Helicopters

Excite brings the F-35 display, and image fusion technology to cockpits of future helicopters, such as Future Attack & Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Future Vertical Lift (FVL), both families are expected to appear in the US and European market in the next decade.

Malaysia and the Philippines are considering the acquisition of new helicopters for maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. Following its win in South Korea, AgustaWestland's AW-159 is a strong contender on both programs.

Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter) is displaying its newest newest military helicopter at Eurosatory, the twin-engine EC645 T2, which has been ordered by Germany for Special Forces Command (Kommando Spezialkräfte). Airbus is scheduled to deliver the first helicopters under this order next year

The Russian Rosvertol company completed production of the first newly modernized Mi-28UB 'Night Hunter' attack helicopter toward delivery to the Russian military. Unlike the standard attack helicopter, the UB has dual controls in the front and back seats, to enable better training of flight personnel.

Unveiled yesterday at Eurosatory 2016 by Israel based Bird Aerosystems, SPREOS combines a radar based verification sensor and an active laser effector to form a directional, infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system. Mounted on the same optical path, the laser 'fires׳ right through the center of the radar panel, enabling significant cost saving in maintaining separate aiming devices.

Israel is seeking US approval for the supply of eight SH-60F Sea-Hawk Helicopters from US Navy surplus to support the Israeli Navy security operations in the Mediterranean Sea. The helicopters will initially operate with the four new Meko-100 Class Magen corvettes Israel will receive from Germany by 2020.

Russian Helicopters' MIL division has begun flight testing of a experimental version of a Mi-24K helicopter that could increase the helicopter's cruising speed by up to 30 percent. The blue painted helicopter testbed made its maiden flight from MIL's test center in Tomilino, on 23 December 2015.

The UK has mothballed a quarter of its AgustaWestland-Boeing WAH-64 Apache Longbow AH.1 helicopters following the end of combat operations in Afghanistan. According to IHS Jane's, 16 of the Army's 66 Apaches were placed into storage, leaving a force of 50 helicopters. These helicopters are likely to provide replacement parts, maintaining the operational fleet until the next upgrading of the British Apache fleet.

Twenty-eight Israeli companies will present a wide range of advanced technologies – many of them operational – including sophisticated sensors and systems protecting borders and sensitive facilities, robotic and automotive logistics, electro-optics for artillery and infantry, airborne satellite communications, fire control solutions, tactical medical equipment, and more. See Defense-Update video coverage of Defexpo.

Sikorsky Aircraft yesterday unveiled the first of two S-97 Raider helicopter prototypes, signaling the start of activities in the program’s test flight phase and a major step toward demonstrating the new – and first – armed reconnaissance rotorcraft featuring X2 Technology designed for military missions.

The Airbus Group has submitted the C295W light transport plane to the Indian AIr Force, as part of its teaming agreement with Tata Advanced Systems. The group also proposes different helicopters to be manufactured by Mahindra Defence.

Boeing will soon deliver the first new build MH-47G configuration to the US Special Operations Command. The modernized Chinook incorporates a number of production improvements to include the digital advanced flight control system, more robust, improved monolithic machined-frames, and improved air transportability

Airbus will need to work hard if military sales are ever to recover the growing scandal over the Norwegian crash.

An Israeli robotic assembly turns a standard Blackhawk helicopter into an 'assault gunship', suppressing enemy fire by using remotely controlled the 25mm Bushmaster gun, covering 360 degrees