Requirement for personnel recovery vehicle could be split
The US Air Force may seek to buy two vastly different aircraft types under one contract when a solicitation for its next-generation personnel recovery vehicle (PRV) is issued next month. The programme seeks to buy 132 aircraft to replace an ageing fleet of 104 Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters by 2011, but perhaps as early as 2009.
The air force had previously proposed splitting the order evenly between a current conventional aircraft and a more advanced vertical-lift aircraft that can achieve a cruising speed of 300kt (555km/h). However, the service is now contemplating buying both types together as the PRV and the newly-named Common Vertical Lift Support Platform (CVLSP). "The potential exists for the inclusion of the CVLSP into the PRV programme planning, source selection and resultant contract award," says a request for information posted on 29 November. The notice adds that the CVLSP requirements are still in development, but will be published "as soon as possible".
The CVLSP's known requirement to achieve 225-300kt cruise speeds points to a tiltrotor aircraft, such as the Air Force Special Operations Command Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey, or a new rotorcraft design, such as Sikorsky's Reverse Velocity Rotor or Boeing's X-50 Dragonfly Canard Rotor/Wing.
Industry observers are wary of a potential dual acquisition strategy, citing a similar attempt in the late 1990s by the US Army to combine the Boeing CH-47F Chinook upgrade and CH-47X advanced helicopter contracts under the same order - a strategy foiled by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Meanwhile, the conventional PRV requirement has attracted strong interest from transatlantic suppliers, including the Lockheed Martin/AgustaWestland/Bell US101, Sikorsky S-92 and a combined bid by Northrop Grumman and EADS with NH Industries' NH90. An updated requirements list posted last week expands on the air force's ambitious plans to buy a highly networked helicopter to replace the Pave Hawk.
The initial aircraft must be equipped with an eight-channel joint tactical radio system communication suite, and include a system to closely monitor locations of friendly forces. The air force has also added a requirement for a laser-designation system.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
