AH-6i Ontwikkelingen

Gestart door Ace1, 28/05/2015 | 20:15 uur

Harald

US confirms AH-6i sale to Thailand

Thailand's earlier approval for the Boeing AH-6i light attack helicopter has now been firmed up into a confirmed sale.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has confirmed the sale of eight Boeing AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance rotorcraft to Thailand, with a related contract notification posted in late December 2023.

With US State Department approval for the sale having been granted in September 2019, US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) disclosed that it is to award BAE Systems a contract to integrate the Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets that were included in the original US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification.

The APKWS contract notification firms up the USD400 million deal for eight AH-6i Little Bird helicopters that will enable the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to retire its seven ageing Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters.

Further to the impending NAVAIR contract for 200 APKWS rockets, the deal will include 50 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 10 Dillion M134 7.62 mm Miniguns, four General Dynamics GAU-19/B 12.7 mm Gatling guns, 500 70 mm Hydra rockets, 20 night-vision goggles, eight WESCAM MX-10Di electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, as well as other equipment and support.

"As part of a broader military modernisation effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers, and border guard units," the DSCA said in its original approval notification.

Thailand is the second customer for the AH-6i, with Saudi Arabia operating the type (designated AH-6SA in national service) in its national guard.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-confirms-ah-6i-sale-to-thailand

Harald

Boeing wins helicopter contract for Thailand

Boeing has been awarded a contract for AH-6 light-attack helicopters to Thailand, the U.S. Defense Department announced Feb. 18.

The department said Boeing's Mesa, Arizona, location was issued a $103.8 million modification to a contract for AH-6 aircraft with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2025.

..../....

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2022/02/23/boeing-wins-helicopter-contract-for-thailand/

Ace1

#21
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2019 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Thailand of eight (8 ) AH-6i light attack reconnaissance helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $400 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Thailand has requested to buy eight (8 ) AH-6i light attack reconnaissance helicopters; fifty (50) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; and two-hundred (200) Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Rockets. Also included are ten (10) M134 Mini Guns, ten (10) M260 Rocket Launchers; ten (10) M299 Longbow Hellfire Launcher; ten (10) AN/APN-209 Radar Altimeter; eight (8 ) AN/APR-39(V)(4) four (4) GAU-19/B .50 Cal Machine Gun; five-hundred (500) Hydra 70 Rockets; twenty (20) AN/AVS-6 Night Vision Goggles; eight (8 ) WESCAM MX-10Di Cameras; ten (10) AN/APX-123 IFF; ten (10) AN/ARC 201E-VHF-FM; ten (10) AN/ARC-231 w/ MX-4027; ten (10) LN-251 Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (EGI); Aircrew Trainer (ACT); Pilot Desktop Trainer (PDT); Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT;, contractor provided pilot and maintainer training peculiar ground support equipment; spares; publications; integrated product support; technical assistance; quality assurance team; transportation; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $400 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO ally in INDO-PACOM. Thailand is a strategic partner committed to contributing to regional security.

The proposed sale of the AH-6i helicopter will improve the Royal Thai Army's (RTA) light attack capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. These AH-6i helicopters will replace the RTA's aging fleet of seven AH-IF Cobra helicopters. As part of a broader military modernization effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers and border guard units. Thailand will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor for the AH-6i is Boeing Company, Mesa, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any permanent additional U.S. Government or Contractor representatives to Thailand.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

https://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/thailand-ah-6i-helicopters

Ace1

Saudi National Guard receives first batch of Boeing AH-6SA Little Bird helicopters

The Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) has received its first batch of Boeing AH-6SA Little Bird reconnaissance helicopters.

The first batch of new Boeing AH-6SA Little Bird reconnaissance helicopters arrived in Saudi Arabia on 4 June, said the spokesperson of the Ministry of National Guard, Major Mohamad Omari. The reconnaissance helicopters arrived at airbase of 1st Aviation Brig at Khashm Al-Aan.

The AH-6SA is a special attack variant of the MH-6 light helicopter for the Saudi Arabia National Guard.

The AH-6 is a highly capable light attack / armed reconnaissance helicopter specifically designed with superior performance characteristics and flexible, easily configurable mission equipment ideal for Light Attack, Precision Attack, Anti-armor, Close Combat Attacks, Reconnaissance, Security & Escort, Troop Insertion/Extraction, Combat Search & Rescue.

http://defence-blog.com/news/saudi-national-guard-receives-first-batch-of-boeing-ah-6sa-little-birds-helicopters.html

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Harald

Citaat van: Sparkplug op 25/09/2019 | 14:37 uur
Thailand – AH-6i Helicopters

https://dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/thailand-ah-6i-helicopters


US approves AH-6i sale to Thailand

The US State Department has approved the sale to Thailand of eight Boeing AH-6i light attack and reconnaissance rotorcraft, as well as associated weapons, equipment, and support.

The approval, which was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 24 September, is valued at USD400 million and will enable the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to retire its seven ageing Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters.

As noted by the DSCA, the proposed sale covers the Little Bird-family helicopters, 50 Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 200 BAE Systems Advance Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets, 10 Dillion M134 7.62 mm Mini-Guns, four General Dynamics GAU-19/B 12.7 mm Gatling guns, 500 70 mm Hydra rockets, 20 night vision goggles, eight WESCAM MX-10Di electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, as well as other equipment and support.

"As part of a broader military modernisation effort, these AH-6i helicopters will provide light attack reconnaissance for close air support to special operations forces, Stryker infantry soldiers, and border guard units," the DSCA said.

The approval for Thailand comes about 21 months after the US Army issued a request for information (RFI) for up to 120 AH-6 helicopters for Saudi Arabia and other undisclosed allied operators. The request covered the manufacture and delivery of the Little Bird helicopters in the AH-6SA (Saudi Arabia) and AH-6i (International) configurations.

The US Army stated that the AH-6SA/AH-6i helicopters will be delivered in the Performance Enhancement Production Upgrade Configuration. This comprises composite main rotor blades, upgraded mast /mast base HI-LOK fasteners, reverse direction tail rotor system (including directional flight controls and tail rotor drive shaft), and an extended tail boom.

https://www.janes.com/article/91495/us-approves-ah-6i-sale-to-thailand

Ronald Elzenga

Citaat van: Harald op 21/12/2016 | 10:25 uur
Ik zie de AH-6i achtig type nog steeds als een goede aanvulling voor de NL defensie, zowel ter ondersteuning van de KL troepen als gebruik van LPD's van KM.
Tevens kunnen ze prima gebruikt worden voor RECCE missies zoals in Mali ter ondersteuning van onze Commando's, maar ook als lichte transport heli.

...

Daarnaast prima te gebruiken samenspel met AH-64 Apache
Ik zie hier dan meer iets in een H125M Fennec UCAV...en dan een Optionally piloted vehicle (OPV). De drone-uitvoering bestaat nog niet maar lijkt me wel een nuttige optie en aanvulling op bestaande bemande middelen (al kan Airbus helicopters mogelijk een ander model voor dit doel ontwikkelen/gebruiken)

dudge

Citaat van: Huzaar1 op 21/12/2016 | 11:19 uur
nah... 1  type gevechtsheli is afdoende. Voor NL. Bewapen de cougar of nh90 maar. Kunnen die escortes verzorgen voor chinooks. We hadden dan beter voor cobra's kunnen gaan. Volgens mij logistiek ook beter te behappen en met de seacobra is dat een kleine uitstap.

Wat moet saudi arabie met al die spulletjes btw? Volgens mij is dat nu een van de best uitgeruste krijgsmachten ter wereld die geen eigen industriele basis hebben.

Ze hebben ook het op twee na grootste defensie budget, alleen China en de VS moeten ze ruim voor laten gaan. Landen als Rusland, Japan en Frankrijk lopen er aardig op achter.


Huzaar1

Citaat van: Harald op 21/12/2016 | 10:25 uur
Ik zie de AH-6i achtig type nog steeds als een goede aanvulling voor de NL defensie, zowel ter ondersteuning van de KL troepen als gebruik van LPD's van KM.
Tevens kunnen ze prima gebruikt worden voor RECCE missies zoals in Mali ter ondersteuning van onze Commando's, maar ook als lichte transport heli.



Daarnaast prima te gebruiken samenspel met AH-64 Apache

nah... 1  type gevechtsheli is afdoende. Voor NL. Bewapen de cougar of nh90 maar. Kunnen die escortes verzorgen voor chinooks. We hadden dan beter voor cobra's kunnen gaan. Volgens mij logistiek ook beter te behappen en met de seacobra is dat een kleine uitstap.

Wat moet saudi arabie met al die spulletjes btw? Volgens mij is dat nu een van de best uitgeruste krijgsmachten ter wereld die geen eigen industriele basis hebben.
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Harald

Ik zie de AH-6i achtig type nog steeds als een goede aanvulling voor de NL defensie, zowel ter ondersteuning van de KL troepen als gebruik van LPD's van KM.
Tevens kunnen ze prima gebruikt worden voor RECCE missies zoals in Mali ter ondersteuning van onze Commando's, maar ook als lichte transport heli.



Daarnaast prima te gebruiken samenspel met AH-64 Apache

Harald

Saudi Arabia accepts first AH-6i helos

Saudi Arabia has accepted into service the first of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters, the manufacturer disclosed in the December issue of its in-house magazine, Frontiers .

While Boeing did not name Saudi Arabia, it said in Frontiers that the first international customer accepted the type in August.

The company told reporters in June that deliveries would begin from its Mesa production facility in Arizona in the coming weeks, but declined to discuss the issue after that. The US Army too would not comment to IHS Jane's on the sale, which has been widely reported to be for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), beyond a Federal Business Opportunities notification posted in August in which it said that the first 12 helicopters would be transported to Saudi Arabia "as soon as possible".

http://www.janes.com/article/66454/saudi-arabia-accepts-first-ah-6i-helos


Harald

US to deliver first AH-6i helos to Saudi Arabia 'as soon as possible'

The US government is making the final preparations for the shipment of 24 Boeing AH-6i Little Bird light attack and reconnaissance helicopters to Saudi Arabia, with a solicitation for their transportation being posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website on 24 August.

According to the notification, the first 12 helicopters will be transported to the kingdom by air to get them to the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) "as soon as possible", with the remaining 12 to follow by ship.

With production now fully underway at Boeing's Mesa facility in Arizona, deliveries were supposed to have commenced at the end of July but had been delayed for unspecified reasons.

http://www.janes.com/article/63256/us-to-deliver-first-ah-6i-helos-to-saudi-arabia-as-soon-as-possible

Sparkplug

#11
Citaat van: Ace1 op 13/01/2016 | 17:29 uur
In de  MD 530F zit geen Apache techniek in en daarnaast is MD Helicopters geen onderdeel van Boeing maar een kleine fabrikant dat circa 10 jaar geleden grote problemen kende, of een outsider zoals PZL.
De MD 530F van MD Helicopters (v/h McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems v/h Hughes Helicopters) en de AH-6 van Boeing moeten ook apart van elkaar worden gezien, ondanks dat laatst genoemde is gebaseerd op de MD 500 reeks.
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Ace1

Citaat van: Harald op 13/01/2016 | 09:15 uur
Twelve more Cayuse Warrior Scouts for Afghanistan



Afghanistan has acquired twelve more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack Helicopters, MD Helicopters reported on Tuesday 11 January. The purchase follows an earlier order for twelve similar helicopters, the first of which arrived in Afghanistan early last year.

The first twelve armed helicopters were operational in theater in fewer than nine months from contract award and have participated in a number of successful operations. Afghanistan already operated five MD 530F helos before, operating them as primary training aircraft in Afghanistan. These choppers have since been upgraded to the Cayuse Warrior configuration.

The 12 new Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack helicopters will be delivered in the first half of 2016, MD Helicopters says.

http://airheadsfly.com/2016/01/12/twelve-more-cayuse-warrior-scouts-for-afghanistan/

In de  MD 530F zit geen Apache techniek in en daarnaast is MD Helicopters geen onderdeel van Boeing maar een kleine fabrikant dat circa 10 jaar geleden grote problemen kende, of een outsider zoals PZL.  De Poolse luchtmacht is de enigste klant v.d. militaire variant.  En civiele varianten vliegen in Brazilie, Italie, Oekraine, Zuid-Korea en China.   Hoewel PZL natuurlijk onderdeel is van Agusta Westland.
Dan zal men ten eerste gaan kijken bij Airbus Helicopters en een Amerikaanse grote fabriek zoals Bell. Een zwaar wegende factor voor MinDef is ook de (financiële) stabiliteit / continuïteit van het bedrijf.  En hun ambtenaren zien grote bedrijven als stabieler dan kleine bedrijven.  

Harald

Twelve more Cayuse Warrior Scouts for Afghanistan



Afghanistan has acquired twelve more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack Helicopters, MD Helicopters reported on Tuesday 11 January. The purchase follows an earlier order for twelve similar helicopters, the first of which arrived in Afghanistan early last year.

The first twelve armed helicopters were operational in theater in fewer than nine months from contract award and have participated in a number of successful operations. Afghanistan already operated five MD 530F helos before, operating them as primary training aircraft in Afghanistan. These choppers have since been upgraded to the Cayuse Warrior configuration.

The 12 new Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack helicopters will be delivered in the first half of 2016, MD Helicopters says.

http://airheadsfly.com/2016/01/12/twelve-more-cayuse-warrior-scouts-for-afghanistan/