A sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pilot program at RAAF Base East Sale, involving Viva Energy Australia and UGL and running for 12 months, has begun. According to a statement from defence on Sunday, the pilot began recently and aligns with the goals of increased energy security and transitioning to lower-carbon energy “without detriment to military…
Engineering and technology developer MEMKO has launched its first product to the market – NIFTI, a Non-Intrusive Flight Test Instrumentation system. Initially developed in Australia by flight test crew in collaboration with the RAAF Air Warfare Centre (AWC) and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), NIFTI is a small wireless sensing system. The device…
Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat programme has achieved another milestone with the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot taking the controls of the unmanned aircraft. Experienced remote systems pilot WGCDR Phil Parsons (pictured) completed Boeing’s training on June 13, becoming the first non-Boeing pilot on the programme. As a launch and recovery operator, Parsons would…
Defence contractor Northrop Grumman has foreshadowed further expansion of composites manufacturer Quickstep’s Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) capabilities at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport. Quickstep hosted the aerospace manufacturer to inspect progress in developing its MRO operation which it purchased from Boeing more than two years ago. The company said it was taking delivery of an increasing…
@AuManufacturing turns today in our editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – to one of the bright sparks in the innovation scene – the development of a research-based space industry. By Xavier Orr. Australia’s space sector has skyrocketed in the past two decades. As of 2008, Australia was the only…
Aerospace company Boeing has been awarded a $139.5 million contract to deliver Increment 3 Block 2 software, systems and sensor upgrades to enhance the anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike and intelligence collection capabilities of the RAAF’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The RAAF’s first P-8A aircraft entered into service in 2016, with the latest upgrades supporting…
KBR has welcomed two separate contracts with the department of defence, supporting the first MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), ahead of scheduled delivery of the aircraft in 2024’s second half. The company said in a statement on Tuesday (Houston, US time) that the contracts will see it support Triton’s “aeronautical and geospatial requirements,…
Austal receives $1.3bn order from US Navy Shipbuilder Austal‘s US arm has received a $1.28 billion ‘undefinitised’ contract award (UCA) for the final design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) from the United States Navy. The EMS is based on Austal’s proven Expeditionary Fast Transport ship (EPF) platform and will be manufactured in…
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has signed a three-year strategic agreement with family-owned Flying Colours Aviation (FCA) to paint the Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail and P-8A Poseidon aircraft as part of deeper maintenance services now being performed onshore. The Wedgetail is a twin-engine airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the Boeing 737…
