Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Sparkplug]

SKASaC takes final bow ahead of retirement (bijna einde Brits Sea King tijdperk)

https://www.janes.com/article/83208/skasac-takes-final-bow-ahead-of-retirement

[Harald]

Final Assembly of Sikorsky's First HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter Underway



Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, announced that final assembly of the first HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter Weapons System and Operational Flight Trainers is underway, supporting the smooth entry of the aircraft into the U.S. Air Force fleet in 2020

Completion of the HH-60W training systems at subcontractor FlightSafety International's facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is expected in the first quarter of 2019. The Weapons System Trainer will be based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, home of the formal HH-60W training unit. The Operational Flight Trainer will be at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, site of the first operational unit.

The HH-60W flight trainers will conform to the highest Federal Aviation Administration standards and include the capability to link with other simulators on the Combat Air Forces Distributed Mission Operations (CAF DMO) network. The flight simulators will train the full aircrew, allowing pilots and special mission aviators to train together in the same device while experiencing more complex and realistic training scenarios.

"I am excited to get these trainers in the hands of the U.S. Air Force Rescue Warriors," said Tim Healy, Director, Air Force Programs, Sikorsky. "The combat rescue mission is uniquely challenging in that it requires much of the mission planning to occur while in flight rather than prior to flight. This is due to the time-critical nature of the mission and the reality that the threat, location and condition of isolated personnel to be rescued are not fully known prior to takeoff. This requires that the aircrew become highly skilled at using the enormous networking and information capabilities that reside within the HH-60W, and that takes training and practice. These Weapons Systems and Operational Flight trainers will allow that training at the highest fidelity and realism ever seen."

Sikorsky's current contract with the U.S. Air Force for the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase of the program includes delivery of nine HH-60W helicopters as well as six aircrew and maintenance training devices, and instructional courseware designed specifically for the HH-60W aircraft. The Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's aging H-60G Pave Hawk fleet, which performs critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2018/september/4526-final-assembly-of-sikorsky-s-first-hh-60w-combat-rescue-helicopter-underway.html

[Sparkplug]

[Parera]

Spain gives green light for further helicopter orders



The Spanish government gave the go ahead on 7 September for the procurement of a second tranche of Airbus Helicopters NH90s and the modernisation of the army's Chinook CH-47D heavy transport fleet.

The long-awaited green light for the two programmes came after the new Socialist Partido Socialista Obrero Español government took over in June, saying it would cut the greater defence spending promised earlier in the year by the previous government of the conservative Partido Popular (PP).

A cabinet statement stressed the Chinook upgrade was "necessary" to "maintain the operational capability of the army's heavy transport helicopters". It will include updates of the safety systems, ground support equipment, mission planning, and simulation systems supplied through the manufacturer, Boeing.

The second tranche of NH90s was also needed to "guarantee potential mission capabilities".

Defence Minister Margarita Robles said in July that the government would reduce spending promised by the PP on new defence orders in 2018 to about EUR5 billion (USD5.8 billion) to cover priority programmes.

[Source: Janes ]

Het zou gaan om 23 TTH's zodat de totale vloot op 45 stuks uitkomt.

[Sparkplug]

US Army resumes accepting Apache helicopters from Boeing

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/09/11/us-army-resumes-accepting-apaches-from-boeing/

[Jooop]

Zou er een reden achter zitten dat dit er allemaal afgehaald is ? Ik zie dit niet terug bij andere heli's hun eerste vlucht.

Achteraf gezien ook niet echt een eerste vlucht maar een eerste hover.

[Parera]

Gestript nog van veel van de beplating rond de motoren en verbinding naar de staartrotor (te zien op een ander video https://twitter.com/TUSAS_EN/status/1037611572112371713). Waardoor je goed de basic opbouw en werking van een helikopter kunt zien nog.

Zou er een reden achter zitten dat dit er allemaal afgehaald is ? Ik zie dit niet terug bij andere heli's hun eerste vlucht.

[StrategNL]

First flight Turkse T_625

...

Gestript nog van veel van de beplating rond de motoren en verbinding naar de staartrotor (te zien op een ander video https://twitter.com/TUSAS_EN/status/1037611572112371713). Waardoor je goed de basic opbouw en werking van een helikopter kunt zien nog.

[Jooop]

First flight Turkse T_625

[Sparkplug]

Retractable gun gives French special forces' Caracal greater punch

https://www.janes.com/article/82646/retractable-gun-gives-french-special-forces-caracal-greater-punch

[Parera]

USN plans externally mounted gun system fit for MH-60S

The US Navy is looking to fast-track the integration of an externally mounted gun on MH-60S combat support helicopters, with in-flight live trials planned for later this year.

MH-60S helicopters are currently configured for either search-and-rescue (SAR) or surface warfare (SUW) defensive air patrol missions, reflecting the limitations imposed by crew-served weapons – either the GAU-17 M134 Minigun or the GAU-21 .50 calibre heavy machine gun – being mounted in the cabin. However, the navy now wants the MH-60S to be capable of persistent SUW defensive air patrols while maintaining SAR capability.

In a solicitation notice published on 21 August, the Naval Air Systems Command's (NAVAIR's) H-60 programme office (PMA-299) said that an externally mounted gun system (EMGS) had been identified as a potential material solution to meet the demand, adding that the intention was to perform a demonstration with an EMGS "that will interface with both the port and starboard sides of non-Active Vibration Control System-equipped MH-60S aircraft".

[Source: Janes.com ]

[Harald]

Bell receives Lot 15 Viper order   ( nieuwe AH-1Z Viper's voor de USMC, $ 17,55 miljoen USD per toestel )

Bell has received a $509 million contract modification to a previously awarded contract for the manufacture and delivery of 29 Lot 15 production AH-1Z aircraft.

The contract has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command in support of the US Marine Corps H-1 upgrade programme. This modification also provides for long lead material and components for an additional seven Lot 16 aircraft. 

The AH-1Z helicopter is an updated version of the AH-1W with greater ordnance capabilities, fuel capacity and situational awareness.

Work on this contract is expected to be completed in February 2021.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-helicopter/bell-deliver-ah-1z-vipers-us/

[Sparkplug]

Russia eyes new combat and transport chopper for its airborne troops

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2018/august/4485-russia-eyes-new-combat-and-transport-chopper-for-its-airborne-troops.html

[Sparkplug]

Austria to procure additional Black Hawk helicopters

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2018/august/4471-austria-to-procure-additional-black-hawk-helicopters.html

[Sparkplug]

U.S. Army reveals details of AH-64E Apache 'Version 6' update

https://defence-blog.com/aviation/u-s-army-reveals-details-ah-64e-apache-version-6-update.html