Rotor Torque

France Cuts Tiger & NH 90 Buys

Massive cuts to France’s defence budget has meant its eventual buys of the Eurocopter Tiger attack/scout helicopter and the NH 90 battlefield transport/ASW helicopter will be cut by over half. The cuts were announced in a Senate defence and foreign affairs committee report on defence spending which foreshadowed that just 68 NH 90s transports would be procured rather than the expected 160 and only 120 Tigers ordered rather than 215 (consisting 50 anti tank HAC variants and 70 escort/fire support HAP Tigers). The French Navy meanwhile will get just 27 naval NH 90s, rather than the 60 (40 for ASW, 20 for transport) originally planned to replace Super Frelons and Lynxes. The report has angered France’s partners in the helicopter programs, in particular Germany. Germany is now calling for a re-evaluation of each countries’ workshare on the two helicopter programs.

Rolls-Royce Studies Lynx Gem Upgrade

Rolls-Royce is looking at a more powerful development of its Gem turboshaft to power upgraded British Army and Royal Navy Lynx helicopter. Called the Gem 62, the new Gem variant would output 1600shp (1200kW) compared to 1120shp (835kW) on the current Gem 42, dramatically improving one engine out and hot and high performance. Although the British Army’s Lynxes’ anti armour role will be taken over by the WAH-64D Apache, the service still intends to keep the type in operation through to 2015 for battlefield transport and liaison. Rolls-Royce only plans offering the new Gem to the British Army and Royal Navy, new Lynxes are likely to be offered with the LHTEC (Allison/AlliedSignal) T800 (as is being offered on the Lynx for the RAN).

Mitsubishi to Fly Civil Helicopter

Mitsubishi should begin flight testing of its 10 seat twin helicopter, the MH2000, by year’s end. The MH2000 is Japan’s first indigenously developed civil helicopter. Max weight is planned for 4.5 tonnes with a top speed of 150kt (275km/h). Power is from two 800shp (595kW) Mitsubishi MG5 turboshafts. Other features include an active noise suppression system and an optional GPS based collision avoidance system. Flyaway cost would be between ¥300m and ¥400m ($A3.6m and$A4.8m). Mitsubishi is aiming for Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau certification by the first half of next year, with production deliveries beginning in September or October next year. The company expects to build 200 MH2000s over the next decade.

HQ Role for Helicopter Training Ships?

The Navy is currently studying a number of options for further upgrading its two training and helicopter support ships, HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla, including outfitting them to be able to act as joint force headquarters fitted with extensive C3I equipment. Other options being studied include adding a helicopter lift to a below decks hangar, which would increase the ships’ helicopter carrying capability beyond four Black Hawks or similar, and adding hospital facilities to Kanimbla as well as Manoora. The two ex US Navy LSTs are currently undergoing conversion to the training and helicopter support role with Forgacs Engineering in Newcastle.

Helicopters at the Olympics

Eighteen Bell helicopters of various models were used to provide official US and International Olympic Committee transport for VIPs between the various Olympic venues throughout Atlanta during the Olympic Games. The 18 helicopters – one 407, two 230s, a 430 and various JetRangers and LongRangers – were based at Dekalb Peachtree airport, 15km north east of downtown Atlanta. The helicopters were provided by Bell as the official Olympic helicopter sponsor. In addition to the VIP aircraft, numerous other JetRangers and LongRangers were used in support of television broadcast operations for the Games. Others were equipped with microwave relay capability to relay television signals from remote venues to the broadcast control centre in central Atlanta.

Briefs

The two seat, two stroke piston engined Dragonfly Model 333 light helicopter has been granted Italian certification. The Royal Malaysian Air Force plans to order two Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawks for use as VIP transports, while further down the track the service may acquire additional Black Hawks to replace its Sikorsky S-61 Nuris. Meanwhile Malaysia is also in the market for six medium naval helicopters such as the Lynx or Seasprite to replace ageing Westland Wasps. The prototype Kawasaki OH-X two seat observation helicopter was expected to have its first flight in August. Rockwell Australia is fitting the RAN’s Squirrels with VOR and ILS equipment. The ILS is necessary as the precision approach radar at the helicopters’ home base, NAS Nowra, is being shut down. The Japanese Navy believes that metal fatigue in a titanium main rotor hub was the probable cause of a blade separation which destroyed a SH-60J while it was on the ground. After the first blade separated the rest of the main rotor was thrown out of balance and the other blades then severed fuel and hydraulic lines, causing the helicopter to catch on fire. The second prototype five seat EC 120 successfully completed its maiden flight on July 17 from Eurocopter’s Marignane, France facility. The two prototypes have now clocked over 135 hours flying time. On July 17 the McDonnell Douglas Explorer became the first helicopter to be validated by Europe’s Joint Aviation Authorities, clearing the way for certification by the JAA’s 27 member nations. French army Gazelles are now entering service armed with short range ATAM Mistral air-to-air missiles. Thirty Gazelles will be armed with the Mistral over the next 18 months. The Eurocopter EC 135 was awarded US FAA certification on July 31, following German certification on June 14 and French approval on July 2. The first customer delivery was made to a German operator on July 31.