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A Bell UH-B Iroquois (top), Aerospace AS350B Squirrel and a Bell2068-1 from HC723 Squadron, RAN, formate over Nowra. HC723 currently operates 4 UH-1Bs, 6 AS350Bs and 5206Bs. The Iroquois will be phased out of RAN service during 1986 while the Squirrels will replace the 206Bs aboard the FFGs through 1985 pending the delivery of Seahawk helos later this decade. The useof206B and AS350B aircraft aboard the FFG frigates is purely for training and orientation purposes
Newsdesk – Military
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Sikorsky Win RAN FFG Helicopter Battle:
Sikorsky have won Round I of what could eventually be termed the ‘Battle of the Helicopters. Contracts are being let this decade on up to 80 medium helicopters and it is no secret that whoever won the initial RAN order for helicopters to support the new FFG patrol frigates would be in the box seat for stage two of the ‘battle’ which will focus on a multi-stage programme to replace the RAAF’s UH-1B/D/H Iroquois and RAN Wessex helos.
The recent announcement of the RAN S-708 Seahawk purchase saw the Navy willing to lose numbers to retain the Seahawk in preference to the Westland Navy Lynx 3. The RAN originally tendered for between 12 and 15 helicopters and has now opted for eight S-7088 for a programme cost of $368 million (April 1984 prices). $51 million of which would be for modifying the first three FFG ships which were originally designed to embark helicopters of a lesser gross weight than the eleven-tonne Seahawk. At $39 million per unit programme cost (although the flyaway cost is less than half this amount), the Seahawks will ultimately rival the F-18 Hornet as big-ticket defence items Furthermore, as the RAN already operates four FFG frigates and has two more slated for construction at Victoria’s Williamstown dock- yard plus two additional follow-on ships in planning, then the total number of Seahawks ultimately required will run to at least twenty in order to fully support a deployment and training capability for the eventual FFG force.
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