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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 2297.PDF
MILITARY HELICOPTER DIRECTORY full partner would include the carrot of export- order work, which enhances the Tiger's chances. Similarly, MDHS has offered an attractive package to Westland on possible future AH-64 Apache developments. Bell's Cobra Venom remains in the frame, given that it is less expensive, at least on paper, than the other contenders. Other helicopters on offer include the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche and the Agusta A.129 Mangusta. The A.129 was the basis for the failed multi-national light-attack helicopter project, which collapsed in 1990, a factor which may undermine the likelihood of it meeting SR(A) 428. The RAH 66 still has an uncertain future — its vague in-service date hampering its chances of being chosen. Other UK requirements include one for a tactical helicopter to replace the Westland Wessex and Aerospatiale Puma. An indication of the strain on funding is that the Royal Air Force is considering extending the service life of its ageing Wessex fleet. As part of the programme to improve the UK's medium/heavy lift capability, up to 40 helicopters in a mix of Boeing CH-47 Chinooks and EH Industries EHlOls are to be purchased. The armed reconnaissance and light-utility roles will probably be filled by Westland Lynx conversions, with AH.7s being modified to a new Mk9 utility standard. Naval Lynx produc tion continues, with the Super Lynx standard. Brazil has ordered nine aircraft and wants five of its Mk.2 Is to be re-built to Super Lynx standard. The new-build aircraft are due to be delivered in 1996. The Netherlands' requirement for 40 attack helicopters continues. Similar aircraft: to those offered for the UK competition are being con sidered. Defence cuts in the USA have yet to have a severe impact on combat helicopters. The US Army intends to modernise its AH-64s to the AH-64D standard, beginning in 1996, at the same time developing the RAH- 66 Comanche. The re-working of the AH-64 fleet is vital to MDHS, after its parent compa ny stopped trying to sell it off. A total of 524 Apaches will be re-built to basic AH-64D stan dard and 287 to radar-equipped Longbow specification. Around 850 AH-64s have now been delivered, and there are orders outstand ing for 811 from the US Army, 94 for Egypt, 24 for Greece, 24 for Israel, 12 for Saudi Arabia and 20 for the United Arab Emirates. Kuwait has also selected the AH-64, but not yet ordered it. Production will slow to three a month (from four a month) in February 1995. McDonnell Douglas continues produc tion of Defender variants of the MD500 series of light single-turbine helicopters, having received an order for ten armed MD530F Defenders in September 1993 from Mexico, as well as another order from an unnamed customer. The most recent Pentagon review con firmed the status of the RAH 66 Comanche project, although, in the latest round of cuts, it is once again coming under scrutiny. The pro totype is due to be flown in August 1995, with low-rate production scheduled for 1998, and deliveries to the US Army commencing in 2003. The Army plans to acquire 1,292 Comanches. The Bell AH-1W programme also survives, with Bell Helicopter Textron delivering 12 machines a year against a requirement for 230 for the US Marine Corps. Bell has teamed with IBM, and Lockheed with Kaman, to bid for a $750 million programme to upgrade the US Marine Corps' AH-lWs with glass cockpits, beginning in 1999. The upgrade will also include fitting an Israeli-developed night tar geting system. Turkey has received a second batch of five AH-lWs, and is upgrading its AH- 1 fleet. Taiwan has begun taking deliver ies of AH 1 Ws from an order for 42. Taiwan is also the first export customer for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Re-manufacture of OH-58As to D standard continues, for a US Army requirement for 597 aircraft. Bell is involved in a joint venture with engine manufacturer Textron Lycoming to upgrade UH-lHs to UH-1HP Huey II stan dard, by upgrading the l,000kW (l,400shp) T53-13B engine to l,350kW -703 standard. Other upgrades of the UH-1 available are the Ultra Huey, offered by UNC Helicopter and GE Aircraft engines, powered by the T700, and the Huey 800 from LHTEC/Global Helicopter Industries and Israel Aircraft Industries, powered by the T800. Vought Aircraft continues to pursue the potential replacement of the Army's UH-ls, proposing the Panther 800, a T800 variant of the Eurocopter AS.565 Panther. The Israeli navy will operate the Panther, with a sensor package derived from the can celled Hellstar unmanned aerial vehicle. Bell is now delivering the TH-67 Creek, a variant of the commercial 206B-3 JetRanger, for the US Army's New Training Helicopter Programme. The $85 million contract is for 105 aircraft. The TH-67 is being built by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, which also produces CH-146 Griffons, against a C$700 million ($927 mil lion) contract for the Canadian forces. The first aircraft are due for delivery in April 1995. This aircraft is based on the commercial Model 412EP, with PT6T-3D engines and enhanced performance, which replaces the earlier HP model. Slovenia has ordered five of the aircraft for border patrol and rescue. The troubled V-22 Osprey tilt rotor has enough political support to survive, and Boeing/Bell is producing four production-rep resentative engineering and manufacturing development V-22s, the first of which is expected to be flown in December 1996. Production of the Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk for the US Army continues, with over 2,000 built, for a requirement for 2,253 aircraft by 2007. In the pipeline are a command and control UH-60V, a UH-60Q air ambulance and a stand-off jamming variant. Sikorsky continues to produce the venerable CH/MH-53E Super Stallion and the SH- 60B/F Seahawk for the US forces and for export. An upgraded CH-53E is been pro posed to meet an army requirement for a CH- 47D Chinook replacement. Boeing is proposing an advanced Chinook for this requirement, having completed modification of 472 Army Chinooks to CH-47D standard. Conversion of Chinooks to CH-47D/HC2 standard for the UK is complete, as is similar work on nine machines for Greece. The advanced Chinook would be based on the special operations MH-47E, with four- blade main rotors, uprated 3,700kW engines, long-range fuel tanks and glass cockpit. Chinook production continues in Japan, with Kawasaki Sikorsky continues to produce the CH/MH-53for US forces and for export FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 21-27 September 1994
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