Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Harald]

Boeing Launches Proven, Affordable MH-139 in U.S. Air Force Helicopter Competition

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Boeing today unveiled its MH-139 helicopter in the competition to replace the U.S. Air Force's UH-1N "Huey" fleet, which currently protects intercontinental ballistic missiles and transports U.S. government and security forces.

Boeing's response to the Air Force, revealed at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium, is based on the market-leading Leonardo Helicopters AW139, a modern, non-developmental, multi-mission helicopter.

"This Northeast Philadelphia-built aircraft is sized to meet U.S. Air Force requirements and offers more than $1 billion in acquisition and lifecycle expense savings over 30 years when compared to competitor aircraft," said David Koopersmith, vice president and general manager, Boeing Vertical Lift.

The U.S. Air Force UH-1N Replacement Program plans to replace the current Huey fleet -- which entered service in the 1970s -- with up to 84 new helicopters.

"The Huey replacement is of vital importance to the Air Force, and the MH-139 is the right solution for those missions," said Judy Fedder, director of Global Sales & Marketing, Boeing Integrated Logistics, and a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general. "The fact that the AW139 is being built today on an active production line will speed it to meet the time-critical demand following the competition."

Almost 900 AW139s are in service with more than 250 governments, militaries and companies across the world. More than 250 of the helicopters have been assembled and delivered from Philadelphia.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/181632/boeing%2C-leonardo-team-for-84_helo-us-air-force-tender.html

[StrataNL]

France selects H160 for light helicopter replacement programme

Flightglobal.com

Het gaat interessant worden de komende jaren! AW139 voorgesteld als Huey vervanger.... nu deze...

[Sparkplug]

France selects H160 for light helicopter replacement programme

Flightglobal.com

[Harald]

Avalon 2017: Bell pitches Viper and Venom helos to Australia

Janes.com

De Viper is eigenlijk de enigste (westerse) attack/gevechtshelicopter welke maritiem te gebruiken is. Voor Australië zowel op land (Tiger vervanger) als vanaf de LHD (camberra) te gebruiken. Nog een dubbelslag voor Australië. 

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Bell pitches Viper and Venom helos to Australia

En dan heb je nog mensen die bij hoog en laag volhouden dat de Tiger de heli voor NL zou zijn (geweest) terwijl Down Under het barrel, als ervaringsdeskundige, niet te pruimen vindt.

[Sparkplug]

Avalon 2017: Bell pitches Viper and Venom helos to Australia

Janes.com

[Harald]

Sikorsky to offer Black Hawk for Huey replacement contest

WASHINGTON — No surprise here: Sikorsky will propose a derivative of its ubiquitous Black Hawk utility helicopter for the Air Force's Huey replacement program, according to an announcement Tuesday.

The company, now a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, will offer the HH-60U, which incorporates modifications such as a rescue hoist and electro-optical sensor. The Air Force already owns three U-model Black Hawks, which have been flown by pilots and special operators since 2011, the company said in a news release.

The Black Hawk is widely considered the favorite to replace the Air Force's UH-1N Huey fleet. The service initially tried to sole-source UH-60s for that purpose, but reversed course last year and decided to pursue a competition instead.   

According to Sikorsky, the HH-60U has the capacity to transport nine fully equipped security force personnel, their equipment, and two special mission aviators — meeting the service's troop carrying requirement.

.../...

Black Hawks are pervasive in the U.S. military, which could provide an advantage to Sikorsky in a lowest-price, technically-acceptable competition. The HH-60U shares 85 percent commonality with the Air Force's incoming HH-60W combat rescue helicopter. Both models will go into production during roughly the same timeframe, which could allow the company to wring out savings. 

.../...

The Air Force plans to buy 84 UH-1N replacement helicopters for ICBM security support, continuity of government, airlift and other missions. It still intends to award a contract in fiscal year 2018, with deliveries occurring as early as fiscal 2020.

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/as-expected-sikorsky-to-offer-black-hawk-for-huey-replacement-contest