Transport Helicopter
Australia permanently grounds MRH-90 fleet after fatal crash
Australia has retired its 45-strong fleet of MRH-90 Taipan tactical transport helicopters early, following a fatal accident that occurred near Hamilton Island, Queensland, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 on July 28
US Navy orders more CH-53Ks for USMC and Israel
The US Navy has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7bn contract to build and deliver 35 additional CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters – comprising 12 Lot 7 and 15 Lot 8 aircraft for the USMC, along with a further eight examples for Israel (adding to the four announced in 2022)
Germany reveals delivery, fielding details for future Chinook fleet
Berlin has announced more details relating to its acquisition of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook heavy-lift tactical transport helicopters as the nation pushes forward with plans to replace the German Air Force’s ageing CH-53G Sea Stallion fleet
RAF Chinooks take part in Vortex Warrior at El Centro
Chinook HC5/HC6s and air/ground crews from the RAF’s No 27 Squadron at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, recently deployed to Naval Air Facility El Centro in California in August to conduct specialist desert flying training in Exercise Vortex Warrior
Kyrgyzstan receives additional Mi-17V-5 Hip transport helicopters
The Kyrgyz Air Force has recently received a new Mi-17V-5 Hip-H tactical transport helicopter from Russia’s state-owned defence export/import company, Rosoboronexport
How was a Russian Mi-8 Hip pilot able to defect to Ukraine?
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has published new details regarding the daring operation that was carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-8AMTSh Hip tactical transport helicopter pilot, who defected to Ukraine last month
Hungary welcomes first H225M helicopters to Szolnok
The Hungarian Air Force formally welcomed the first two of 16 Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal medium-lift multi-purpose helicopters to Szolnok Air Base – home of the MH 86 Helikopter Ezred (HE; Helicopter Regiment) – on July 17
USMC's first CH-53K test aircraft completes final flight
US Naval Air Systems Command announced on June 9 that the first Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion test aircraft had been retired from use after the heavy-lift transport helicopter completed its final flight earlier in the month
Netherlands buys H225Ms to replace RNLAF's ageing Cougar fleet
The Dutch MOD has revealed it will replace the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s ageing fleet of AS532U2 Cougar medium-lift tactical transport helicopters – which are predominately used to support Special Operations Forces missions – with 14 new-build H225M Caracal multi-mission tactical rotorcraft
First nine Croatian Mi-8 Hip helicopters head to Ukraine
With no official announcement or ceremony, nine ex-Croatian Air Force Mi-8 Hip tactical transport helicopters departed Zagreb Franjo Tudjman Airport at approximately 0600hrs (local time) on May 5, with various social media channels noting that the rotorcraft were heading to an unknown destination ahead of their final delivery to Ukraine