October 2021 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry


 

Bell teams with CAE USA for US Army FLRAA and FARA training

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced it has signed a teaming agreement with CAE USA Inc., a globally recognized training and mission systems integrator. As part of the collaboration, CAE has agreed to provide Maintenance Training Devices, to assist in the development of Flight Training Devices, and deliver other training products including courseware, Interactive Multimedia Instruction, and procedural training solutions for Bell’s Future Vertical Lift family of systems.

SPARTAN exercise underway to boost C-27J interoperability

The ‘European Spartan Exercise’ 2021, an annual flying exercise organised by the C-27J community with the support of EDA and hosted this year by the Bulgarian Air Force, is currently underway at Plovdiv (27 Sep.-8. Oct).

Albatross BVLOS UAV integrated with Iris Automation Casia DAA solution

Applied Aeronautics announces its latest Albatross UAV aircraft fully integrating Iris Automation’s advanced detect and avoid Casia solution for BVLOS flights. The Albatross UAV starts at US$7,000, and the forthcoming BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) model will remain consistent with Applied Aeronautics commitment to marrying a robust feature set with affordable pricing.

US Army unveils new UH-60V Black Hawk variant

The U.S. Army unveiled the newest variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the UH-60V, during a ceremony on October 6 at the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site.

Lockheed Martin delivers High Energy Laser to US Air Force for flight testing on AC-130J aircraft

Lockheed Martin successfully completed factory acceptance testing for the Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL), in preparation for U.S. military ground and flight testing of the system.

AVIC unveils Advanced Heavy Lifter design in promotional video

China’s Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) released a new animated promotional video regarding various aurcraft of the company. Among others,  the company showcased the Advanced Heavy Lifter (AHL) , an helicopter being co-developed by Russian Helicopters and AVIC.

Wing Loong II performs flight at Airshow China 2021

China's independently-developed Wing Loong II unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) performed a flight at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2021.

Amphibious aircraft AG600 drops 9 tonnes of water during flight at Airshow China 2021

China's independently developed AG600 large amphibious aircraft performed a flight at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2021, which washeld in Zhuhai from September 28 to October 3, 2021.

ZHZ showcases TD220 VTOL UAS at Airshow China 2021

Zhong Hang - Zhi (ZHZ) Science and Technology Ltd. showcases its TD220 VTOL UAS at Airshow China 2021, held in Zhuhai from September 28 to October 3, 2021.

US Army awards AeroVironment $11.7M Raven contract

AeroVironment, Inc., a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, announced on October 6 that the United States Army exercised the third and final option under the Flight Control Systems (FCS) domain of the Army’s multi-year small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) contract on Sept. 9, 2021. The value of the contract option is $11,731,740 and includes flight control system kits, ground control stations and tail booms for the Army’s existing fleet of Raven tactical UAS. Delivery is scheduled to be completed by September 2022.

Italian MoD signs decree for the purchase of six P.180 Avanti EVO aircraft

The Italian Minister of Defence, Lorenzo Guerini, signed on Friday, October 1 a Decree for the purchase of six new P.180 Avanti EVO for the Italian Armed Forces.

DroneShield collaborates with the US Department of Homeland Security

DroneShield Ltd  announced the purchase of several of its DroneSentry-X systems, providing on-the-move Counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). DroneShield continues to strengthen its collaboration with the DHS and several of its component agencies on multiple fronts.

Next Generation Interceptor Program achieves critical system requirements review

On October 5, Lockheed Martin announced that the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) approved its Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program’s System Requirements Review (SRR) – six months after the initial development and demonstration contract award.

L3Harris selected to improve B-52 self-defense via $947 million contract

L3Harris Technologies will modernize the US Air Force B-52 aircraft to protect aircrew from enemy radar threats under a new 10-year, sole-source $947 million IDIQ contract.

F-35A completes milestone 5th Gen fighter test with refurbished B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs

Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft recently released B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies (JTAs) during the F-35A’s first Full Weapon System Demonstration, completing the final flight test exercise of the nuclear design certification process.

BIRD Aerosystems successfully concludes SPREOS live firing demonstration

BIRD Aerosystems, a global provider of innovative defense technology and solutions that protect the air, sea, and land fleets of governments and related agencies, has conducted a live firing demonstration of SPREOS DIRCM protection against diverse MANPADS, proving to defeat 100% of the missiles.

Insitu, GKN Aerospace and TNO team up to develop advanced radar system for Integrator UAS

Responding to increasing needs for operational flexibility in the defense industry, Insitu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, GKN Aerospace and TNO have jointly developed a distinctive multifunction imaging radar system for the Integrator Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).

Vidisco awarded $30 million contract to supply US Air Force with Guardian 12 Digital Radiographic X-ray system for explosive detection

Vidisco – provider of innovative portable, accurate and safe X-ray detection solutions for armies, security forces and law enforcement agencies – has been awarded a $30 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to supply Guardian 12 systems for the detection of explosives, such as improvised explosive devices (IED) or unexploded ordnances. Over 50 of the systems have already been installed and are in use at various Air Force bases.

First Gripen E Swedish Air Force wing announced

The Chief of the Swedish of Air Force recently announced that Skaraborg Air Force Wing (F7) will be first within the Swedish Air Force to receive the Gripen E. Flight tests and preparations are ongoing in parallel at both the Swedish Air Force and at Saab to make the introduction of the aircraft as effective and smooth as possible.

Elbit Systems awarded $76 Million contract to supply Head Mounted Display Systems for US Army Apache helicopters

On October 6, Elbit Systems announced , that its U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, LLC., was awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (“ID/IQ”) contract from the U.S. Army to provide Integrated Helmet And Display Sight Systems (“IHADSS”) equipment for the AH-64 Apache helicopter fleet. 

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