Turkish helicopter operator Koçoğlu Aviation has taken delivery of another emergency medical service (EMS) configured AgustaWestland AW109 Power light twin engine helicopter.

The Turkey based company now operates eight AW109 Powers and and a single Grand. The aircraft will be used to perform EMS missions for the Turkish Ministry of Health from various bases throughout Turkey.

(Koçoğlu Aviation).

FLIR Systems Inc has been awarded a delivery order totaling US$15.8 Million for its Star SAFIRE II stabilized multi-sensor systems to support the U.S. Army MEDEVAC program.

 

The units delivered under this order will be employed on the Army Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk MEDEVAC configured helicopters serving in Iraq and Afghanistan theatres.

Works under this contract are expected to be completed within the next twelve months.

The first CH-47F (NL) Chinook heavy-lift multi-role helicopter procured by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence made its first official flight in January 25.

The aircraft made its first flight on December 8 and is scheduled to complete its flight test program in August after approximately 100 flight hours. There are currently two aircraft in flight test.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will receive a total of six helicopters to enhance its current fleet of 11 CH-47D (NL) Chinook helicopters.

The new Chinooks are equipped with survivability equipment, a forward-looking infrared system, and fast rope positions, which will be used to support Special Forces operations. The engines will include air particle separators for operation in harsh environments.

SELEX Sistemi Integrati SpA signed a EUR10 Million contract with the Government of a Middle East Country.

The agreement consists of the supply of a centralized depot maintenance facility to the local Air Force service for test, maintenance and repair of faulty electronic components of ATCR surveillance radars and PAR precision approach radars.

The signature of this contract follows another 10 Million Euro contract signed in June 2010 for a set of ATCR and PAR radars.

(SELEX Sistemi Integrati SpA).

SELEX Sistemi Integrati SpA has signed a contract worth EUR5.1 Billion for the upgrade of the IAF-MSS (Italian Air Force Mission Support System) flight mission planning systems boarded on Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) the Tornado combat aircraft.

Delivered since 1995, the IAF-MSS systems are in use to plan flight missions for the AMX, MB339, C-130J Super Hercules and C-27J Spartan aircraft. The system is also operated by the Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) to plan the missions of the NH90 TTH medium tactical helicopters..

Through the new systems, the operators will be able to prepare and transfer on the aircraft both the data of the planned mission and the cartography in digital format to be employed by the equipments on board.

The Airbus Military A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) aircraft has passed fuel to receiver aircraft using the Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU) for the first time.

The aircraft procured by the United Kingdom for the RAF (Royal Air Force) according the Future Strategic Transport Aircraft (FSTA) project conducted a series of “wet contacts” with two Boeing F-18 Hornet combat aircraft of the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire).

Contacts were performed with both fighters at an altitude of around 15,000ft and at speeds from 250kt to 325kt.

The FRU is a hose and drogue similar to those fitted under the wings, but with a higher rate of fuel transfer, and which is also developed and supplied by United Kingdom based company Cobham Ltd.

The full complement of refuelling systems which can equip the MRTT, consists of: the FRU underwing hose-and-drogue, the Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), plus the Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI).

A330-200 based MRTT aircraft is able to carry 300 troops, or a payload of up to 45 tonnes/99,000 lb. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC). To-date, a total of 28 A330 MRTTs have been ordered by Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

French and Russian authorities has signed today January 25 at STX France facilities in Saint Nazaire, France the contract to built two BPC (Bâtiment de Projection et Commandement) based command and projection multi-purpose vessels for the Russian Navy.

The fleet will be built by a consortium by French shipbuilding companies DCNS and STX France and the Russian shipbuilder JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation” (OSK). The contract signature held today follow an announcement made in 24 December 2010 regarding the decision by Russia to procure the French made vessels.

The contract includes an option for two additional ships. French Navy (Marine Nationale) operates two BPCs (FS Mistral and FS Tonnerre) and is to receive a third unit currently being built (FS Dixmude).

On January 21, Boeing received a US$1.6 Billion contract from the U.S. Navy (USN) for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The LRIP 1 contract is for six P-8A aircraft, spares, logistics and training devices.

The Navy plans to purchase 117 units of the Boeing 737 based P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.

STAT MedEvac has ordered five twin-engine helicopters to American Eurocopter. The order consists of three EC135 helicopters and two EC145 helicopters.

The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2012.

The US helicopter manufacturer which is an affiliate of Europe based Eurocopter (part of EADS), produces the UH-72A Lakota light helicopter for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.

(American Eurocopter).

Zhejiang Public Security Bureau in China has placed an order with AgustaWestland for two helicopters comprising one AW119Ke single engine helicopter and a single AW139 medium twin engine helicopter. The helicopters will be used for law enforcement and fire fighting duties.

(AgustaWestland).