BEIJING — China’s Avic and its partners have test flown a pilotless version of the Brantly B-2B helicopter, promoting it as having military and civilian uses including surveillance, searching for disaster survivors and scientific research. Dubbed the V750, the helicopter has a gross weight of 757 kg (1,670 lb.), payload of 80 kg and a range of 500 km (310 mi.), according to Chinese companies Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry, Qingdao Haili Helicopters and Avic’s trading company, Catic.

BEIJING — The fall of the U.S. dollar is helping Australia to lop A$4.3 billion ($4 billion) from its defense spending over the next four years. Capital spending, determined by the timing of acquisitions as well as the lower price resulting from changes in exchange rates, will be A$2.4 billion lower than previously planned, says Defense Minister Stephen Smith. Because some spending has only been delayed, some of the money will return to the defense department in future budgets.

The parent of a defunct Chinese airline is suing the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for allegedly grounding the carrier without proper reason, resulting in its bankruptcy and takeover by Air China. Travel agency East Star Group has told a court in Guangzhou that its East Star Airlines should not have been grounded, because it had passed a relevant safety inspection.