DefenceTalkBell Helicopter announced it has signed a purchase agreement with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) for eight Bell 412EP helicopters. The aircraft will be delivered to the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) fully configured and equipped with advanced features to meet the DND’s modernization requirements. “We are honored that the Philippine Department of National […]https://www.defencetalk.com/canada-to-finance-sale-of-8-bell-412eps-to-philippines-59222/

DefenceTalkA modernized rocket launcher will soon enable MH-60 Seahawk helicopters to carry and deploy a variety of weapons for the first time. As part of an Early Operational Capability (EOC), the Navy delivered the new system, called the Digital Rocket Launcher, to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 15 in March for pre-deployment training. DRL is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navy-weapons-program-delivers-new-capability-for-mh-60-helicopters-59192/

DefenceTalkQatar will buy 22 NH90 military helicopters from European aerospace group Airbus worth nearly two billion euros ($2.8 billion), the French defense ministry said Thursday. It said 12 of these would be transport helicopters and the other 10 would be the frigate version. Qatar will also acquire two Airbus-made refueling tankers. The decision was conveyed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-to-buy-french-nh90-military-helicopters-59159/

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/

DefenceTalkThe first two upgraded AS365 Panther K2 rotorcraft will be delivered this month by Airbus Helicopters’ Helibras subsidiary to the Brazilian Army Aviation Command (AvEx), providing a modernized platform with more power, updated avionics and increased mission capability. These deliveries follow the signature in Brasília of an amendment standardizing the modifications introduced to the helicopter’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/helibras-delivers-upgraded-as365-panther-k2-helicopters-to-the-brazilian-army-59029/

DefenceTalkSikorsky Aircraft Corp. has signed agreements with the Turkish government and key Turkish aerospace contractors that license Turkey’s aerospace industry to manufacture 109 T-70 helicopters (Turkish variants of Sikorsky’s S-70i International Black Hawk helicopter) for operation by the Turkish Government, and to assemble 109 S-70i helicopters for Sikorsky. The agreements license the transfer of certain […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-to-produce-up-to-600-black-hawks-58942/

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/

DefenceTalkOn the opening day of the HELI-EXPO 2014 show in Los Angeles, Thales unveils its Avionics 2020 new-generation helicopter cockpit. Modeled on the principles behind the ground-breaking Avionics 2020 for fixed wing aircraft presented at the 2013 Paris Air Show, this cockpit represents the new-generation in helicopter avionics. Avionics 2020 is the result of a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/thales-unveils-avionics-2020-for-helicopters-58874/

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/