Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Sparkplug]

Bell Textron progress on FARA

PUBLISHED: 12 AUGUST 2021   LAST UPDATED: 12 AUGUST 2021


Photo by Bell Textron

Bell Textron Inc. released new data on the build and testing for the Bell 360 Invictus competitive prototype. The Bell 360 programme is rapidly progressing through manufacturing, assembly, components testing, and systems integration work for the US Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme.

The team completed multiple design and risk reviews with the Army and is on schedule for all programme requirements. The Bell 360, a low-risk, high-speed platform with proven technology and inherently reliable designs, will deliver soldiers transformational operational capabilities at an affordable cost.

The FARA programme will fill a critical capability gap currently covered by AH-64E Apache attack helicopters teamed with Shadow drones following the retirement of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters in 2017. The Kiowa Warrior was retired without a clear successor; three successive programmes were cancelled without reaching production; although the Army intended to perform a service life extension program for the OH-58 fleet in 2013, cuts to the defence budget forced its retirement. In lieu of the OH-58, the US Army has used AH-64 Apache attack helicopters paired with AAI RQ-7 Shadow drones in the armed reconnaissance role.

In March 2020, two of the initial five candidates were chosen resulting in Bell Textron and Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky to move forward to develop flying prototypes. Both companies are in a head-to-head competition to build prototypes and fly them beginning in November 2022. The number of FARAs needed by the US Army has not been reported yet.

The Army will pick one it wants to build for the force following the competitive fly-off period. Sikorsky pitched a coaxial rotor blade design based on its S-97 Raider that it is calling Raider X. Bell unveiled its design — the 360 Invictus — at the 2019 Association of the US Army annual conference.

According to Bell Textron, along with assembling the Bell 360, high-value components such as the main rotor gearbox, drive-shafts and couplings are being tested at Bell's Drive Systems Test Lab (DSTL). The DSTL is used to carry out risk-reduction efforts that ensure the programme has accurate and verified data to qualify components in advance of flight test. A new FARA-specific Systems Integration Lab (SIL) is also operational at Bell. This facility allows Bell to integrate flight-critical components, software, and mission systems for testing, verification, and validation of functionality before they take flight on an actual aircraft. This approach reduces technical risk and aids in the safe, rapid, and efficient execution of flight test programme.

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/bell-textron-progress-on-fara

[Sparkplug]

First AW101 for Polish Navy

PUBLISHED: 13 JULY 2021   LAST UPDATED: 13 JULY 2021



On 12 July 2021, Phil Adkin photographed a Leonardo AW101 Merlin for the Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej (LMW, Polish Navy) at Yeovil (UK). The helicopter, temporary registered as ZR285, was still in primer. It is not known if this specific AW101 is the first one destined for Poland.

Originally the Polish Navy planned to acquire eight AW101 maritime helicopters to replace its ageing Mi-14 helicopters currently operated by the 44 Baza Lotnictwa Morskiego (44.BLotM) at Darłówo air base (Poland). However, in 2018, due to financial reasons, the Polish Ministry of National Defence reduced the number of helicopters planned for acquisition to four, postponing the purchase of another four.

According to Polish media, the contract for four AW101s is valued at USD 107 million. On 8 April 2019, the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed an offset package worth USD 104 million with Italian company Leonardo. The package includes nine commitments, the main of which is the planned creation of an AW101 helicopter maintenance and repair centre jointly with Leonardo. This maintenance centre will be located at the current Polish aircraft repair plant Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 1 S.A. (WZL-1) in Lodz.

The new helicopters will be used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search and rescue (SAR) tasks.

Photo by Phil Adkin

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-aw101-for-polish-navy

[Harald]

US Army triggers competition for future long-range assault aircraft

The U.S. Army has launched its future long-range assault aircraft competition, quietly releasing a request for proposals limited to two industry teams. The service has also homed in on a schedule to deliver FLRAA prototypes after debating two different options to stay on schedule.

The service weighed the option of pursuing both prototype builds for the airframe and the weapons systems at the same time, or on slightly separate schedules, which would have meant the difference between delivering full prototypes to the Army by the spring or the summer of 2025.

The Army will choose a winner — after a faceoff between Textron's Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team — in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. It appears the service is requiring prototype delivery to start in the third quarter of FY25 and wrap up a year later, according to a review of FY22 budget documents.

..../....

The Army plans to equip the first unit with FLRAA in FY30.

.../....

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/07/12/us-army-triggers-future-long-range-assault-aircraft-competition/

[Sparkplug]

Boeing to Boost UK Royal Air Force Chinook Fleet

Contract for 14 H-47 extended-range Chinooks worth $578 million

PHILADELPHIA, June 22, 2021 — U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a $578 million Foreign Military Sales contract approved by the U.S. Department of State to deliver 14 extended-range Chinook helicopters to the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).

The extended range Chinook gives the RAF fleet more versatility to execute the domestic and international heavy-lift missions that only the Chinook can facilitate.

"These Chinooks are the future of heavy-lift, built on an existing foundation of advanced capability and life cycle affordability," said Andy Builta, Boeing vice president and H-47 program manager. "This contract for Block II aircraft sets the stage for the next 60 years of Chinook excellence on the battlefield."

Boeing and the RAF recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first Chinook delivery to the UK. Boeing will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chinook's first flight later this year.

The United Kingdom will be the first international operator of a Block II Chinook. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2026.

https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130882

Het oorspronkelijke DSCA bericht uit 2018.

https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/united-kingdom-h-47-chinook-extended-range-helicopters-and-accessories

[Sparkplug]

Russian Helicopters details Ka-52K shipborne rotorcraft

16 JUNE 2021

by Dmitry Fediushko

Rostec's Russian Helicopters detailed its newest Kamov Ka-52K Katran, the first Russian shipborne helicopter, during an 11 June presentation.

The Ka-52K has a maximum take-off weight of 12,200 kg, being heavier by around 1,400 kg compared with the Ka-52 due to a more robust 'marinised' structure, the company said.

It carries a payload of 2,000 kg, or 500 kg less than the baseline rotorcraft. The Ka-52K is 13,900 mm long, 6,303 mm wide, and 5,100 mm high. The diameter of its co-axial main rotor reaches 14,500 mm.


The Ka-52K marinised combat helicopter. (Dmitry Fediushko)

Powered by two Klimov VK-2500/VK-2500P turboshaft engines with a power output of 2,500 hp each, the helicopter provides a top speed of 290 kmph, a cruise speed of 250 kmph, and a top climbing rate of 14 m/s. The Ka-52K also has a static ceiling of 3,600 m and a dynamic ceiling of 5,200 m. The rotorcraft can withstand a short-time overload of up to 2.5 g, according to Russian Helicopters.

Unlike the Ka-52 Hokum-B, the Ka-52K is fitted with two folding stub wings with two hardpoints for various weapons. Its co-axial main rotor has two propellers with three folding blades; it also carries a short-range radio-technical navigation system. The rotorcraft's electronic protection is provided by the President-S system.

The Ka-52Ks are armed with a Shipunov 2A42-1 30 mm automatic cannon with an ammunition load of 460 rounds. The platform can carry up to 80 S-8-family rockets in four 20-cell pods. The helicopter's guided missile armament comprises up to 12 9M120-1/9M120-1F Ataka AT-9 Spiral-2 or up to 12 9A-4172K Vikhr-1 AT-16 Scallion weapons. The missiles are mounted in two six-cell vertical (Ataka) or horizontal (Vikhr-1) pods.

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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/russian-helicopters-details-ka-52k-shipborne-rotorcraft

[Sparkplug]

Leonardo delivers first TH-73A training helicopter to U.S. Navy (gebaseerd op de AW119Kx)

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/leonardo-delivers-first-th-73a-training-helicopter-to-u-s-navy



https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Navy-receives-first-TH-73A-helicopter/Thu-06102021-0946

https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/press-release-detail/-/detail/10-06-2021-leonardo-delivers-first-th-73a-training-helicopter-to-us-navy

[Sparkplug]

UK selects JAGM for Apache

07 JUNE 2021

by Gareth Jennings

The United Kingdom has selected the Lockheed Martin AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) for its Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian fleet.


The Ministry of Defence has opted to equip its AH-64E Apache fleet with the US-built JAGM missile rather than the UK-built Brimstone. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

Answering questions in parliament, Minister of State for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin said that the US-built JAGM has been selected along with the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire to equip the British Army Air Corps' (AAC) fleet of 50 AH-64E helicopters.

"The JAGM for the new AH-64E Future Attack Helicopter has been selected. This missile is designed for helicopter use and is already integrated within the aircraft, simulators, and mission planning systems. In addition to JAGM, the Hellfire K1 [AGM-114K1] and Hellfire Romeo [AGM-114R] missiles will also be fully qualified and integrated onto the aircraft", Quin said in late May, making no reference to the UK-built MBDA Brimstone that had previously been touted for the role.

The minister's statement came three months after Janes first reported that the UK had been included in a US Department of Defense (DoD) contract for an undisclosed number of JAGM missiles. At that time, Janes understood that a single missile was being acquired by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for testing alongside the Hellfire and Brimstone missiles in the common launcher. That contract, announced on 11 March, has a completion date of 31 December 2023. From Quin's answer, it appears that follow-on production orders for the JAGM will now be placed.

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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-selects-jagm-for-apache

[Sparkplug]

Beide topic items vullen elkaar aan denk ik.

Ook Honeywell is bezig met een sterkere motor voor de CH-47.

De AH-64D heeft de General Electric T700-GE-701C en de AH-64E heeft de sterkere T700-GE-701D.

https://www.geaviation.com/military/engines/t700-engine

https://www.geaviation.com/sites/default/files/datasheet-T700-401C-701C.pdf

https://www.geaviation.com/sites/default/files/datasheet-T700-701D.pdf

[Umbert]

US Army concludes trial of Chinook fitted with King Stallion engines

13 MAY 2021

by Gareth Jennings

The US Army, Boeing, and General Electric (GE) have concluded trials of an NCH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter fitted with the more powerful GE T408 engines of the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, it was announced on 12 May.


The standard Honeywell T55 engine that currently powers the Chinook puts out 5,000 shp for a combined 10,000 shp per helicopter. With the GE T408 fitted, the Chinook generates a combined 15,000 shp. (US Army CCDC AvMC)

As noted by Boeing, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) and its industry partners conducted 18 ground tests and an undisclosed number of flight tests from late 2019 into early 2021.

"The success of this effort demonstrates how integration of more powerful engines on the H-47 Chinook could support future aircraft capability and Army Aviation modernisation efforts while reducing technical and integration risk," Boeing said.

The standard Honeywell T55 engine that currently powers the Chinook puts out 5,000 shp for a combined 10,000 shp per helicopter, while the T408 puts out 7,500 shp for a combined 15,000 shp per helicopter. Though not part of the Block 2 upgrade that is geared at reinstating lift capacity that has been lost over recent years as more mission equipment has been installed on to the helicopter, the improved Block 2 drivetrain combined with the T408 engine could be an alternate means of achieving the same effect.

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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-concludes-trial-of-chinook-fitted-with-king-stallion-engines

Het WAH-64D had inderdaad aanloop problemen.  Maar de standaard US Army AH-64D Longbow's moesten in Afghanistan hun radars door hot and high restricties noodgedwongen thuislaten.  De Britten konden hun Longbow radars daar wel gebruiken.  En die kwamen daar best van pas als de weersomstandigheden tegen zaten.
In Afghanistan bleek dat de Britse WAH-64D door hun sterkere en zuinigere RTM-322 motoren de Apache variant te zijn die het hoogst, snelst, verst en het meest wendbaar vliegt.   Deze goede prestaties spelen een belangrijke rol in de overlevingsconcepten van AH-64 Apache en UH-60 Black Hawk.

Beide topic items vullen elkaar aan denk ik.

[Sparkplug]

US Army concludes trial of Chinook fitted with King Stallion engines

13 MAY 2021

by Gareth Jennings

The US Army, Boeing, and General Electric (GE) have concluded trials of an NCH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter fitted with the more powerful GE T408 engines of the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, it was announced on 12 May.


The standard Honeywell T55 engine that currently powers the Chinook puts out 5,000 shp for a combined 10,000 shp per helicopter. With the GE T408 fitted, the Chinook generates a combined 15,000 shp. (US Army CCDC AvMC)

As noted by Boeing, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) and its industry partners conducted 18 ground tests and an undisclosed number of flight tests from late 2019 into early 2021.

"The success of this effort demonstrates how integration of more powerful engines on the H-47 Chinook could support future aircraft capability and Army Aviation modernisation efforts while reducing technical and integration risk," Boeing said.

The standard Honeywell T55 engine that currently powers the Chinook puts out 5,000 shp for a combined 10,000 shp per helicopter, while the T408 puts out 7,500 shp for a combined 15,000 shp per helicopter. Though not part of the Block 2 upgrade that is geared at reinstating lift capacity that has been lost over recent years as more mission equipment has been installed on to the helicopter, the improved Block 2 drivetrain combined with the T408 engine could be an alternate means of achieving the same effect.

Already a Janes subscriber? Read the full article via the Client Login

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-concludes-trial-of-chinook-fitted-with-king-stallion-engines

[Poleme]

Dit dus.

En volgens mij waren het de britten met hun Apache fiasco.

Het WAH-64D had inderdaad aanloop problemen.  Maar de standaard US Army AH-64D Longbow's moesten in Afghanistan hun radars door hot and high restricties noodgedwongen thuislaten.  De Britten konden hun Longbow radars daar wel gebruiken.  En die kwamen daar best van pas als de weersomstandigheden tegen zaten.
In Afghanistan bleek dat de Britse WAH-64D door hun sterkere en zuinigere RTM-322 motoren de Apache variant te zijn die het hoogst, snelst, verst en het meest wendbaar vliegt.   Deze goede prestaties spelen een belangrijke rol in de overlevingsconcepten van AH-64 Apache en UH-60 Black Hawk.

[StrataNL]

Zijn dw britten niet kampioen 'fitted for'

Dat zijn wij.
En de Belgen.
En de Noren.

[Huzaar1]

Wildcat is een mooie asset om erbij te hebben.
Britten durven tenminste ook geld te gooien tegen de integratie van wapens.

Zijn dw britten niet kampioen 'fitted for'

[Huzaar1]

Je moet goed in je project zitten. Bij de UK aansluiten geeft ook geen garantie. FFBNW hebben ze daar zo'n beetje uitgevonden.

De NH90 is een ontzettend goed platform. Maar is ASuW is er ruimte voor verbetering en idem in land attack. De wildcat moet je niet willen in ASW.

Het hangt allemaal af van je operatie gebied en je totale middelen mix.

Dit dus.

En volgens mij waren het de britten met hun Apache fiasco.

[Ace1]

Het is vooral de endurance waarin hij het aflegt tegen zijn competitie. Dat kun je ondervangen met een ander operatie concept of simpelweg meer heli's.
Een miskoop zal het niet zijn. Het is een capabel platform, maar gewoon echt een klasse lichter dan een NH90 of Merlin. Maargoed, dan moeten je schepen dat wel kunnen dragen.
Ik zie ze nog wel een keer een ASW versie van de Surion ontwikkelen. Als dat tenminste een beetje loopt met die heli.

Als je de Wildcat vergelijkt met de WASP en de Alouette III is het een behoorlijke stap vooruit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Wasp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9rospatiale_Alouette_III