Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Harald]

U.S. Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter HH-60W Reaches Milestone, Paving Way for Assembly, Test and Evaluation

The HH-60W combat rescue helicopter designed by Sikorsky is an improved variant of the HH-60G Pave Hawk currently used by the US Air Force, which plans to buy 112 copies of the new design.



Lockheed Martin today announced it successfully reached a key milestone – the Air Vehicle Critical Design Review (CDR) – for the U.S. Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) program. This event prepares the program to proceed to assembly, test, and evaluation of the HH-60W helicopter.

The joint Sikorsky and U.S. Air Force (USAF) helicopter program team met in May with key partners from government and industry for an in-depth design review. Throughout the review, the CRH team successfully presented a design that participants were confident would meet system requirements. Review participants included leaders from USAF and key suppliers who took part in the technical presentations.

"This milestone is an important achievement and demonstrates Sikorsky and the Air Force are well aligned on the technical requirements of the HH-60W," said Tim Healy, Sikorsky CRH program director. "We got here by conducting several milestones on or ahead of schedule, and we are committed to staying on that track as we build the first HH-60W aircraft."

In preparation for the CDR, the joint team generated more than 300 technical documents, created and reviewed over 50,000 hardware and software requirements, conducted 17 sub-system CDRs and designed 3,000 new parts. "The joint team did an outstanding job in documenting the design of the HH-60W," said Jim Andrews, Sikorsky CRH chief engineer. "We are excited to enter the build phase as the team has leveraged digital design tools to generate manufacturing efficiencies that will reduce cost and schedule. This approach will lead ultimately to the HH-60W becoming the first Black Hawk derivative to have a paperless assembly line."

The USAF awarded Sikorsky the $1.28 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract in June 2014, which includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue platform and mission systems, delivery of four HH-60W helicopters, aircrew and maintenance training systems, and support for both. In January of 2017, the USAF exercised a $203 million contract option with Sikorsky to provide five additional aircraft, bringing the total to nine. The training suite includes devices that span full-motion simulators and discrete aircraft systems, such as hoist and landing gear.

The USAF Program of Record calls for 112 helicopters to replace the Air Force's rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services.

The HH-60W is an advanced variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter design and features increased internal fuel capability for greater range. The CRH aircraft will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-chord main rotor blades to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes, and a new fatigue- and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structure to ensure reliability and availability to USAF operational units.

The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews. The aircraft is designed with a weapons and cabin configuration specifically optimized for combat rescue and recovery operations.

"Conducting the Air Vehicle CDR demonstrates this helicopter system is well on its way to meeting the key program requirements of the Air Force," said Dave Schairbaum, USAF, CRH System Program Manager. "Successful execution of the program is essential to meet the continued demanding personnel recovery mission in today's challenging operational environment. We are working closely with Sikorsky to assure this newly designed aircraft meets the requirements, is affordable and is delivered on schedule to the warfighter."

The CRH and USAF teams will meet again in September for the Training Systems Critical Design Review.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/184083/new-hh_60w-combat-sar-helicopter-passes-initial-review.html

[Sparkplug]

Het mooie van dit verhaal is dat de AW 139 door Bell is ontwikkeld, Boeing krijgt voor een koopje een helicopter waar alle kinder ziektes uit zijn.

http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/agusta_ab-139.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW139

Stel dat de USAF daadwerkelijk de AW139/MH-139 kiest, dan is de cirkel rond met de vervanging van de Bell 212/UH-1N Twin Huey.

[Ace1]

Boeing unconcerned about MH-139's European heritage in bid for USAF Huey replacement

Janes

Het mooie van dit verhaal is dat de AW 139 door Bell is ontwikkeld, Boeing krijgt voor een koopje een helicopter waar alle kinder ziektes uit zijn.

http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/agusta_ab-139.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW139

[Sparkplug]

Boeing unconcerned about MH-139's European heritage in bid for USAF Huey replacement

Janes

[Sparkplug]

Wat dacht je van de zwaardere CAIC Z-10?! die wordt al op schepen ingezet. Z-19 zou dan als verkenner erbij kunnen. Een mix die de Amerikanen ook voorzagen met hun Apache en beoogde Comanche.

De Z-10 was ik vergeten. Het geeft China in ieder geval keuze.

[Ronald Elzenga]

Als China een aanvalshelikopter vanaf hun Type 075 LHD wil gebruiken, dan zou de Z-19 een kandidaat moeten zijn.

Wat dacht je van de zwaardere CAIC Z-10?! die wordt al op schepen ingezet. Z-19 zou dan als verkenner erbij kunnen. Een mix die de Amerikanen ook voorzagen met hun Apache en beoogde Comanche.

[Sparkplug]

Waarschijnlijk wel. Iig gebaseerd op een platform dat het kan (Z9). Maar niet echt noodzaak nog denk ik.

Als China een aanvalshelikopter vanaf hun Type 075 LHD wil gebruiken, dan zou de Z-19 een kandidaat moeten zijn.

[Ace1]

Export version of China's Z-19 attack helo makes maiden flight

Janes

Is die Harbin Z-19 ook maritiem inzetbaar?

[Harald]

Boeing could deliver Block II Chinook to international customers in 2026

FlightGlobal

Laat Boeing die 2 extra bestelde Chinooks maar in block II leveren en daarna de huidige F's block I upgraden naar block II

[Sparkplug]

Export version of China's Z-19 attack helo makes maiden flight

Boeing prepares for Chinook Block 2 flight trials, notes notional Block 3

Janes

[Sparkplug]

Boeing could deliver Block II Chinook to international customers in 2026

FlightGlobal

[Sparkplug]

Boeing contracted to remanufacture 38 UK Apaches to AH-64E standard

Janes

[Sparkplug]

Next-generation NATO rotorcraft could overlap with FVL

FlightGlobal

[Harald]

Leonardo presents AW101 Royal Navy ultimate multi-mission maritime helicopter at IDEF 2017

Leonardo Helicopters presented the AW101 Royal Navy ultimate multi-mission maritime helicopter at the 13th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2017).

The AW101 combines the most advanced technologies, mission equipment, security features, outstanding comfort and manufacturing expertise to deliver a superior helicopter system.

With its latest-generation integrated avionics, navigation, communications, safety and security systems, the AW101 offers a unique solution to the most extreme operational requirements of the 21st Century.

AW101 provides the highest levels of safety, reliability and availability. Operating world-wide,  day and night, in all weathers and extremes of temperature, AW101 equipped with advanced communications, navigation, search and rescue mission equipment and systems, sets the standard by which other SAR helicopters are judged.

Also, the 15 tonne class AW101 provides operators with complete multi-role maritime capabilities, including: Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW), Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC), Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), VERTREP,  Amphibious Support and Search and Rescue (SAR).

Designed from concept to operate in the harshest maritime environments, including high sea state with associated deck motion conditions and equipped with the most advanced technologies and maritime mission systems and exceptional One Engine Inoperative (OEI) performance, the AW101 extends operational theatre horizons to provide force projection for Maritime Commanders.

http://defence-blog.com/news/leonardo-presents-aw101-royal-navy-ultimate-multi-mission-maritime-helicopter-at-idef-2017.html

[Harald]

USAF to equip CV-22s with ballistic protection

The US Air Force (USAF) is to fit ballistic protection to its fleet of Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, it was disclosed on 4 May.

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) will on 9 May contract Florida-based The Protective Group to fit the protective measures under the CV-22 Advanced Ballistic Stopping System programme, according to a notification listed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. A contract value will be disclosed at the time of award.

The FedBizOpps listing notes, "The Advanced Ballistic Stopping System (ABSS) is a composite ballistic protection panel system designed and fabricated to provide ballistic protection for the aircrew and critical components on the CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. Multiple configurations can be installed based upon mission need/requirements."

The Protective Group has already provided 16 ABSS kits to AFSOC, though the notification does not specify for which platform. The Protective Group is the original equipment manufacturer for the CV-22 ABSS system, and is the only source of supply for the requested parts listed above, the USAF said.

According to the company's website, The Protective Group supplies ballistic protection for a number of different aircraft types and for a number of different operators. As the company notes, "The Protective Group's Ballistic Protection System (BPS) protects over 90% of the [Department of Defense's] rotary-wing fleet, with over 2,000 BPS systems delivered to the Iraqi and Afghani theatres." The ABSS system is reported to be 50% lighter than the BPS.

The USAF has to date received 46 of its planned 51 CV-22Bs, with deliveries set to run through to the end of 2019. CV-22Bs are currently operated by the 71st Special Operations Squadron (training) at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico; the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field in Florida; the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon AFB in New Mexico; and the 7th Special Operations Squadron at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.

http://www.janes.com/article/70122/usaf-to-equip-cv-22s-with-ballistic-protection