DefenceTalkSpecial helicopter squadrons will be activated in each of the military districts to infiltrate and exfiltrate commandos and provide close air support for them, according to the Izvestia daily newspaper. The crews of the new units will be trained to fly nap of the earth and attack the enemy while remaining invisible to him. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-army-to-form-helicopter-squadrons-for-army-special-forces-68742/

DefenceTalkThe first flight of the Avicopter AC352, powered with WZ16 engine, took place today in Harbin. The AC352 is a new seven-ton, twin-engine, multi-purpose rotorcraft jointly developed by Avicopter and Airbus Helicopters. The WZ16 met all the performance targets set for this maiden flight. Known in the west as the Ardiden 3C, the engine has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-ac352-completes-first-flight-with-wz16-engine-68696/

DefenceTalkSikorsky has successfully concluded contract negotiations with the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile) for six S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for the service’s medium-lift helicopter recapitalization program. When delivered in 2018, the new helicopters will fulfill Chile’s requirement to perform both military and humanitarian missions, such as troop transport, search and rescue, and disaster […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chile-orders-six-s-70i-black-hawk-helicopters-68647/

DefenceTalkThe United States is using Apache helicopters in the battle to retake Iraq’s second city of Mosul after more than two years of Islamic State group rule, the Pentagon said. The US military, backing the ground campaign by Iraqi forces, is directing the attack helicopters against explosives-packed vehicles the jihadist group is employing for suicide […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-using-apache-helicopters-in-the-battle-for-mosul-68553/

DefenceTalkHelibras and Airbus Helicopters have opened a new chapter in the history of the H225M multirole utility helicopter with the official presentation of the first aircraft in naval combat configuration. Developed and assembled locally by Helibras, Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary in Brazil, this new H225M version is designed to meet the demanding requirements of the Brazilian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-helicopters-and-helibras-introduce-first-h225m-in-naval-combat-version-68513/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth as much as $600 million to fulfill the growing demand for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets. With an initial award of more than $130 million, the three-year, indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract will help speed the delivery of these precision guidance […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bae-systems-awarded-contract-for-apkws-laser-guided-rockets-68437/

DefenceTalkUniversal Avionics and Heli-One are announcing cockpit upgrades to be performed on a fleet of Sikorsky S-61A-4 NURI helicopters for an Asian operator, featuring Universal’s EFI-890H Advanced Flight Displays and Multi-Missions Management System (MMMS). Universal Avionics Authorized Dealer, Heli-One, is set to perform the design and installation for the initial aircraft with an Asian Maintenance, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/asian-s-61-fleet-to-receive-universal-avionics-flight-deck-upgrade-68363/

DefenceTalkFrench aircraft maker Airbus has attacked the Polish government for its handling of a failed helicopter deal. The row has caused a rise in diplomatic tensions between Paris and Warsaw. The Polish government had unexpectedly ended negotiations with Airbus Helicopters earlier in October over a 3.14 billion euro ($3.5 billion) deal to purchase 50 Caracal […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-helicopters-to-seek-compensation-in-spat-over-failed-deal-with-poland-68361/

DefenceTalkPoland said Monday it would buy Black Hawk helicopters from US defence giant Lockheed Martin, days after it blamed French aeronautics giant Airbus for the breakdown in talks over a multi-billion euro contract for military choppers. “This week we will open talks… Before the end of the year, the first machines of this kind will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-to-buy-black-hawks-after-dropping-airbus-helicopters-68342/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt for Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) for AH-64E Apache, UH-60 Blackhawks, and CH-47 Chinook Helicopters and related equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $81.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-approves-sale-of-helicopter-countermeasures-to-egypt-68320/