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Aviation News

Month: February 2024

Sikorsky soars towards future with Hybrid-Electric VTOL demonstrator

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Sikorsky, a leading rotorcraft manufacturer under Lockheed Martin, has announced a bold venture into the future of vertical flight with its plans to develop a family of next-generation Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) systems. This initiative aims to push the boundaries of existing technology and explore diverse configurations – ranging from more traditional helicopters to winged configurations – to address the evolving needs of the aerial mobility landscape.


Graphic: Lockheed Martin
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30th anniversary of Exercise Cope Tiger

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This year marks the 30th anniversary of Exercise Cope Tiger, a cornerstone of regional security cooperation in Southeast Asia. The first iteration of this annual trilateral large force aerial exercise took place in 1995, bringing together the United States Air Force (USAF), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in Thailand.

A formation of aircraft including a Royal Singapore Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, top left, U.S., Royal Thai, and Royal Singapore Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, center, and an RSAF JAS 39 GRIPEN, bottom left, fly in formation during Cope Tiger 2022 at Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. Cope Tiger is an annual multilateral aerial exercise aimed at improving combat readiness and interoperability between the Republic of Singapore, Royal Thai and United States Air Forces, while concurrently enhancing the three nations’ military relations. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

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Project Convergence Capstone 4

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Project Convergence Capstone 4 (PC-C4), a U.S. Army-led experiment, is testing the interoperability of various Joint and Multinational Layered Air and Missile Defense systems. This iteration focuses on leveraging data from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft to guide the engagement of ground-based missile systems against airborne threats.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Zachary Ybarra, F-35B Lightning II pilot, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), performs aerial maneuvers during an airshow demonstration practice at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, Aug. 21, 2023. VMFAT-501 and VMFAT-502, MAG 11, 3rd MAW, are the two components that make up the USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, that perform across the country to demonstrate the capabilities of the fifth generation fighter and interact with the public. Ybarra is a Rancho Cucamonga, California native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kyle Baskin)

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T-7A Red Hawk aces climate tests

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The U.S. Air Force (USAF) announced the successful completion of a month-long climate testing program for its new T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft. This critical evaluation, held at Eglin Air Force Base’s McKinley Climatic Laboratory, is a crucial step in the T-7A’s development journey, ensuring its ability to withstand the diverse weather conditions it may encounter at training bases across the nation.

A T-7A Red Hawk sits in a frozen McKinley Climatic Lab chamber Jan. 22, 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The Air Force’s newest training aircraft experienced temperature extremes from 110 to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit as well as heavy humidity during the month of testing. The tests evaluate how the aircraft, its instrumentation and electronics fared under the extreme conditions it will face in the operational Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)

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First flight test of AMRAAM-ER variant

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Raytheon Technologies Corporation (RTX) announced a successful first flight test of the new Extended Range Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM-ER) variant, marking a significant milestone in its air defense missile development program. This innovative variant represents a first-of-its-kind configuration, incorporating several advanced technologies.


Photo: Raytheon
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