December 9, 2022 | International, Aerospace
Defense bill underlines need for tactically responsive space program
The language continues a three-year push from lawmakers for the service to prioritize the capability.
July 10, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group awarded support contract for Blue Angels’ ‘Fat Albert’ replacement
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group today announced it has been awarded the contract to support the entry into service of the new replacement for the Blue Angels' iconic Fat Albert, the C-130 support aircraft to the US Navy's air display team.
Marshall will carry out the maintenance, paint and minor modifications to the US Navy's replacement ‘Fat Albert'. The aircraft is a C-130J that the US Navy recently purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence to replace the C-130T that the squadron used for 17 years until May this year.
The new Fat Albert is a C-130J Super Hercules, four-engine, six-blade turboprop, which will serve as the US Navy's Blue Angels' Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS) logistical support aircraft.
Marshall is the global leading C-130 support company outside of the USA and was chosen for its proven expertise with C-130 modification, repair and overhaul (MRO) work and the speed with which the company can make the aircraft operational.
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group CEO, Alistair McPhee said:
“We are delighted that the US Navy has chosen us to work on the new replacement Fat Albert,”
“We have worked on Royal Air Force C-130s for 50 years and we support a number of international Air Force customers who have purchased surplus C-130s from the UK MOD. It feels like a natural progression for us, but very exciting nevertheless. Fat Albert is a head-turner and plays a major part in supporting the Blue Angels' display team.”
Lt. Col. Robert Hurst, PMA-207 C/KC-130 Deputy Program Manager, said:
“Our partners at the UK MOD and Marshall have been instrumental in executing this extremely challenging acquisition. We have always had a great partnership with the UK and this only adds to the list of ways we accomplish great things together.”
Fat Albert takes part in the display team's flying performances, as well as being a crucial support aircraft, carrying the Blue Angels' tools, spare parts and engineers.
Marshall will perform depth maintenance on the aircraft, which will include an upgrade to some of its systems to align them to the retired Fat Albert. It will then be repainted in the Blue Angels' iconic blue, yellow and white colours.
Fat Albert is expected to be operational in the first part of next year.
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August 3, 2020 | International, Land
Boeing wins $265 million to build more special ops Chinook helos
By: Jen Judson WASHINGTON — The Army has awarded Boeing a $265 million contract to build nine more MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters for the service's Special Operations Aviation Command, according to a July 31 Defense Department contract announcement. The company is now under contract to build 24 of the G-model Chinooks. The service is expected to buy 69 special operations variants. The original plan was to procure 473 F-model Block II helicopters for the active force as well, but the Army decided in its fiscal 2020 budget request not to buy them for the conventional force and only field the latest variant to special operations, which was much in need of a replacement for the variant in its fleet. The service's decision to cut the aircraft from the active force was based on the need to free up future cash to cover the cost of an ambitious plan to buy two new future vertical lift aircraft for long-range assault and attack reconnaissance missions. Congress has since opposed the move, injecting $28 million in FY20 funding into the program to purchase long-lead items to manufacture F-model Block II Chinooks for the active Army. The Army's FY21 budget again provided no funding for the program. A similar plus-up in the congressional FY21 spending bill could continue to push the service back in the direction of buying more Block II variants. The contract award is the third in a series of awards to buy G-model Chinooks. Boeing received contracts in 2018 and 2019 as well. The Army approved the Block II effort to move into the engineering and manufacturing development phase in April 2017, and the program officially began in July 2017. The aircraft began flying in tests in mid-2019. The upgrades in the Block II version include newly designed rotorblades, major changes to the drive system and other improvements like non-segmented fuel cells. The aircraft is expected to buy back roughly 4,000 pounds of additional load capacity and adds range capability. https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/31/boeing-wins-265-million-to-build-more-special-ops-chinook-helos