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DefenseNews.com • Jen Judson

Boeing halts work at Philadelphia plant for two weeks amid COVID-19 spread, pausing H-47 and V-22 production

Boeing will close for two weeks at its Philadelphia facility as COVID-19 spreads in the region, temporarily stopping work tied to the H-47 and V-22 programs. The pause adds near-term risk to defense production schedules during an ongoing push to stabilize Boeing’s manufacturing throughput.

2026-04-25T10:05:26.426162-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Slovakia plots up to €300m buy of nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters

2026-04-25T00:50:55.044897-07:00

Vertical Mag

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support

2026-04-24T09:44:34.858031-07:00

Vertical Mag

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks

2026-04-24T09:44:28.989407-07:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

Boeing halts work at Philadelphia plant for two weeks amid COVID-19 spread, pausing H-47 and V-22 production Boeing will close for two weeks at its Philadelphia facility as COVID-19 spreads in the region, temporarily stopping work tied to the H-47 and V-22 programs. The pause adds near-term risk to defense production schedules during an ongoing push to stabilize Boeing’s manufacturing throughput.

2026-04-25T10:05:26.426162-07:00

Boeing halts work at Philadelphia plant for two weeks amid COVID-19 spread, pausing H-47 and V-22 production

DefenseNews.com

Slovakia plots up to €300m buy of nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters Slovakia’s defence minister Martin Glváč has unveiled plans to acquire nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in a deal estimated at up to €300 million (about US$348 million), according to local daily Pravda. The announcement frames a near-term rotary-wing capability refresh and potential follow-on sustainment demands.

2026-04-25T00:50:55.044897-07:00

Slovakia plots up to €300m buy of nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters

The War Zone

USAF plans to modify HH-60W Jolly Green II for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government “doomsday” evacuation missions, replacin The Air Force will modify its HH-60W Jolly Green II fleet for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government evacuation missions in Washington, D.C., moving away from aging UH-1N Twin Hueys. The change reframes the HH-60W as a broader continuity-of-operations platform, not only combat rescue.

2026-04-24T12:22:49.827182-07:00

USAF plans to modify HH-60W Jolly Green II for VIP airlift and continuity-of-government “doomsday” evacuation missions, replacin

Vertical Mag

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support Safran Helicopter Engines has opened a state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul facility near Hamburg, designed to expand helicopter engine support and maintenance services across Europe. The company said the new site strengthens its European footprint while enabling more sustainable MRO operations.

2026-04-24T09:44:34.858031-07:00

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support

Vertical Mag

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks The FAA is asking U.S. Leonardo AW139 operators to contact the regulator if they have found cracks in the main rotor tension links. The request signals heightened scrutiny of a specific component that could affect rotor system integrity and ongoing airworthiness management.

2026-04-24T09:44:28.989407-07:00

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks

FlightGlobal

Robinson updates fuel-cell system ahead of first flight for hydrogen-powered R66 Robinson is refining the fuel-cell system as part of its initiative to develop a zero-emission variant of its best-selling turbine helicopter, the R66. The update is intended to support the program’s next milestone: the aircraft’s first flight of the hydrogen-powered configuration.

2026-04-24T08:39:01.493321-07:00

Robinson updates fuel-cell system ahead of first flight for hydrogen-powered R66

DefenseNews.com

Textron/Bell turns to Australia after Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack-helo criticism Bell Helicopter international military sales vice president Richard Harris says the company is “keen to pitch” in Australia following reported criticism of Airbus Helicopters’ Tiger attack helicopter. The comments underscore Bell’s intent to convert reputational pressure into new rotary-wing sales opportunities in the Australian defense market.

2026-04-23T07:50:37.705253-07:00

Textron/Bell turns to Australia after Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack-helo criticism

Aviation Today

U.S. Army and Sikorsky use H-60M Black Hawk autonomy testbed to inform MV-75 FLRAA Army and Sikorsky say a new Black Hawk outfitted for autonomous flight is now serving as a testbed to mature autonomy capability targeted for the future MV-75 FLRAA. The effort is positioned as part of the service’s broader approach to integrating autonomy into next-generation rotorcraft concepts.

2026-04-23T07:40:35.446913-07:00

U.S. Army and Sikorsky use H-60M Black Hawk autonomy testbed to inform MV-75 FLRAA

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Helicopter News

Boeing halts work at Philadelphia plant for two weeks amid COVID-19 spread, pausing H-47 and V-22 production

Slovakia plots up to €300m buy of nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters

Safran Helicopter Engines inaugurates new Hamburg-area MRO to expand European helicopter engine support

FAA seeks AW139 operator reports on potential main rotor tension link cracks

News Timeline