Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[ARM-WAP]

Spaanse plannen voor hun helicopter vloot, dat zal ook de nodige investeringen geven... vol op de NH90

https://twitter.com/GarethJennings3/status/1602667327153135617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1602667327153135617%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Bizar, dat 'vol inzetten' op die NH-90. Die gaat er uit in Australie, Zweden en ook de TTH-versie in Belgie eruit gaat. Noorwegen annuleerde een contract.
De Spanjaarden zijn gebruiker van de SH-60 en de Armada heeft van US State Department in maart groen licht gekregen om 8 MH-60R te bestellen.
Ook die Tigre verbaast me wat.
Chinook is een no-brainer.

[Harald]

Spaanse plannen voor hun helicopter vloot, dat zal ook de nodige investeringen geven... vol op de NH90

That's quite some helicopter fleet consolidation plan from the
@SpainAirForce over the next couple of decades... #AirbusTMB

https://twitter.com/GarethJennings3/status/1602667327153135617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1602667327153135617%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

[Harald]

Is dit de vervanger van de Cougar? 

Heeft wel mijn voorkeur, als je een echt niche capaciteit wil voor SF ondersteuning

[Sparkplug]

Is dit de vervanger van de Cougar? 

In dat geval wordt het de HH-60W (opvolger van HH-60G) met 2 x .50 en 4 x FN MAG 

[Enforcer]

Is dit de vervanger van de Cougar? 

[Sparkplug]

Increased firepower provides unique capability for combat rescue (more guns)

    Published Nov. 28, 2022
    By DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS)
    920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --
The 943rd Rescue Group designed a concept to mount four additional M240 machine guns onto the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to provide more firepower to the 920th Rescue Wing?s personnel recovery task force in contested environments.


Two M240 machine guns are mounted inside an HH-60G Pave Hawk Nov. 22, 2022, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The 943rd Rescue Group designed a concept to mount four additional M240s onto the HH-60Gs to provide more firepower to the 920th Rescue Wing?s personnel recovery task force in contested environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andre Trinidad)


(U.S. Air Force photo by Andre Trinidad)

The wing searched for an innovative way to bring more firepower to the fight and with the HH-60G scheduled to be retired, it had to be cost effective and easily transferred to the new HH-60W Jolly Green II because of the similar design structures.

The 943rd RQG operated within three constraints: utilize only available resources; work within Air Force manuals and technical orders to the maximum extent possible; and have minimal impact to manpower.

Most HH-60 weapon configuration is comprised of two guns in any combination of the GAU-2C 7.62mm minigun, GAU 18/A .50 caliber machine gun, or M240 machine gun. The team had a goal of adding four additional weapons onto the aircraft and examined what would work on both platforms. It was discovered that the .50 caliber machine gun would not work because the floor design of the HH-60G would not support the torque applied by the GAU 18/A. The aircraft?s minigun also would not work because of the power required to operate the weapons.

?The M240 is multi-capable equipment for our personnel recovery task force that will enable us to perform contested-area combat search and rescue, logistics under attack, and agile combat employment. It will increase our offensive and defensive capabilities, at an extremely low cost, and give us flexibility for air and land use around the world,? said Col. Jes Hamilton, 920th RQW commander.

This concept required the integration or redesign of three separate parts to house two M240s on each door opening. First, a base stand from an existing cooperative project within the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve was found to meet the requirements. Second, an aircraft mount that was previously utilized by the 55th and 71st Special Operations Squadrons for their .50 caliber gunship operations was added to the base. Third, working in conjunction with industry partners, the group took an MK99 gun mount that was normally used for patrol boat operations to mount two M240 caliber machine guns and holds 1,200 rounds of ammunition. To use this mount the 355th Maintenance Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base fabricated gun mount stops for proper operations within the aircraft.


(U.S. Air Force photo by Andre Trinidad)


(U.S. Air Force photo by Andre Trinidad)

In a rescue scenario, one HH-60 outfitted as a gunship would integrate with the CSAR task force and provide additional self-escort capabilities. Should that aircraft be needed for rescue, such as a mass casualty, noncombatant evacuation operation, or embassy evacuation; the guns can be removed within seconds, instantly becoming an additional rescue vehicle platform.

?As we perform forward operations at the edge of the battlespace, we will have multi-capable equipment that can be operated by multi-capable Airmen. As ACE operations advance, this airborne platform can become a land-based, defensive fighting position to defend an Initial Contingency Location/Temporary Contingency Location or ICL-Forward,? said Lt. Col. Joe Romeo, 943rd Security Forces Squadron commander.

The next step in the process is operational testing in coordination with the Air Guard Air Reserve Test Center before the system can be used and fired on flying aircraft.

?This capability increases the lethality of the PRTF and improves point defense in forward operations and also increases the capacity for airbase ground defense in support of the projection of airpower,? Romeo said.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3229528/increased-firepower-provides-unique-capability-for-combat-rescue/

[Harald]

Four firms to fight for UK?s New Medium Helicopter requirement

Defence officials have whittled down the number of bidders for the UK?s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest to four companies following an initial selection process.

Airbus Helicopters, Boeing, Leonardo Helicopters and Sikorsky all successfully passed the dynamic pre-qualification questionnaire (DPQQ) issued to interested parties by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), FlightGlobal can reveal. Bidders were informed of their progress on 31 October.

None of the manufacturers wished to comment, save to confirm that they had cleared the DPQQ stage.

Airbus Helicopters is offering the H175M,
Leonardo Helicopters the AW149 ? to be built in Broughton and Yeovil, respectively ? and
Sikorsky the S-70M Black Hawk.
Boeing => MH-139

Boeing?s interest in the requirement is unclear given the lack of a suitable aircraft in its range: the only medium helicopter it could offer is the MH-139, which is based on Leonardo?s best-selling AW139.

However, two sources suggest Boeing may instead be interested in the support and training elements of the procurement.

Seemingly dropping out of the race are Bell, NH Industries and AceHawk Aerospace, which was proposing the ML-70 ? an upgraded pre-owned UH-60 Black Hawk.

The next step for the NMH programme will be the issuing of invitations to negotiate (ITN) to the shortlisted manufacturers ? where the MoD sets out its precise requirements ? a milestone likely to take place in early 2023.

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/four-firms-to-fight-for-uks-new-medium-helicopter-requirement/150779.article

[Sparkplug]

Britse nieuwe helikopters lopen vertraging op

26 okt 2022

Categorie: Militair, Nieuwe toestellen / Tests, Nieuws

Het Britse NMH programma loopt vertraging op. Het nieuwe helikopterprogramma van zowat ? 1 miljard dreigt door budgetproblemen, gewijzigde prioriteiten en de politieke saga in de UK de gestelde deadline te missen.

Het programma, dat officieel op 18 mei 2022 van start ging, voorziet in de aanschaf van maximaal 44 nieuwe middelgrote helikopters (NMH) ter vervanging van een bestaande en verouderde vloot van 23 Airbus Puma en 5 Bell AB412, 5 AB2012 en 2 Airbus Dauphins. Daarnaast voorziet het programma ook in de levering van opleidingsmogelijkheden, een onderhouds-en reservepakket, en twee FSTD's (Flight Simulation Training Devices).

De originele strakke timing, toen onder invloed van de oorlog in Oekra?ne, voorzag in het afronden van de keuze van vijf mogelijke fabrikanten tegen 30 september 2022. In de eerste helft van komend jaar zou dan gestart met de keuze de NMH-helikopter en toekenning van het order. De contractuele startdatum was origineel gepland op 2 oktober 2023.

Deze timing is volgens de doorgaans welingelichte bronnen van de luchtvaartwebsite www.flightglobal.com niet meer haalbaar. De website schrijft dat in de nieuwste timing tegen ten laatste eind maart 2023 de precieze specificaties van het NHM-project zullen bekendgemaakt worden aan de vijf kandidaat leveranciers. Dit heeft de Britse minister van Defensie in een nota op 18 oktober bekendgemaakt. Wanneer de aanbesteding dan wel van start gaat en de finale keuze gepland is, wordt door de minister niet bevestigd.

Als in 2025 de eerste Puma HC2's uit dienst zouden gaan zal er met deze nieuwe timing waarschijnlijk geen NMH-helikopter operationeel klaar staan om deze te vervangen.

In een eerder artikel deden we een eerste analyse van de mogelijke kandidaten en kwamen we tot zeven fabrikanten:

• Airbus Helicopters met de H175M die deels in de UK zou worden geassembleerd
• Leonardo Helicopters met de AW149M die in Yeovil zal worden gebouwd
• Sikorsky met de (Poolse) S-70M Black Hawk met (voorlopig onbekende) lokale inbreng
• Bell met de militaire 412EPX of misschien een militaire 525M
• Boeing met de MH-139 Grey Wolf (een Leonardo / Boeing toestel)
• NHi met de NH90 zou ook interesse tonen voor het project - kans is zeer klein maar zou een compromis kunnen zijn om zowel Airbus als Leonardo de bestelling te geven.
• ACEHawk biedt een interessant alternatief aan maar blijkbaar is dit idee verworpen

Als we twee afvallers moeten kiezen, want er worden slechts vijf kandidaten toegestaan, zal dit waarschijnlijk gaan tussen Bell, NHI, Boeing en ACEHawk. Leonardo, Airbus Helicopters en Sikorsky zijn zekere kandidaten.

Wordt ongetwijfeld vervolgd...

https://www.helispot.nl/hs/page/detail.asp?oid=b2g8D2E1&sub=logboek

[Sparkplug]

US Army kan zijn keuze niet maken voor next-generation heli

19 okt 2022

Categorie: Militair, Nieuwe toestellen / Tests, Nieuws

De keuze voor de FLRAA-helikopter is voor de Amerikaanse Defensie toch moeilijker dan gepland. Volgens het origineel projectplan zou Defensie afgelopen maand, september zijn keuze bekendmaken. Maar toen in augustus duidelijk werd dat september niet haalbaar was werd de timing bijgesteld tot oktober 2022.

Maar op 11 oktober op de jaarlijkse vergadering van de AUSA, zei de stafchef van het Amerikaans leger, generaal James McConville, dat het leger meer tijd nodig heeft om alle aspecten degelijk te onderzoeken en dat het zolang zal duren totdat het onderzoek grondig is afgewerkt. McConville wilde geen nieuwe datum geven maar duidelijk is dat de keuze nog minstens enkele maanden op zich zal laten wachten.

De keuze voor de vervanger van de succesvolle Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is zeer belangrijk want de nieuwe FLRAA-helikopter wordt voor tientallen jaren de hoeksteen van de US Army. Deze heeft 2.275 Black Hawk helikopters in dienst, die over de komende decennia allemaal moeten worden vervangen.

Bell Textron en een Sikorsky-Boeing-team strijden tegen elkaar voor het FLRAA-contract. Bell en Sikorsky-Boeing boden twee totaal verschillende ontwerpen aan voor de FLRAA-wedstrijd. Bell biedt zijn V-280 Valor tiltrotor-helikopter aan, terwijl het voorstel van Sikorsky-Boeing de SB>1 Defiant X is, met coaxiale rotors.

Ingewijden dicht bij de keuze, hebben laten uitschijnen dat de Defiant X van de tandem Sikorsky-Boeing meest kans maakt om de nieuwe FLRAA te worden. Blijkbaar weegt de complexiteit en gevoeligheid van de coaxiale rotor niet op tegen de hoge kosten en de beperkte beschikbaarheid van de V-22 Osprey de voorganger van de Bell V-280 Valor. Of speelt de gevoeligheid mee, dat de coaxiale rotor sedert tientallen jaren door de Russen als de beste optie werd gepromoot en kiest men toch voor de V-280 Valor?   

Afspraak eind van het jaar en dan kennen we de opvolger van de Black Hawk.

https://www.helispot.nl/hs/page/detail.asp?oid=E3C7c6D2&sub=logboek

[Harald]

US Air Force declares Initial Operational Capability of Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II

The U.S. Air Force declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter, validating the platform's operational readiness to forward deploy Air Force rescue crews around the globe. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT) designed and manufactures the HH-60W, which enables the U.S. Air Force to conduct rescue missions at greater ranges and in the most challenging environments, and with increased survivability.



"This declaration is a vote of confidence from U.S. Air Force leadership and demonstrates the critical role of and need for the HH-60W," said Nathalie Previte, vice president, Sikorsky Army & Air Force Systems. "Sikorsky is committed to continuing deliveries of the Department of Defense's only dedicated combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter and to provide the most capable platform to rescue crews who depend on this aircraft day-in and day-out to conduct vital life-saving missions."

As the sole dedicated combat rescue platform in the Department of Defense, the Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter builds on the decades-long legacy of U.S. Air Force combat rescue and recapitalizes the critical combat search and rescue fleet providing U.S. Air Force combat rescue warriors with the best capability for their critical and demanding lifesaving mission. The HH-60W Jolly Green II, which is replacing the aging HH-60G Pavehawk, was specially built for the Air Force's combat rescue mission based on fully-vetted operational requirements.

The next generation helicopter provides enhanced survivability while recovering isolated personnel from hostile territory, day or night, in adverse weather, and in a full range of threat environments. It enables Air Force Combat Rescue Team to fulfill their mission "That Others May Live" and "Leave No One Behind".

Mission-Critical Capabilities, Life Saving Support

The new HH-60W Jolly Green II will replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet. Leveraging the proven survivability and reliability of the H-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W Jolly Green II incorporates advanced digital design techniques, an open architecture for rapid mission system integration, an air refueling system, upgraded survivability and defensive systems, cabin and cockpit armor, integrated weapons, and increases main fuel tank capacity to 644 gallons. These advanced technologies enable the Jolly Green II to meet the Combatant Commander's demands of today and the emerging Joint All Domain Operations (JADO) requirements in near peer competition and win in conflict.

Capability Highlights:

- Expanded aerodynamic and hover performance
- Increased main full tank – 644 gallons vs 360 gallons – and air refuellable for greater range
- Advanced and integrated survivability and defensive systems
- Expanded communications including two Tactical Datalinks & Intel Receivers for Net-centric connectivity to operate in the joint-all domain environment
- Higher resolution sensors
- Larger main cabin
- Upgraded armor and ballistic protection

Sikorsky has delivered 24 aircraft to the Air Force, including all Engineering & Manufacturing Development and Lot 1 aircraft. Lot 2 deliveries, comprised of 12 aircraft, began in June of this year. Sikorsky has been awarded four production lots to date, most recent recently Lot 4 for 14 aircraft in February 2022.

The contract for Lot 5 for an additional 10 or more aircraft is expected to be awarded by the Air Force in 2023.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/october/8756-us-air-force-declares-initial-operational-capability-of-sikorsky-hh-60w-jolly-green-ii.html

[Zander]

Beste missile load.....

[Harald]

UK Wildcat Helicopters Successfully Complete Missile Trials

Successful Ship Helicopter Operating Limitations (SHOL) trials have proven that the Wildcat HMA Mk 2 can operate fully loaded with its newest missile systems in a range of challenging conditions at sea.

.../....

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/10/uk-wildcat-helicopters-successfully-complete-missile-trials/

[Sparkplug]

First AW169B for Austrian Air Force

PUBLISHED: 09 OCTOBER 2022   LAST UPDATED: 09 OCTOBER 2022


Photo by Tiziano Capenti / www.aplace2land.com

In October 2022, the first Bundesheer (Austrian Armed Forces) Leonardo AW169B with Italian test registration CSX82072 (construction number 72014) was photographed by Tiziano Capenti, although still in a primer livery, during a test flight from the Leonardo factory airfield Venegono near Varese in northern Italy.

On 20 December 2021, the Austrian government signed a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with Italy for the purchase of eighteen Leonardo AW169M Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) to replace the Bundesheer obsolete 21 strong fleet of Alouette 3 helicopters. Scramble Magazine reported earlier on this agreement in December 2021 and September 2020.

The purchase will be divided in six AW169Bs training variant and 12 AW169MAs advanced multirole variant with integrated mission equipment and weapon systems. The agreement include Role Equipment, Aircraft Ground Equipment, spare parts, technical publications, technical support, basic and advanced training courses (the latter to be carried out in cooperation with the Italian Army), simulators and an option for twelve more AW169MA helicopters and six AW169B variants.

The Bundesheer operates the SA316B/SE3160 Alouette 3 from 1967 onwards. The Alouettes are assigned to the Kommando Luftunterstützung (air support command). That command operates the Verbindungshubschrauberstaffel (Communication squadron) at Aigen im Ennstal air base. At Tulln-Langenlebarn air base, the Flieger- und Fliegerabwehrtruppenschule 'FlFlATS' with Lehrabteilung Hubschrauber is based. This unit is responsible for Alouette 3 pilot training.

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-aw169b-for-austrian-air-force

[Enforcer]

Vraag ik me ook af.. kan alle getallen niet plaatsen. Hoe denk je die duizenden aan te schaffen tanks,, artillerie en voertuigen moeten worden bemand en onderhouden... gaan ze iedereen het leger in dwingen?

Hoe die Russen hebben huisgehouden in Oekraïne zou voldoende motivatie kunnen zijn.

[Huzaar1]

Ik ben met name benieuwd naar wat er de komende tijd op stapel staat voor 13X.

Ik ook, ik verwacht wel wat interessante jan doedels. Iets met ATGM en wat kleiner kalibere kanonnen. Het lijkt me verstandig dat eerst analyses van Oekraine conflict worden afgewacht.

https://youtu.be/FYmwfC99eek

Enorme interessante video over ukrainers en tanks.