AH-1Z now has Link-16

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) has flown the first AH-1Z flight that has Link-16 capability. Bell says a two-way connection was completed from the helicopter to a ground station.

A U.S. Marine AH-1Z Viper with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 takes off in Charleston, West Virginia, July 26, 2019. HMLA-167 is subordinate command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William L.Holdaway)

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B-1 pilots explore using AR for aerial refueling training

The B-1 bomber community is exploring the feasibility of using Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) developed by Red 6 to train rookie B-1 pilots on aerial refueling.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Scott Thorup, Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron Detachment 14 commander, prepares for takeoff as Rina Shkrabova, Red 6 director of hardware design, connects the augmented reality headset to the Berkut in Santa Monica, Calif., April 13, 2021. The visor tracks the motions of the pilots’ heads and the position of the airframe to determine how the virtual assets are viewed and its location compared to the piloted aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mercedes Porter)

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U.S. State Department clears sale of 29 AH-64Es to Australia

The Biden administration has given its approval to sell 29 AH-64E attack helicopters to Australia that is expected to cost $3.5 billion.

A group of AH-64E version 6 Apache helicopters depart the Boeing manufacturing facilities at Mesa, Ariz. 13 January bound for Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Wash. The aircraft will be delivered to the
1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion. With the fielding of these aircraft, the 1-229th ARB, becomes first operational unit to add the Apache V6 aircraft to its inventory. (Photo Courtesy Boeing Mesa)

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