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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0991.PDF
DEFENCE DEVELOPMENT GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Black Hawk poised to fly faster Prototype SH-60F set to be modified into compound helicopter using ducted propeller for thrust and anti-torque Piasecki Aircraft has taken delivery of a Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk pro totype for modification into a com pound helicopter using the com pany's vectored thrust ducted propeller (VTDP). The develop ment has been funded by the US Navy, but the demonstration pro gramme has been transferred to the US Army, which is interested in increasing the speed and range of its UH-60 Black Hawks, says presi dent Fred Piasecki. Modifications will include removal of the YSH-60F's tailrotor, installation of the 2.4m (8ft)-diam- eter VTDP and mounting of a 7.3m-span wing. The tailrotor drive system will be modified to triple the power available to drive the VTDP's five-blade variable-pitch ducted propeller, Piasecki says. Flight testing is planned for next year, funding permitting. With the VTDP providing thrust for forward flight and the wing f ^v Sectors Rudder C^\ 5sdlr»\ s^^J..jzi^Br / Elevator ggJl^^x N >&ssllS2£3fflP^ Vectored thrust ducted •*£r\ propeller (VTDP) jjr^^^^^X^^^^ii JpP*^ Flaperons ^^ FLIGHT •~"———— offloading the main rotor, the com pound helicopter will be able to reach higher speeds with lower rotor loads and vibration. In for ward flight, the VTDP's cruciform elevator and rudder will provide pitch and yaw control, with roll control via wing flaperons. In vertical flight, the flaperons will be lowered like flaps to reduce rotor download on the wing and anti-torque control will be pro vided by the VTDP using a set of nested spherical shells, or sectors, that will deploy to vector propeller thrust. On the YSH-60F, the wing and VTDP controls will be mechan ically integrated with the heli copter's existing flight controls, but the Essington, Pennsylvania-based company has submitted a proposal for a fly-by-wire system, says Piasecki. Compounding is expected to increase the speed of an H-60-series helicopter to 215-225kt (395- 415km/h), but testing will be lim ited to the YSH-60F's existing flight envelope, says Piasecki. The heli copter will be instrumented to measure rotor loads and vibration, with reductions of up to 50% expected. In service, these reduc tions would translate into increased safety and lower mainte nance, the company says. IN BRIE NEW DELILAH Israel Military Industries has developed a ground-launched version of its 250km-plus (135nm)-range Delilah air-to- surface missile. The company says the Delilah-GL retains the air-launched variant's turbojet engine and features autonomous navigation and guidance and real-time target acquisition. The weapon can undertake long-range, loitering and high-speed flight profiles. INDIAN KITS Russia's Irkut has delivered the first Sukhoi Su-30MKI kits to Hindustan Aeronautics' Nasik plant in India, where they will undergo licensed assembly. New Delhi signed a $3.5 billion technology transfer agreement in December 2000 to acquire the multirole fighter aircraft. Irkut will also deliver up to 10 Russian- built Su-30MKIs to the Indian air force this year. PACT CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON & CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS France and UK agree carrier co-operation The defence ministers of France and the UK have signed an agreement outlining their joint desire to "ex plore opportunities for mutual ben efit through industry-to-industry co operation" on the countries' next- generation aircraft carrier projects. Michele Alliot-Marie and Geoff Hoon signed the pact during a 9 June ceremony aboard the French navy's nuclear-powered aircraft car rier Charles de Gaulle. France plans to field a conventionally powered sister ship for the vessel from 2015, while the UK wants its two Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) to replace its current Invincible-class ships in 2012 and 2015. Possible synergies between the French and UK projects had led to earlier talk of a possible collabora tion, but industry sources close to the BAE Systems/Thales team nego tiating a CVF contract with the UK Ministry of Defence stress any co operation will be at a subsystem level. While similar in size, the ves sels will deploy different air wings, with France flying Dassault's Rafale M and the UK the short take-off and vertical landing Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. France's state-owned shipbuilder DCN and Thales also last week announced plans to establish a joint company to lead France's future air craft carrier project, if they are awarded the contract by the French government. DCN will hold a 65% stake and Thales 35%, which the latter says "about reflects the work- share on an aircraft carrier, which carries much less electronics than a frigate". In addition to serving as an integrated prime contract office, the joint venture will also be able to assist in any potential co-operation between France and the UK. MISSILE Rafael shows new Spike Israel's Rafael Armament Development Authority has unveiled a new version of its Spike-ER air-to-surface missile optimised for use in urban or low-intensity operations. Equipped with a penetration, blast and fragmentation (PBF) warhead, the new variant of the 8km (4.3nm)-range Spike-ER is intended to cause "minimal col lateral damage", according to Rafael. Firing trials have demon strated the warhead's ability to penetrate targets such as armoured vehicles or reinforced buildings before detonating its explosive charge. Rafael says the PBF version of the weapon maintains the earlier design's high level of targeting accuracy. Up to 16 Spike-ERs can be carried by a Boeing AH-64 Apache, with the design also suit able for firing from armoured vehicles and surface ships. 20 15-21JUNE 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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