DefenceTalkThis year marks the 40th anniversary of production of the Mi-24, the first purpose-built Russian combat helicopter, at Rostov Helicopter Plant, today called Rosvertol, a Russian Helicopters company. The design of the Mi-24, a strike and transport helicopter was, was so successful that versions are still in use today: some 1,500 Mi-24s serve with the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mi-24-legendary-russian-attack-helicopter-turns-40-this-year-47218/

DefenceTalkHughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced that it has successfully demonstrated high-throughput video and data transmission over SATCOM links on a variety of rotary wing platforms. Employing an advanced waveform technology developed by Hughes, the new communications-on-the-move (COTM) microsat system achieved zero packet loss on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/hughes-demonstrates-seamless-satcom-on-military-helicopters-47200/

DefenceTalkMike Kgobe, the CEO of Denel Aviation says the acceptance of the locally developed combat support helicopter marks the culmination of a 26 year partnership between the SAAF and Denel. “We took this proudly South African aircraft through all its stages – from design to manufacturing, upgrading and retrofitting – to the point where it […]https://www.defencetalk.com/final-rooivalk-handover-cements-relationship-between-denel-and-saaf-47154/

DefenceTalkBell Helicopter will showcase a number of aircraft and program updates at HELI-EXPO 2013, the world’s largest helicopter trade show and exposition, hosted by Helicopter Association International (HAI) in Las Vegas March 5-7. Bell Helicopter invites show attendees to its opening event on March 5, at 11:30 a.m., where it will introduce new product upgrades […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bell-helicopter-at-heli-expo-2013-47007/

DefenceTalkArmy acquisition officials are pursuing solutions to help aircraft crews navigate through what is called a “degraded visual environment.” A degraded visual environment, or DVE, is a circumstance wherein weather, obscurants or obstacles thwart the ability of a crew to see properly or accurately know where they are in relation to surrounding terrain, service officials […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-aviation-looking-to-overcome-degraded-visual-environment-46971/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin has completed the 400th Common Cockpit avionics suite for the U.S. Navy’s MH-60 Seahawk helicopter program. The digital cockpit will be installed aboard the first of 24 MH-60R (Romeo) anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopters to be acquired by the Royal Australian Navy via the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program. “The Common Cockpit […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-completes-400th-digital-cockpit-for-1st-australian-mh-60r-46957/

DefenceTalkThe latest members of Eurocopter’s helicopter family – including its new EC175, the enhanced EC145 T2 and AS350 B3e – are coming to Las Vegas for Heli-Expo 2013, where the company also is demonstrating its expanded services offer. “At Heli-Expo 2013, Eurocopter will highlight how we are meeting our vision of transitioning from an industry-leading […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eurocopter-takes-latest-helicopters-to-heli-expo-2013-46952/

DefenceTalkThales’ I-Master radar system has successfully completed flight trials on-board a Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAS (Unmanned Air System). The flight trials on Camcopter S-100 took place on 7 February 2013 at the Schiebel test facility in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. The flights, each lasting several hours, successfully proved both sensor performance and the stability of data […]https://www.defencetalk.com/successful-flight-trials-for-thales-i-master-on-camcopter-s-100-46877/

DefenceTalkIndia on Tuesday launched an inquiry into reports of alleged bribery of government officials by Finmeccanica, after the head of the Italian aerospace giant was arrested. Italian police arrested chairman and chief executive Giuseppe Orsi as part of the country’s investigation into alleged kickbacks paid to Indian government officials, media reports in Italy said. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-orders-probe-into-italy-chopper-bribe-allegations-46762/

DefenceTalkEurocopter Japan successfully handed over the 10th EC135 Training Helicopter (TH135, a variant of Eurocopter’s EC135 T2) to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) yesterday. The first TH135 was delivered in December 2009, to begin the replacement of their single-engine training helicopter fleet. The TH135s have been used by MSDF helicopter pilots since November […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eurocopter-delivers-10th-ec135-helicopter-to-japan-maritime-self-defense-force-46639/