Internationale Helicopter ontwikkelingen

[Sparkplug]

First UH-60V Black Hawk released to service by US Army

13 OCTOBER 2020

by Gareth Jennings

The first Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to be upgraded to the UH-60V standard has been released into service by the US Army.

The milestone, announced by the service on 9 October, was marked by a release ceremony held at Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) in Texas, and came some six months after the US Army completed its initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) for the configuration in April.

Redstone Defense Systems is the lead contractor for the effort, which involves replacing the analogue avionics of the UH-60L (itself an upgraded UH-60A) with a digital set up provided by Northrop Grumman. The work is done in partnership with the US Army Prototype Integration Facility.

The UH-60V digital cockpit provides a near-identical human-machine interface with the latest UH-60M-standard Black Hawk in service with the US Army and international operators. It brings the army's Black Hawks into alignment with the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) open architecture standard that supports integration of off-the-shelf hardware and software, so enabling the rapid insertion of capabilities when platform upgrades are selected.

With the US Army to convert 760 of its approximately 2,000 Black Hawks to the UH-60V configuration, the service has a final goal of fielding 1,375 UH-60M and 760 UH-60V platforms by the time the programme is complete. The essential difference between a UH-60M and UH-60V is that the former has thicker chord rotor blades, while the latter retains the slightly thinner blades of the original UH-60A model from which it is derived.

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Corpus Christi Army Depot Commander, Colonel Joseph Parker, hosted a formal signing ceremony to mark the release to service of the UH-60V Black Hawk. (DVIDS)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/first-uh-60v-black-hawk-released-to-service-by-us-army

[Sparkplug]

AUSA 2020: Bell to begin building 360 Invictus imminently

12 OCTOBER 2020

by Pat Host

Bell will start building its 360 Invictus helicopter this week. The company is developing the 360 Invictus for the US Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft-Competitive Prototype (FARA-CP) programme, according to a company official.

Chris Gehler, Bell FARA vice president and programme director, told Janes on 8 October ahead of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual trade show that Bell has already begun building gearboxes, rotor pieces, and airframe structure for the 360 Invictus. Bell is about to begin building the rotor blades for the aircraft and has already started manufacturing main rotor blade extensions. The company, he said, has already built blades that it used to performed process verification and destructive testing.

Many of the 360 Invictus' drive system and rotor components are in manufacturing and nearing completion. Gehler expects most of the drive system and rotor components to be completed by December. This is because Bell traditionally prioritises building the gearboxes and rotor system first to test them in a drive system test lab to reduce future maintenance. Bell will build the 360 Invictus in Amarillo, Texas.

Bell intends to have the 360 Invictus assembled by the third quarter of 2022 for a ground run in the same timeframe. Bell wants the aircraft ready for its first flight in the fourth quarter of 2022.

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Artist's illustration of Bell's 360 Invictus (foreground) for the US Army's FARA-CP programme and V-280 Valor tiltrotor for the service's FLRAA effort. Bell wants the 360 Invictus ready to fly by the fourth quarter of 2022. (Bell)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ausa-2020-bell-to-begin-building-360-invictus-imminently

[Sparkplug]

First Portuguese modernised Super Lynx delayed to 2021

09 OCTOBER 2020

by Victor Barreira

The delivery of the first modernised Super Lynx Mk 95A helicopter to the Portuguese Navy has been pushed back to early January 2021.

The helicopter was due to be received on 30 September but its delivery has been postponed due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Portuguese Navy told Janes .

Leonardo was awarded a EUR69 million (then USD76.45 million) contract in July 2016 to modernise the Portuguese Navy's five Super Lynx Mk 95 aircraft. Under current scheduling, delivery of all five is expected to be completed in 2021.

The first modernised helicopter completed its maiden flight on 14 February at Leonardo Helicopters' facility in Yeovil, United Kingdom. Evaluation of the helicopter is scheduled for December as part of the certification of the type. Pilots are due to finalise their training in early December.

The modernisation package includes the replacement of the original Rolls-Royce Gem 42 engines with more powerful LHTEC CTS800-4N turboshafts.

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Deliveries of all five modernised Super Lynx Mk 95 helicopters to the Portuguese Navy are now planned to be completed in 2021. (Victor Barrerira)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/first-portuguese-modernised-super-lynx-delayed-to-2021

[Stoonbrace]

Resurgent Tiger fights for survival in Australian ARH competition

It may have taken years for the Airbus Helicopters Tiger to finally hit its stride in Australia, but the capability improvement now achieved may have come too late to save the attack helicopter from replacement by a US-built product.

The airframer cannot say it was not warned of its customer's growing frustration with the platform, nor of an ambition to replace it. In February 2016, Canberra's defence White Paper explicitly stated that the Australian army's 22 Tigers were to be supplanted by a mix of manned and unmanned assets.

.../....

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/resurgent-tiger-fights-for-survival-in-australian-arh-competition/140432.article

Interessant.

[Harald]

Resurgent Tiger fights for survival in Australian ARH competition

It may have taken years for the Airbus Helicopters Tiger to finally hit its stride in Australia, but the capability improvement now achieved may have come too late to save the attack helicopter from replacement by a US-built product.

The airframer cannot say it was not warned of its customer's growing frustration with the platform, nor of an ambition to replace it. In February 2016, Canberra's defence White Paper explicitly stated that the Australian army's 22 Tigers were to be supplanted by a mix of manned and unmanned assets.

.../....

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/resurgent-tiger-fights-for-survival-in-australian-arh-competition/140432.article

[Harald]

New Black Hawks for Australian Army?

The Australian Army's Holsworthy-based 6 Aviation Regiment (6Avn) will replace its MRH 90 Taipans with new-build Black Hawks, while the LAND 2097 Phase 4 light special operations rotary wing (SORW) requirement may be cancelled, according to multiple sources.

ADBR understands initial enquiries into the pricing and availability of Sikorsky HH-60W or MH-60M Black Hawks – which are configured for combat rescue helicopter (CRH) and special operations support roles respectively – have been made, and that up to 24 machines are being considered to not only replace the MRH 90s, but to fulfil all of 6Avn's requirements.

It is believed an announcement on the intention to buy Black Hawks could be made as soon as the government's 2020/21 Budget delivery on October 6, along with a reported sole-source acquisition of 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to replace the Army's Tiger ARH.

The reported acquisition is a revival of a shelved proposal to buy MH-60Ms for 6Avn in 2018, instead of using the MRH 90 which has proved to be less-suitable in the special operations support role than the older S-70A-9 Black Hawk it is meant to replace. While the MRH 90 excels in speed, range, capacity, and endurance, there are believed to be ongoing issues with suitable door gun mounts and positions, rappelling rope points, and operational integration with allied forces.

.../....

https://adbr.com.au/new-black-hawks-for-australian-army/

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Germany Axes Plan To Buy Either Sikorsky CH-53K Or Boeing CH-47 Helicopters

Offers for the Boeing CH-47 and Sikorsky CH-53K were both judged too expensive.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36802/germany-axes-plan-to-buy-either-sikorsky-ch-53k-or-boeing-ch-47-helicopters

[Huzaar1]

De Nederlandse bevolking is als een zak hooi; je kunt er op blijven slaan!

Hoezo is de Nederlandse bevolking een zak hooi?

[Kornet43]

De Nederlandse bevolking is als een zak hooi; je kunt er op blijven slaan!

[Huzaar1]

Worden we genaaid of zijn de Italianen gewoon slim in hoe ze het geld gebruiken? Misschien moet Nederland eens stoppen met het braafste jongetje van de klas te (willen) zijn en voor zich zelf kiezen.

Ik vraag me ook af hoe dit nu zit, ik denk dat het wat anders zit dan hoe het in het artikel staat. Zou echt te makkelijk zijn om met het EU noodfonds doodleuk naar de amerikanen te stappen voor helikopters.

[Parera]

Dit is dus hoe het rolt, wij moeten waarschijnlijk in de toekomst weer bezuinigen op onze defensie, terwijl deze leiden mooi weer spelen met geld wat daar niet voor bestemd was, zo zie je maar weer,  we worden weer genomen en dat is wederom niet fijn. Bedankt slappe politiek.

Worden we genaaid of zijn de Italianen gewoon slim in hoe ze het geld gebruiken? Misschien moet Nederland eens stoppen met het braafste jongetje van de klas te (willen) zijn en voor zich zelf kiezen.

[Umbert]

Italy eyes path into US Army's next-gen helo program, thanks to EU pandemic-relief fund

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/09/25/italy-eyes-path-into-us-armys-next-gen-helo-program-thanks-to-eu-pandemic-relief-fund/#.X278RIQ0i6c.twitter

Dit is dus hoe het rolt, wij moeten waarschijnlijk in de toekomst weer bezuinigen op onze defensie, terwijl deze leiden mooi weer spelen met geld wat daar niet voor bestemd was, zo zie je maar weer,  we worden weer genomen en dat is wederom niet fijn. Bedankt slappe politiek.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Italy eyes path into US Army's next-gen helo program, thanks to EU pandemic-relief fund

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/09/25/italy-eyes-path-into-us-armys-next-gen-helo-program-thanks-to-eu-pandemic-relief-fund/#.X278RIQ0i6c.twitter

[Sparkplug]

CH-47 Chinook With Far More Powerful T408 Engines Has Flown For The First Time

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36665/ch-47-chinook-with-far-more-powerful-t408-engines-has-flown-for-the-first-time


US ARMY
The modified NCH-47D testbed helicopter with the T408 engines during its first flight at Felker Army Airfield in September 2020.


US ARMY

[Sparkplug]

Austria to procure AW169M helicopters

22 SEPTEMBER 2020

by Nicholas Fiorenza

The Bundesheer, the Austrian Armed Forces, announced on its website on 21 September that it would procure 18 AW169M helicopters in co-operation with Italy. The EUR300 million (USD353.9 million) procurement also includes technology, logistics, training, and infrastructure.

The Bundesheer said the determining factor in choosing the AW169M was the willingness of Italy to co-operate in all aspects of operating the helicopter. Italy has already ordered 40 of the up to 100 AW169s that it plans to procure, according to the Bundesheer.

Co-operation in operations, training, and logistics would not have been possible with the Bell 429 offered by the United States as its armed forces do not operate the type, the Bundesheer explained. The AW169M will replace Austria's Alouette III helicopters that will be phased out by the end of 2023, which the Bundesheer said would have resulted in a capability gap of several years if it had selected the H145M, which it expected not to be available until 2025 and to be conducting normal flight operations at least a year later. In addition, Germany planned to offer the logistic support of its own industry, complicating co-operation or even making it impossible, according to the Bundesheer.

Austria is expected to begin negotiations with Italy soon, lasting around six months, followed by production lasting around 18 months, with the delivery of the first helicopter in mid-2022, the Bundesheer said.

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Austria will procure 18 AW169M helicopters in co-operation with Italy. (Bundesheer Fotos)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/austria-to-procure-aw169m-helicopters