Page 10 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec21-Jan22

10 NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE
DECEMBER 2021-JANUARY 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
LOYAL WINGMAN CONDUCTS FLIGHT MISSIONS
the Loyal Wingman aircraft with existing Air Power platforms.”
The RAAF and Boeing Australia had partnered to develop the Loyal Wingman aircraft – including three aircraft in phase one to be delivered by the end of 2021.
The highlight moment was the first time the landing gear was retracted and ex- tended. A second aircraft also successfully completed its first flight mission.
Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Mar- shal Cath Roberts, said it is exciting seeing two aircraft in the air as the Loyal Wingman continues to excel in the flight test program.
“This opens up significant capability agil- ity for Air Force, particularly with features such as the reconfigurable nose. We’re heavily engaged in the payload development and the element of surprise that it gives us in the battlespace. You never really know what’s in the nose,” said AVM Roberts.
More than 35 Australian companies have contributed to the Loyal Wingman program including BAE Systems Australia and RUAG Australia.
BOEING’S Loyal Wingman program recent- ly achieved several major milestones, with two aircraft successfully completing flight missions at the Woomera Range Complex, South Australia.
This follows the Loyal Wingman’s inau- gural flight on 27 February 2021, laying the foundation for the first military com- bat aircraft designed and built in Australia in more than 50 years.
LEFT: The first two Loyal Wingman prototypes on the ground together
The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld said the speed and sophistication of the Loyal Wingman’s development was exceptional.
“The Loyal Wingman sets new standards for capability development and shows what collaboration between industry and Defence can achieve,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said.
“Flight testing is increasing throughout the year, and we are on the way to teaming
NEWS HEAD SENT, CUS, SUSTIBUS
DEM SINUM VOLU TAQUE KJIU LO
FIRST paragraph goes here.
Body style here body bold body italic
body style here.
CROSSHEAD
Body noindent style here body bold body italic body style here.
CREDIT
DEFENCE