Breaking Defense reports, “After moving to halve the fleet in fiscal year 2025, a new Pentagon review says the Air Force now plans to add over a dozen MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters back into the aircraft’s program of record — averting a “critical” cost breach in the process. The planned procurement boost is likely a boon to prime contractor Boeing as well as Italian firm Leonardo, whose commercial AW139 serves as the Grey Wolf’s baseline.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Tag: U.S. Air Force
Beta Electric Aircraft Conducts Two More ‘Real-Time’ Demos
Flying Magazine reports, “After wrapping up its first test and deployment campaign with the U.S. Air Force in January, electric aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies on Monday said it completed two more real-time demonstrations, dispatching its Alia aircraft with only a few minutes’ notice. The company believes these were the first such deployments for an electric aircraft with major commands of the Air Force.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Role of CV-22s Under Review by U.S. Air Force Amid Grounding
Aviation Week reports “Air Force Special Operations Command is reviewing the role of its CV-22 fleet, focusing on if it is organized and equipped for safe operations, amid a three-month-long grounding of the fleet following a fatal crash.”
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U.S. Air Force Approves Plan for AI Pilot Testing on KC-135
Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force has signed off on a plan to put AI in the left seat of its KC-135 tanker fleet. Autonomous flight developer Merlin announced it will begin flying the converted Boeing 707s, among the oldest airframes in the fleet, with Merlin Pilot, an AI-driven robotic flight system, in 2025.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
U.S. Air Force to Order More Autonomous Fighter Prototypes
Aviation Week reports, “The U.S. Air Force plans to add more orders for the first batch of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototypes to equip a newly established experimental operations unit, acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said on Nov. 13. The additional orders come after the Air Force selected Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) for CCA Increment 1 prototypes in April.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Bell and Boeing Mark Upcoming Completion of CV-22 Osprey Production
Defense Industry Europe reports, “Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, and Boeing have marked the upcoming completion of the CV-22 Program of Record for the U.S. Air Force … According to Bell, the U.S. Air Force is the first service branch to complete its program of record for new CV-22 aircraft, which feature improved nacelles. The final aircraft under this program is expected to be delivered in the coming months.”
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Aerospace America: U.S. Air Force Electrified Aircraft Program Gets Help From Congress on Tech Transition Goal
ORLANDO, Fla. – Aerospace America reports, “The director of the division that runs the U.S. Air Force program to research emerging electric aircraft, AFWERX Agility Prime, is eager to see one or more of those aircraft designs transitioned into active military service.
Full Story (Aerospace America)