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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1515.PDF
ARMY AVIATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA UTILITY HELICOPTERS PAUL LEWIS / NASHVILLE US Army rethinks future rotorcraft Sikorsky UH-60X Black Hawk growth version could be ditched in favour of larger generic helicopter The US Army is re-evaluating its Future Utility Rotorcraft (FUR) plans, which are currently based on the proposed growth Sikorsky UH-60X Black Hawk, possibly in favour of a new larger type. Sikorsky, meanwhile, is rebidding for the supply of multifunction dis plays (MFD) for the nearer-term UH-60M upgrade as the result of problems with the present system. Reference to the UH-60X has been dropped by the US Army in favour of a more generic FUR as planners struggle to anticipate the medium-lift needs of the future Objective Force. "The FUR right now is nowhere and I'm concerned about it. The FUR could be another aircraft, it could be a [Sikorsky] S-92 or [EH Industries] EH101 or who knows what," says Col William Lake, US Army utility helicopter project manager, speaking at the Army Aviation Association of America convention in Nashville, Tennessee, last week. Last year the Defense Acquisition Board approved an operational requirement document (ORD) spec ifying the ability to lift a 4,300kg (9,5001b) external load over 135km (75nm)at 4,000ft (1,220m) and 35°C (95°F). The army now wants to rethink plans for a fleet of 255 FURs. The UH-60X is sized to meet the ORD, using the new 2,235kW (3,000shp) Common Engine Programme (CEP) powerplant, im proved rotor dynamics and enlarged fuselage. Key to UH-60X performance is the CEP, which the US Army had hoped to start this year with a request for proposals. Initial funding now looks set to slip at least a year. "We don't know what the Objective Force's equipment will look like, so we don't know how much weight we need to carry, whether CEP is the right engine or the UH-60 is the right aircraft," says Lake. Meanwhile, 1,217 UH-60A/Ls will be upgraded to UH-60Ms from 2004. The UH-60M will receive a new digital cockpit with four 150 x 200mm (6 x 8in) displays. Litton, now Northrop Grumman, was selected to supply the UH-60M glass cockpit, having supplied a similar one for the UH-60Q and HH-60L, as well as the US Navy's MH-60R/S. Sikorsky, however, has reopened the displays competition. Rockwell Collins has proposed elements of its Common Avionics Architecture System, selected for the US Special Forces MH-60M upgrade, while EFW, Honeywell and Northrop Grumman are also expected to bid. PRECISION MUNITIONS Long-range loitering weapon targets funding to start flight tests next year The US Army is seeking funding to begin Raytheon Loitering Attack Munition-Aviation (LAM-A) flight tests next year. It aims to prove the concept of an airborne-launched long-range missile that can loiter before attacking, provide real-time target imagery and network with manned and unmanned air vehi cles (UAVs). LAM-A is a similar concept to Lockheed Martin's Low Cost Autonomous Attack System being developed for the US Air Force, but it has an imaging infrared seeker and datalink to provide a man-in- the-loop control capability. This would allow an operator to confirm a target for a strike, redirect or update the weapon in flight, and provide a battle damage assessment and surveillance capability. LAM-A is sized for the current M299 launcher on the Boeing AH-64 Apache or Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche helicopters. After launch, using a solid-fuel rocket motor, LAM-A would be powered by a 301b-thrust (0.13kN) turbojet and deploy a longitudi nally stowed 1.4m- (56in) span wing to provide stand-off ranges LAM-A is designed for launch by helicopter but could be carried by UAVs be carried by UAVs, although such platforms could be restricted to relaying data. The US Army funded around $7 million of LAM-A technology development and wants to move to a three-year flight-test demon stration with the aim of starting full-scale development in around 2006. An operational system could be ready by 2009/10, says John Meadows, US Army Missile Guidance Directorate. greater than 50km (27nm) and 30min loiter time. Initial test vehi cles will be powered by the Hamilton Sundstrand TJ50 engine. "We hope to get it into a flight demonstration soon and then feed into the Hunter-Standoff Killer Team and NetFires demonstrations to evaluate LAM-A in a system of systems environment," says JP Ballenger, Raytheon programme manager. Alternatively, the weapon could ATTACK HELICOPTERS Apache needs prioritised The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow will need further upgrades if it is to stay in opera tional service until at least 2027, the US Army acknowledges. It is prioritising a list of Block 3 improvements recently pro posed by the programme office. "You can't allow a high tech nology platform like the AH-64D to sit around for another 25 years without doing something to it. The question then comes when do you want to do it," says Col Ralph Pallotta, US Army Apache project manager. The army wants funding in the 2004- 09 budget planning cycle for at least some of the upgrades that are being sought. Top of the list is improving the performance of the Longbow radar, resurrecting axed funding for the ITT Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Counter- measures and BAE Systems Suite of Infrared Counter- measures, and improving the helicopter's transportability. The army also wants to standardise the Apache's engine on the General Electric T700-710D planned for the upgraded Sikorsky UH-60M. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 21-27 MAY 2002 25
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