US clears Norway to purchase $2.6B worth of HH-60W helicopters
Oslo’s purchase of the HH-60W could help extend the helicopter’s production line after the US Air Force moved to end procurement of the platform in 2022.
Lockheed ‘looking for partners’ on NATO next-gen helo bid, will build in Europe
“Especially from an X2 standpoint, the largest procurement out there is really NGRC. And that recapitalization of the helicopter fleet in Europe is the largest thing we see today at least in the next five or 10 years,” said Sikorsky boss Rich Benton.
Sponsored
presented by
Keeping Black Hawk and rotary wing aviation essential with launched effects, autonomy and MOSA
With a demonstrated ability to integrate capabilities in hours with MOSA, Black Hawk can give the Army a decisive advantage across theaters.
Army leaders want FLRAA by 2028, sidestep questions on Black Hawk’s fate
“We are unwilling to make commitments that are [not], in our opinion, in the best interest of soldiers...,” Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said of the fate of a new multi-year UH-60M procurement deal.
Sikorsky to integrate Israeli systems on Israel’s CH-53K helicopters
The US State Department agreed to a potential sale of up to 18 of these helicopters to Israel in 2021, and Israel eventually went ahead with a deal for an initial 12 estimated at around $2 billion in 2022.
Preliminary discussions lead Boeing to offer CH-47F Chinook to Poland
It remains to be seen how many aircraft Warsaw will commit to, should it go ahead with an order of the US Army aircraft or if a wider industry competition is to begin near term.
Michigan: Arsenal of Democracy for dangerous times
Michigan’s defense ecosystem and expertise makes it a special asset for production.
Army plans for Black Hawk to be Future Vertical Lift testbed for launched effects and autonomy
The Army has received its first two ITEP engines, and a re-engined Black Hawk will fly in late FY25/early FY26.
Army wraps up FLRAA PDR, incorporating special ops design changes
According to a SOCOM official, the Army included feedback from the command that led to design changes like hardware for a refueling probe and features that will enable special operators to make unique modifications.
FARA fallout: A ‘resurrection’ of Boeing’s A/MH-6 Little Bird for special forces
Special operators had planned for FARA to take the role of the AH-6, but the program’s cancellation “changed our equation,” a SOCOM official said.
Sikorsky prepares X2 offer for NATO’s next generation rotorcraft competition
The manufacturer is shifting attention to alliance requirements in the aftermath of the US Army cancelling its next-generation Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) effort.
presented by
Streamlining federal operations: achieving mission success with unified network observability
Consolidate network monitoring, performance management, and fault isolation into a single, comprehensive solution.
Head start: Early ’25 may be first flight for Black Hawk with T901 engine
Sikorsky is using remaining FARA dollars to test out the new T901 engine in anticipation of integrating it on a UH-60 M Black Hawk later this year.
Connecticut lawmakers to grill Army, Lockheed about job cuts at Sikorsky helicopter unit
“The Connecticut delegation has questions about why, with that [FY24] appropriation in hand, this happened,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn.
Lawmakers press Army aviation leadership on FARA cancelation
UH-60M Blackhawks from Lockheed Martin Sikorsky and CH-47F Block II Chinooks from Boeing would have ended production in 2030 if the Army kept FARA going, a top service official testified.
Army cancels FARA helicopter program, makes other cuts in major aviation shakeup
In addition to halting the FARA competition, service leaders want to end UH-60 V Blackhawk production, postpone moving the Improved Turbine Engine Program into production, and phase out legacy drones.