Air

Boeing Australia and the RAAF completed the first high-speed taxi test of the Loyal Wingman before Christmas in preparation for first flight.

A number of announcements related to Australia’s F-35 program were made this week, starting with the news that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a sovereign Training Support Services contract.

A RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet has crashed on the runway at RAAF Amberley, forcing two pilots to eject from the aircraft.

Amaero has received a purchase order from Boeing for the manufacture of metal evaluation parts.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld has announced the signing of the Air Cooperation Framework with the Royal Air Force formalising the two services’ long-standing collaboration.

Boeing recently completed flight tests with five high-performance surrogate jets operating autonomously in a team at the new Queensland Flight Test Range in Cloncurry.

Lockheed Martin Australia has announced contracts with five Australian SMEs to explore Australian sovereign technologies that may be incorporated into the Air 6500 system solution.

A high-speed satellite communications (SATCOM) system has been installed on a second Air Force C-130J Hercules, providing in-flight internet connection to crew and passengers.

A Victorian small business will build the aircraft safety stands used in the maintenance of Air Force’s F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

Army Aviation is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance with a few new helicopters on the horizon.

Babcock Australasia’s Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) contract with the Queensland Government has been extended by three years.

Boeing has confirmed that the Loyal Wingman aircraft recently moved under its own power for the first time.

RUAG Australia has been awarded full patent rights in Australia, Europe, the US and Canada for its “Methods for Treating Aircraft Structures”.

Babcock Australasia’s rotary wing contract with the Government of SA has been extended until October 2022.

Queensland will be the final production home for the Loyal Wingman unmanned defence aircraft.

A local Defence/industry team has come up with an innovative solution to a problem which, until now, has affected the serviceability of the air to air refuelling hoses fitted to the RAAF’s Airbus KC-30As.