Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Sparkplug]

@RoyalNavy

Armed with Martlet missiles, a Wildcat helicopter from @RNASYeovilton flies around a range off the coast of Wales ready for the trials. The missile system will be on the Wildcats that deploy next year with @HMSQNLZ's carrier strike group

https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/1264511515518021637

@RoyalNavy bericht met filmpje.

https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/1264492413629931520

[Sparkplug]

@BritishArmyUSA

A momentous day. Army Air Corps Maj Simon Beattie - about to fly the first UK Apache E model from Boeing in Mesa, to Redstone for the start of testing - accompanied by CW4 Woelke, the next UK exchange officer. @ComdJHC @BoeingUK @dcomd_jhc @1st_Aviation @ArmyAirCorps #sidebyside

https://twitter.com/BritishArmyUSA/status/1262813118062886914

[Sparkplug]

Boeing expects to sign new 'Pacific' customer for Apache helo

Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
05 May 2020

Boeing expects to sign up a brand-new operator of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, with the company noting only that it is in "the Pacific region" of the world.

Speaking to Jane's on 5 May, Terry Jamison, Director, Vertical Lift International Sales, said that the undisclosed Pacific customer is one of two new operators for the Apache that Boeing expects to have under contract within the next 12 months. The other, which has previously been disclosed, is Morocco.

"We expect the current 16 global operators of the Apache to go up to 18 in the next 12 months as we look to add two new users to the community that we like to call Team Apache.

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Boeing expects to add Morocco and one unidentified 'Pacific' customer to the international Apache user-group within the next 12 months, and has had high-level interest from 10 other nations. (Republic of China Army)

https://www.janes.com/article/95961/boeing-expects-to-sign-new-pacific-customer-for-apache-helo

[Sparkplug]

Boeing begins Version 6 Apache deliveries (straks ook bij de KLu  )

Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
05 May 2020

Boeing has begun delivering AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters upgraded to the Version 6 configuration, the company told Jane's on 5 May.

The first of the latest-standard helicopters are now being delivered to an undisclosed international customer as they roll off the Mesa production line in Arizona, Terry Jamison, Director, Vertical Lift International Sales, said.

"We have an international customer that is the first recipient of Version 6, and we are delivering helicopters [to that customer] now. This is the standard that all customers from here on will receive," Jamison said. While Jamison declined to name the customer, he later noted that the company is on course to complete delivery to Qatar of its first batch of Apache helicopters by the end of this month, suggesting that this Middle Eastern customer might be an inaugural recipient of Version 6.

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The first Version 6 Apache helicopters are now rolling off the Mesa production line in Arizona. (Boeing)

https://www.janes.com/article/95957/boeing-begins-version-6-apache-deliveries

[Sparkplug]

US Army's upgraded UH-60V Black Hawk passes IOT&E

https://www.janes.com/article/95703/us-army-s-upgraded-uh-60v-black-hawk-passes-iot-e

Mooi hergebruik: UH-60A -> UH-60L -> UH-60V

[Harald]

US Army's upgraded UH-60V Black Hawk passes IOT&E

https://www.janes.com/article/95703/us-army-s-upgraded-uh-60v-black-hawk-passes-iot-e

[Sparkplug]

Italian Army to receive AW169 trainer helos, ahead of wider multirole procurement

Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
19 April 2020

The Italian Army is to field new AgustaWestland AW169 light utility helicopters (LUH) for pilot training, ahead of development and procurement of a new multirole variant.

The procurement, disclosed by the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 14 April, solidifies an earlier announcement made in January that the AW169M was to be bought to replace the army's Bell AB 205, AB 212, and AB 412 LUHs, and to augment its Boeing CH-47F Chinook, NHIndustries NH90, AgustaWestland A129 (and later A249) helicopters.

According to the procurement document, the deal with Leonardo, which is valued at EUR337 million (USD301 million), comprises delivery of two helicopters in a 'commercial basic trainer' configuration, as well as approval for the start of development of 15 new 'advanced multirole' configuration helicopters for the Italian Army.

Included in the procurement of the trainer-configured AW169s is a two-year support service from 2022 to 2023 that will guarantee 400 flight hours per helicopter per year.

With development of the multirole version of the AW169 in its very early stages, no details have yet been released. That said, it will likely be similar in scope and capability to the AW169M (Military) that AgustaWestland pitched for the US Army's subsequently-cancelled Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) competition in 2013.

The AW169M featured a chin-mounted electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor turret, as well as side-mounted pylons for the carrying of rocket or machine gun pods. Two Pratt & Whitney PW210A engines were to provide additional power for operating in 'hot and high' conditions (the US Army has a benchmark it refers to as 6K/95, which stands for 6,000 ft/95°F, and were the conditions in which a helicopter must be able to hover out of ground-effect).

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The AW169 will first be delivered to the Italian Army in a trainer configuration, before a multirole version is developed and procured. (Leonardo)

https://www.janes.com/article/95615/italian-army-to-receive-aw169-trainer-helos-ahead-of-wider-multirole-procurement

[Harald]

Boeing set to reopen major military helicopter production hub for H-47 and MH-139

After a two-week closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, Boeing on April 20 is set to reopen the Philadelphia-area facility where the H-47 Chinook and several other military helicopters are built, the company announced on Friday.

Boeing manufactures the H-47 Chinnook cargo helicopter, the V-22 Osprey and the MH-138 Grey Wolf helicopter at its production line in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Operations at that installation have been suspended since April 3. During that time, the company cleaned the entire facility, Boeing said in a statement.

.../...

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/04/17/boeing-set-to-reopen-major-military-helicopter-production-hub-for-h-47-and-mh-139/

[Sparkplug]

Boeing Delivers 500th AH-64E Apache Helicopter

MESA, Ariz., April 16, 2020 – Production, flight test and deliveries of the AH-64E Apache helicopter continue at the Boeing [NYSE: BA] site in Mesa, Arizona. With 500 AH-64E Apaches in service with the United States Army and defense forces around the world, the 'Echo' model provides enhanced performance; joint digital interoperability; situational awareness and survivability with reduced operational and support costs. First delivered in 2011, the AH-64E has been used in combat operations and peacekeeping efforts. Planned modernization of this multi-role combat helicopter ensures it is ready to fulfill operational requirements globally.


Apr 16, 2020
Boeing Photo

https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2020-04-16-Boeing-Delivers-500th-AH-64E-Apache-helicopter#assets_20295_130664-117

[Harald]

Royal Danish Navy enhancing MH-60R helicopters ASW capabilities

As part of the Royal Danish Navy capabilities in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) is now procuring sensors and torpedoes for the 723rd Squadron's nine MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

The acquisition includes sonars, sonobuoys, sonobuoys launchers and torpedoes, as well as modification of the helicopters for the ASW role and updating the Seahawk simulator, crew and technicians training, support equipment, spare parts and more.

All systems and services are being acquired with the US Navy trough the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The corresponding contract has been awarded on February 28. 

« With the conclusion of an FMS contract for ASW equipment for the Seahawk helicopters, the armed forces will be able to establish a whole new and effective anti-submarine warfare capability, » the DALO said on April 6.

The Danish Seahawk helicopters are already pre-equipped for sonar equipment and torpedoes, so the actual modification of the helicopters to the ASW role is limited and primarily includes a software update.

Training by the US Navy and update of the Seahawk simulator is expected to begin in 2022. The ASW equipment and torpedoes are expected to be delivered in the 2023-2026 timeframe.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/04/royal-danish-navy-enhancing-mh-60r-helicopters-asw-capabilities/

[Sparkplug]

RN to trial MAD equipment on Merlin HM2

Richard Scott, London - Jane's Navy International
06 April 2020

The UK Royal Navy (RN) is to conduct an evaluation of the benefits that magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment could offer its Merlin HM2 helicopter fleet in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role.

A two-year contract was awarded in March 2020 to CAE UK for the provision of two MAD-XR sensor systems and ancillaries, including training and support.

A MAD system uses a highly sensitive magnetometer to sense small changes in the earth's magnetic field. Such equipment can be used by maritime patrol aircraft and ASW helicopters to detect the disturbance in the normal earth field produced by a submarine's metallic hull.

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https://www.janes.com/article/95357/rn-to-trial-mad-equipment-on-merlin-hm2

[Sparkplug]

Covid-19: Boeing shuts down rotorcraft sites in Philadelphia

Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
03 April 2020

Boeing has temporarily closed its helicopter and tiltrotor manufacturing sites in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of wider company and national efforts to help contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The shutdown of the Ridley Township facility affects the CH/MH-47 Chinook, V-22 Osprey, and MH-139A Grey Wolf production lines, and will last for two weeks from 3 April through to 20 April. Defence and commercial services work and engineering design activities are also performed at the site, and are similarly affected.

"During the suspension, Boeing will continue to monitor government guidance and actions on Covid-19 and associated impacts on company operations. The company will conduct additional deep cleaning activities at buildings across the site and establish rigorous criteria for return to work," Boeing said in a statement.

In terms of the Chinook, Boeing has outstanding requests/orders for Greece, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The production line at Philadelphia is provisioned to turn out 60 helicopters annually (with 36 per year being the lowest rate presently economically viable).

For the V-22, Boeing builds the main fuselage at its Philadelphia plant, and has outstanding orders for the US Navy and Japan to complete. Also, the company recently opened up a new production line that will take the already in-service tiltrotors and upgrade them under the US Department of Defense's Common Configuration Readiness And Modernization (CCRAM) programme. Over the next five years 129 V-22s will fly to the facility for capability enhancements to be fitted and obsolescence removed.

The MH-139A is a military variant of the AgustaWestland A139, which for the American market Leonardo largely builds at its facility also located in Philadelphia before the military systems are fitted by Boeing.

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The Chinook (pictured), Osprey and Grey Wolf lines in Philadelphia have been closed for two weeks as Boeing implements coronavirus mitigation plans. Source: Boeing

https://www.janes.com/article/95313/covid-19-boeing-shuts-down-rotorcraft-sites-in-philadelphia

[RTB]

Voordat er gespeculeerd wordt over een vervanger van de Cougar, mag er eerst wel eens goed gekeken worden wat men nou precies wil met 300 Sqn. Dat hele SOF Air met een Cougar is natuurlijk een wassen neus. Wat moet het voorstellen; CSAR, DSI taxi, inlichtingen verzamelen of zoiets als het Britse CHF? De huidige Cougar is in ieder geval voor geen van deze taken geschikt.

[Parera]

Hoeveel jaren zie je als tijdelijk? Je kunt niet fout gaan met de UH-60M. Zelfs deze variant wordt zeer mogelijk nog gemoderniseerd net zoals dat gedaan is met de UH-60V (v/h UH-60L v/h UH-60A).

Een exact aantal jaren durf ik niet te zeggen maar de 12 Cougars worden geupgrade om (minimaal) tot 2030 mee te gaan(A-brief project 'Aanpak obsolescentie Cougar-helikopters'). Vanaf 2030 is het ook de planning om de UH-60M uit te faseren bij de Amerikanen, de vraag is of het dus nodig is om tijdelijk de UH-60M te gaan vliegen maar als we bijvoorbeeld pas eind jaren '30 aan de beurt zouden zijn (US ARMY en USMC eerst) dan kan je zeggen dat we de UH-60M voor maximaal 10 jaar in gebruik gaan nemen.

Op dit moment zijn er 2 modellen in de race ; V-280 Valor (Bell) & SB-1 Defiant (Sikorski-Boeing). waarbij de V-280 in mijn ogen het meest ''volwassen ontwerp'' is.

Maar of er tijdelijk met de UH-60M gevlogen (moet) gaan worden en hoelang zal afhangen van hoelang de Cougars in dienst kunnen blijven.

[Enforcer]

Die NH-90 is een prima zeekist, maar land schijnt die wat minder te zijn. En volgens mij hebben we binnen de EU ongeveer 20 verschillende varianten in totaal, want niet alleen NL had speciale eisen. Heeft zowel invloed op onderhoud, logistiek, operationele inzet. Nog niet gesproken over de verschillende wijzes van optreden.