Helicopter homework: The week that was

0

Rate this Article: (4.5 Stars | 2 Votes)   Thanks for your rating!

In this edition of The week that was, Defence IQ gives you a snap-shot of all the news in the military helicopter world over the last few weeks.

  Helicopter UAV waiting in the wings   The U.S. Army is using a hybrid-type acquisition approach to develop a helicopter-like, Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing Unmanned Aerial System with a so-called ARGUS wide-area surveillance sensor suite designed to beam back information and images of the surrounding terrain, service officials said. Beginning in May or June of 2012, the Army will deploy three Boeing-built A160 Hummingbird Vertical-Take-Off-and-Landing Unmanned Aerial Systems, or VTOL-UAS, to Afghanistan as part of a Quick Reaction Capability, an acquisition approach aimed at delivering cutting-edge and emerging technologies to theater to add capability and inform requirements while simultaneously developing a formal Program of Record approach, said Lt. Col. Matthew Munster, product manager, UAS Modernization.

Wildcat put through its paces The Royal Navy’s next-generation helicopter has landed in Portsmouth for three days of trials on board a Type 23 frigate. The Wildcat touched down on HMS Iron Duke as part of intensive tests before the fast and potent helicopter is declared operational. Three years from now the Wildcat will be the backbone of the Royal Navy’s frigate and destroyer operations around the globe, replacing the trusted Lynx which has served the Fleet Air Arm loyally since the mid-70s.

Ecuador extends helicopter fleet Eurocopter has delivered the first two Ecureuil AS350 B2 of nine helicopters contracted by the Ecuadorian Armed Forces in July 2010 under its extensive modernization program. The two Ecureuil AS350 B2s were delivered to the Army Aviation Brigade at La Balvina, Sangolquí in the presence of the Ecuadorian Defense Minister Javier Ponce, the Head of Armed Forces Joint Command Ernesto González, Army Commander Patricio Cárdenas and various other Ecuadorian military officials and Eurocopter representatives.

Russia delivers Mi-35M's Two of 24 Mi-35M helicopters purchased by Azerbaijan from Russia have been transferred to Baku. APA reports that the delivery took place on December 12 from Rostov-on-Don airport by Volga-Dnepr’s An-124-100.Within the framework of the agreement, Russian “Rosvertol” Joint-Stock Company will send other helicopters to Azerbaijan in 2012.24 Mi-35M helicopters will be sent to Baku in accordance to a deal signed on September, 2010 between Rosoboronexport and Azerbaijan’s corresponding organization.

Lynx unleashed The last of 22 upgraded Lynx support helicopters has been handed over to the Army Air Corps on budget and three months ahead of schedule. At a ceremony on Thursday, 15 December 2011, at AgustaWestland's Yeovil plant in Somerset, the handover of the last upgraded Lynx Mk9A took place three months ahead of the contract end delivery date.The first upgraded Lynx Mk9A helicopters with more powerful engines were delivered to Afghanistan on 25 May 2010, only 18 months after the project was started under the urgent operational requirement system to provide commanders with a far more versatile, light helicopter.

Black Hawk flying to Brunei Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., has formally signed a contract with the Brunei Ministry of Defence to provide 12 S-70i BLACK HAWK helicopters with associated spare parts, training and ground support equipment. The contract contains an option for 10 additional aircraft.

Contributor:   Andrew Elwell

Andrew graduated from The University of Nottingham with an MA in History in 2003. After graduating Andrew started his career with a niche armour systems manufacturer, which provided ballisitic and blast armour products for the international defence market. His first major undertaking was to project manage a UOR up-armour programme for an in-theatre MoD vehicle. After completion of the contract, Andrew headed up the research and development department at the company. This involved designing, developing, testing and presenting new armour solutions to defeat customer specific threats to all major European and International ballistic and blast standards.

Following this Andrew moved behind the desk and became Senior Editor at a news and data provider, offering proprietary analysis, intelligence, market research and data on the global security and defence industry. The role offered the chance to write widely on the industry, exploring new technologies and getting to grips with corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and debt and equity fundraisings.