A lingering problem with the F-35’s high-tech helmet obscuring the pilot’s vision has prompted U.S. Air Force investigators to call for adjustments to the system, while the service is not following the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ effort to retrofit a fix to the “green glow” issue.

The FAA has issued Sikorsky a type certification for its Black Hawk helicopter, for the first time enabling civil and commercial customers to buy new-build aircraft, designated the S-70M, direct from the manufacturer.

The F-35 Joint Program Office is hoping to pick up the pace of deploying its new logistics system in 2022 and take other steps to improve the deployability of the aircraft such as reducing the size of spare packages the jets need.

The U.S. Air Force plans to launch two new unmanned combat air vehicles in the fiscal 2023 budget request, the service confirmed on Dec. 6.  The aircraft would be designed to operate as unmanned partners to manned fighters, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35, F-22 and the future Next Generation Air Dominance system, Air Force officials say. 

Adversary air operator Draken International is to purchase F-16s from Norway to support its U.S. training contracts.

The U.S. Air Force’s entire fleet had a mission-capable rate of 71.53% in fiscal 2021, a slight drop from 2020’s total rate of 72.74%.

The contract is significant for both countries and is France’s largest-ever arms export deal.

The Ka-62 variant started flight trials in 2017.