The U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift program has flown dozens of firsts over the last several weeks with a UH-60 Black Hawk “surrogate” for the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft equipped with a prototype of the future helicopter’s launcher.

Dubbed the Quarterhorse, the single-engine structural prototype is just under 40 ft. in length overall and has wingspan of almost 12 ft.

Taiwan wants to be able to better counter “Grey Zone threats” posed by China, which the island says are designed by the mainland to “seize Taiwan without a fight.”

Romania’s Ministry of the Interior has signed a contract to buy a fleet of up to 12 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters to be used by the country’s emergency services agency. 

Startup ZeroAvia has partnered with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics to develop a supplemental type certificate for its conversion of the 19-passenger Dornier 228 regional turboprop to hydrogen-electric propulsion.

Israel Aerospace Industries has teamed with Romania’s IAR-Brasov to offer the Heron unmanned air system for expected military requirements.

Germany’s Navy has received six Skeldar V-200 rotary-wing unmanned air systems to support the operations of its K130 corvettes.

If all options are exercised, work on the contract will last until Oct. 31, 2031.