Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
GKN Aerospace has delivered thermoplastic parts to Bell Helicopter for integration into the V-280 Valor tiltrotor.
The parts include a pair of thermoplastic composite, induction-welded ruddervators - the control surfaces for an aircraft with a V-tail configuration – and two compression-moulded access panels manufactured from re-used thermoplastic waste material.
As a partner on Bell’s Team Valor for the US Army programme, GKN Aerospace has designed and manufactured the complete thermoset composite V-Tail for the Bell V-280, which will make it one of the first military aircraft to fly with thermoplastic components.
The ruddervators and access panels are technology demonstrator examples, and flight testing on the aircraft is planned for later in 2019.
‘We are proud to be part of Team Valor and to be selected for the design of the V-tail,’ John Pritchard, CEO of GKN Aerospace Aerostructures & Systems Europe & Asia, said. ‘It is very exciting that our cutting-edge thermoplastic technology will be flight tested for the first time on the state-of-the-art V-280 Valor.’
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.