The first F-35C carrier variant arrived at the US Navy’s test facility at NAS Patuxent River near Washington on November 6. The aircraft, designated CF-1, joins four F-35Bs at Pax River, where it will undergo air-to-air refuelling and performance testing by US Navy test pilots. The aircraft flew non-stop from Fort Worth with its F/A-18B
The seven nation Airbus A400M partnership has finally agreed upon a financial package to support the aircraft’s development. The countries – the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey – have agreed to pay €3.5bn (A$4.8bn) to continue the A400M’s development, clearing the way ahead for the airlifter. This content is available exclusively
Melbourne based Sentient has announced its Kestrel Land MTI, a computer vision system for electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) sensors, has been deployed aboard RAAF 5FLT Heron UAVs based at Kandahar in Afghanistan. The system processes imagery in real time and automatically detects and tracks small, moving targets such as dismounts or vehicles within the
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible sale of 60 AH-64D Block III Apache attack helicopters to the UAE. The sale, valued at $US5 billion, comprises 30 helicopters which will be remanufactured from AH-64D Block II airframes and 30 new build airframes, 120 GE T700 engines, sensors including 70
The program to build two Queen Elizabeth II class aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy has been heavily criticised by a board member of one of the companies building the 60,000 tonne vessels. Lord Alexander Hesketh, a non-executive deputy chairman of Babcock which is building the ships at its Rosyth shipyard, has said meddling by
The Department of Defence has released a tender for the disposal of the RAAF’s now retired Caribou fleet and associated spares, although at least two aircraft and numerous parts will be made available to various historical organisations. “The Caribou has had a long and distinguished history with the Australian Defence Force,” said Minister for Defence