will-receive-a-new-batch-of-mi-17-helicopters-50708/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq for AH-64E Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $4.8 billion. The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of 24 AH-64E Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters, 56 T700-GE-701D […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iraq-to-buy-ah-64e-apache-longbow-attack-helicopters-50171/

DefenceTalkIndia cancelled on Wednesday a 556-million-euro ($753 million) contract with Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland to buy luxury helicopters for VIPs amid bribery allegations. The deal signed in February 2010 was scrapped after Defence Minister A. K. Antony held a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh whose Congress-led government has been buffeted by a string of corruption […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-scraps-agustawestland-chopper-deal-over-bribe-allegations-50019/

DefenceTalkThe Mi-28N Night Hunter combat helicopter, made by Russian Helicopters a subsidiary of Oboronprom and part of State Corporation Rostec, has officially entered into service with the Russian Defence Ministry under an order signed by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Before officially entering into service, the Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopter was operated by the Russian Armed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mi-28n-night-hunter-helicopter-enters-russian-service-50004/