Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Harald]

Czech Air Force receives second batch of AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters

On October 2, 2023, the Czech Air Force received its second batch of American AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom multipurpose helicopters. This delivery marks another step in the modernization of the Czech Armed Forces and is part of a series of planned deliveries aimed at transitioning from Russian to modern Western equipment.

The most recent delivery on October 2, 2023, follows the initial arrival of two AH-1Z Vipers on July 26, 2023. According to a tweet by the Czech Ministry of Defense, the first two helicopters were delivered to the 22nd Helicopter Base of the Czech Air Force aboard a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane. With this second delivery, the base is now expected to receive one more batch in the coming weeks, which will include additional Vipers and Venoms.

Accompanying the helicopters, a team of American specialists had arrived in the Czech Republic to work with Czech counterparts on assembling and commissioning the helicopters. Over a two-week period, they conducted test flights and completed the certification process. A Mobile Training Team from the USA arrived in August, and training for the personnel of the 22nd Helicopter Base commenced on September 1, 2023. An official presentation of the helicopters took place on August 17 in Náměšť, featuring senior defense officials and military representatives.

The Czech Republic had previously agreed in 2019 to purchase twelve new H-1 helicopters. Additionally, as a token of appreciation for providing assistance to Ukraine, the Czech Republic will receive eight upgraded helicopters from the USA. This will bring the total number of UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters in the Czech Armed Forces to ten each.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/october/9274-czech-air-force-receives-second-batch-of-ah-1z-viper-and-uh-1y-venom-helicop-from-usaters.html

[Harald]

First T901 Engine Accepted by the Army for Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft



On 28 September the Army's Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) achieved a significant milestone. The Government has accepted the first General Electric (GE) Aerospace T901 flight test (FT) engine, with the second T901 engine currently going through the acceptance process. Both engines are on-track to be delivered by the Government to the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competitive prototype vendors by the end of October 2023.

The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) accepted the engine at GE Aerospace's Lynn, MA facility, marking the first step in the Government delivering flight test engines for the two FARA Competitive Prototype (FARA-CP) aircraft – Bell's 360 Invictus and Sikorsky's Raider X. The engine handover highlights the longstanding partnership between DCMA, the Army, and GE.

"DCMA is pleased to accept this first General Electric T901 flight test engine," said Air Force Lt. Col. Paul Hrad, the DCMA Aircraft Propulsion – GE Commander. "This engine represents the culmination of several years of working closely with the Improved Turbine Engine Program and GE Aerospace to ensure our soldiers are equipped with the best achievable equipment they need to safely fight and win."

Engine Verifications for Flight Test

GE Aerospace initiated testing of the first T901 Flight Test Engines in the spring/summer of 2023. Both test engines completed a series of rigorous functional, safety, and performance tests to substantiate U.S. Government acceptance for use as the FARA-CP powerplants.

Why ITEP: Solving Present and Future Power Needs

The T901 will power FARA and replace the T700 engine currently used on all AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The T901's fuel efficiency will improve the Army's enduring aircraft fleet's range, loiter time, and fuel consumption and restore high hot 6k/95-degree operational capability. The engine's reliability and increased life expectancy also reduces maintenance and sustainment costs.

The T901 combines additive manufacturing, ceramic matrix composites, and traditionally manufactured components to generate the added power (1,000 shp increase; 3,000 shp total) at roughly the same size and weight of its predecessor, the GE T700.

Additionally, the T901 engine will introduce predictive logistics that drive increased time on wing and improved reliability. The T901 engine incorporates an onboard Engine Health Management System that supports Army Predictive and Prognostic Maintenance goals by using health monitoring sensors, and embedded component health models and algorithms. These technologies provide data analysis and advanced component life calculations that enable longer component usage, reduce demand for spare and replacement parts, and reduce soldier workload per system.

The T901 delivers significantly increased reach and lethality for the enduring and future fleet. The increased power, performance, and reliability is a combat multiplier and critical to Multi-Domain Operations for the Army of 2030.

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/455110/first-t901-engine-accepted-army-future-attack-reconnaissance-aircraft

[Harald]

Australian Defence Force withdraws MRH-90 Taipan helicopters from service

The Australian Defence Force's MRH-90 Taipan helicopters will not return to flying operations before their planned withdrawal date of December 2024. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Government was focused on the introduction into service of the new fleet of UH‑60M Black Hawks.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/september/9262-australian-defence-force-withdraws-mrh-90-taipan-helicopters-from-service.html

[Harald]

Pop Out Seating Kit For Bell 360 Invictus Helicopter Patented

A passenger system stuffed in the weapons bay could turn the 360 Invictus into a small transport helicopter in a pinch.



Since Bell first unveiled its 360 Invictus helicopter back in 2019, the company has presented it as a modern armed scout platform. Earlier this month, another division of Bell's parent company, Textron, was awarded a patent that shows how the helicopter could also be used to transport small numbers of personnel, including wounded individuals, using a modular system tucked into its internal weapons bay.



The patent for what is described as a "modular deployable external passenger system for aircraft" was assigned to Textron Innovations on September 12. The application was originally submitted through Bell Textron in 2020. Though commonly known as Bell Helicopter or just as Bell, the company has been a division of Textron since 1960.

The patent does not mention the 360 Invictus, one of two designs currently in the running in the U.S. Army's Future Attack Recon Aircraft (FARA) competition, by name. However, multiple accompanying diagrams show the system as it would appear mounted on the helicopter. The description of how it would installed is also entirely in line with what is known about the 360 Invictus' central internal weapons bay.

The system "described herein provide a modular deployable external passenger system (MDEPS) that mounts to the bomb release unit (BRU) and air launched effect (ALE) launcher rack," the patent documentation explains. It "enable's such aircraft to carry up to eight passengers (or four passengers and two litters) externally via units that are internally stowable within an ALE cargo envelope when not in use for stowing ALEs."





.../...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/pop-out-seating-kit-for-bell-360-invictus-helicopter-patented

[Harald]

CH-47 Chinook: why the timeless helicopter design is still a heavy-lift contender on the modern battlefield

From its emergence as a ground-breaking design in the 1950s to its widespread deployment in diverse operations worldwide, the Chinook continues to leave an indelible mark on the aviation landscape. Shephard sums up the latest developments and tells you everything you need to know about the workhorse of many armies and air forces in the 2020s.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an iconic twin-engine, tandem-rotor heavy-lift transport helicopter that has served as a workhorse on military and civilian operations since its debut. Revered for its remarkable lifting capacity, endurance and adaptability, the Chinook has left an indelible mark on modern aviation history.

The origins of the Chinook date back to the early 1950s when the US Army recognised the need for a rotorcraft capable of carrying heavy loads and troops over long distances. In 1956, Vertol (later acquired by Boeing) won the development contract and designed an innovative heavy-lift helicopter.

The company's breakthrough design featured a tandem configuration, where two large rotors mounted at the front and rear provided greater lifting efficiency and stability. This design also allowed for a larger cargo bay and easy access through a rear loading ramp, streamlining the loading and unloading process.

Evolution and upgrades
Over the decades, the Chinook has undergone several upgrades with new variants evolved to keep up with changing operational requirements. Improvements in avionics, engines and materials have increased its lifting capacity, range and reliability.

The CH-47D introduced in the 1980s featured more powerful engines, improved rotor systems, and advanced avionics. It played a significant role in many military operations, including the Gulf War and various humanitarian missions.

The CH-47F model, introduced in the early 2000s, brought further advancements, including a digital cockpit, enhanced survivability features, and improved maintenance systems. Its digital flight control system and advanced communication capabilities made it even more adaptable to modern warfare scenarios.

The US DoD awarded Boeing a $277 million contract for CH-47F Block II engineering and manufacturing development in 2017. The upgrade was developed to add an additional 4,000lb of lift capability.

Block II enhancements included Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades, an upgraded fuselage, a new fuel system, and a new drivetrain, according to a Boeing press release published in 2018. However, the company informed Shephard in May 2023 that: 'The US Army decided to not move forward with the advanced rotor blades in 2021. Even without the blades, the Block II aircraft meets all of the key performance indicators set out by the US Army.'

Honeywell received a five-year contract from the US Army in 2020 to provide a full overhaul and repair for its T55-GA-714A engines that power the F variants. The engine improvement programme for the T55 is said to increase shaft horsepower from 4,777 to 6,000. This will allow the CH-47F to increase its useful load at higher density altitudes and will further reduce maintenance hours with the introduction of a newly designed compressor and accessory drive gearbox.

The MH-47G is a special operations variant of the Chinook in service with US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The first new-built MH-47G helicopter was delivered to USASOC in September 2014.

Latest orders
The German Parliament's Budget Committee made an announcement confirming its decision to proceed with the acquisition of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters on 5 July. The deal will be worth up to €8 billion ($8.7 billion), including associated equipment and infrastructure.

A Boeing spokesperson told Shephard that the approval of the order confirms confidence in the Chinook's battle-tested capabilities and the company.

Germany first floated the idea of buying 60 Chinooks last year to replace its ageing CH-53 fleet. Originally, €6 billion had been budgeted for the helicopters.

Boeing's director of BD for cargo and utility helicopters and Future Vertical Lift programmes, Heather McBryan, told Shephard at the end of May that all German Chinooks will have in-flight refuelling capability, but the country will not receive 60 probes.

Boeing is also contracted to modernise the UK's Chinook fleet over the next ten years under a £1.4 billion ($2 billion) deal that was signed in 2021. The new variant, known as the H-47(ER), will primarily be used for special forces operations. All 14 Chinooks for the UK will have refuelling capability, and the aircraft will enter production in 2025. Deliveries will commence in 2026.

Boeing delivered the 20th CH-47F Chinook helicopter to the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the company announced on 15 November 2022. The handover marked the conclusion of the Netherlands' latest fleet update for its Chinooks.

Egypt meanwhile is replacing its 19 CH-47D helicopters with CH-47Fs. On 3 January 2023, the US Army awarded Boeing a $426 million FMS contract to produce 12 new CH-47F Chinooks for the Egyptian Air Force, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026.

At the beginning of July 2023, Boeing received its last orders for the Chinook CH-47F Block I helicopter as the company transitions all work onto Block II aircraft in the expectation of delivering the last of the Block I variants in 2027. The order of a single aircraft to supplement Spain's current fleet of 17 and 18 for South Korea is part of a $793 million FMS deal agreed with the US DoD.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/chinook-helicopter-a-timeless-icon-of-strength-and-versatility-in-modern-aviation/

[Harald]

Argentina eyes surplus CH-46 helicopters as Mi-17 replacement

The Boeing CH-46 medium-lift helicopter, retired from service in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, may get a new lease on life, this time with the Argentine Air Force.

Talking to local media after a Sept. 15 ceremony, Argentine Air Force chief Gen. Xavier Issac said he's interested in buying surplus CH-46s currently stored with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Arizona. He added that the Argentine government has sent a letter of request to the U.S.

Issac said a delegation would visit the 309th in the next few weeks to check the condition of available CH-46s, and hinted that contacts were signed with Columbia Helicopters, a U.S.-based firm able to refurbish, upgrade and modify the helicopter type.

But a military source in Buenos Aires, talking to Defense News on the condition of anonymity to speak freely, said that "even when the potential procurement of surplus CH-46s is aimed to increased vertical lift capacities for a wide range of uses, the first priority would be to replace two Mil Mi-171Es, ordered in 2010 in a contract worth U.S. $26.5 million, and used since 2011 in support of Antarctic operations."

The source added that both Russian-made Mi-17 aircraft are grounded because maintenance scheduled in the country cannot take, given Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

../..

https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2023/09/21/argentina-eyes-surplus-ch-46-helicopters-as-mi-17-replacement/

[Sparkplug]

Oostenrijkse defensie plant verdubbeling Black Hawk vloot

1 sep 2023  Categorie: Militair, Nieuws

De Oostenrijkse Black Hawk-helikoptervloot bestaat sinds 2002 uit negen S-70 Black Hawks, die in 2021 een mid-life update kregen met nieuwe avionics. De Oostenrijkse minister van Defensie, Claudia Tanner heeft vorig jaar reeds drie extra S-70 Black Hawk helikopters besteld waarvan de levering voorzien is voor 2024. Het budget hiervoor was €60 miljoen.

In een interview met APA zei de minister dat ze plant om volgende jaar nog 12 additionele Black Hawk helikopters aan de kopen en er een extra squadron mee op te richten.

Het budget voor deze aankoop is intussen reeds vastgelegd in een speciale defensiebegroting die voorziet in investeringen van 16,6 miljard euro tot 2032.

Eind vorig jaar ontving de Oostenrijkse Defensie de eerste van 18 Leonard AW169M helikopters en heeft toen de optie gelicht om nogmaals 18 Leonardo AW169M helikopters aan te kopen in 'government to government deal' met Italië. Dit zal de vloot op termijn op 36 helikopters brengen, na Italië de grootste vloot van de Leonardo AW169M helikopters.

https://helispot.nl/hs/page/detail.asp?oid=b3h7c5D3&sub=logboek

[Harald]

https://gagadget.com/nl/302475-indonesie-koopt-24-sikorsky-s-70m-black-hawk-helikopters-samen-met-f-15ex-eagle-ii-gevechtsvliegtuigen/

Indonesië koopt 24 Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk-helikopters samen met F-15EX Eagle II-gevechtsvliegtuigen

[StrataNL]

Ja bijna een Apache, want de Fenice heeft dezelfde motoren als de AH64 namelijk de CT7 van General Electric, en dus ongeveer dezelfde endurance.

Vreemde conclusie, de CT7 motoren van de AW249 hebben flink wat meer vermogen dan de T700's die in de Apache Echo zitten. Dat maakt niet per se dat de kist  dezelfde endurance heeft....

[Parera]

Ik denk ook dat heel veel landen in rij zullen staan om dit knappe staaltje Italiaans vakmanschap aan te schaffen *kuch kuch*

Ik denk dat de huidige situatie in de wereld nog wel eens een goede boost kan zijn voor de verkoop van de AW-249. Het zal niet de #1 keuze zijn van veel (NAVO) landen, maar als de Amerikaanse lijnen volraken dan is dit misschien wel een goed alternatief.

[Benji87]

Italian apache.. jaja. Bijna

Ik denk ook dat heel veel landen in rij zullen staan om dit knappe staaltje Italiaans vakmanschap aan te schaffen *kuch kuch*

[Sparkplug]

Ja bijna een Apache, want de Fenice heeft dezelfde motoren als de AH64 namelijk de CT7 van General Electric, en dus ongeveer dezelfde endurance.

In plaats van 'Apache' had er ook 'Viper' (AH-1Z) kunnen staan. De opgegeven MTOW van de AW249 en de AH-1Z zijn ongeveer gelijk.

Van de T700 en de CT7 elk bestaat een reeks varianten. Er zit al verschil tussen de T700-GE-701C (AH-64D) en de T700-GE-701D (AH-64E).

[Kornet43]

Ja bijna een Apache, want de Fenice heeft dezelfde motoren als de AH64 namelijk de CT7 van General Electric, en dus ongeveer dezelfde endurance.

[Huzaar1]

Italian apache.. jaja. Bijna

[Harald]

https://bulgarianmilitary.com/amp/2023/08/06/italian-apache-the-aw249-tests-its-performance-in-warm-weather/

Italian 'Apache' – the AW249, tests its performance in warm weather

Currently, the first prototype of the innovative Leonardo AW249 NEES, with the serial number CSX82097, is undergoing hot weather testing in Palma del Río, near Cordoba, Spain.