| The Tiger is
recently undergoing through a 'navalization' qualification preparing
it for operation from French Navy ships. The helicopter operated
from two French Navy vessels - the Amphibious Landing Dock (ALD)
Siroco and Lafayette-type frigate Guépratte. The qualification
process is scheduled to complete by 2008, clearing the Tiger
for operations from command ships, aircraft carriers and ALDs.
The program will include assessments of various aspects, including
rotor blade folding, engine rinsing, hydraulic pressure system
modifications, and tooling necessary for shipboard operation.
The program is closely watched by Australia and Spain which
are also interested in such navalized operations.
Nearby, two of the latest the NH90
helicopter were displayed - a German NH9O Tactical Transport
Helicopter (TTH), one of four helicopters recently
delivered to the German Army, and the first Swedish NH9O
in its High Cabin Version (HCV). This helicopter was handed
over to the Swedish Air Force during the airshow. Also at Le
Bourget, Germany exercised an option to buy additional 42 additional
NH90 TTHs. 30 are destined for the Army Air Corps, the other
twelve are for the Air Force. Belgium became the 14 country
to order the new helicopter, signing an order for 10 new NH90,
including four TTH versions, four in NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter)
versions Belgium has options for two additional NH90s. These
new announcements brought the program's order book to 495. Another
possible addition to the NH90 is the HELLAS
system developed by EADS. HELLAS assists helicopter pilots to
avoid obstacles and improve flight safety. The system has already
been fielded with German police aviation and the Thai air force.
Following successful evaluation by the U.S. Army’s Foreign
Comparative Testing program, EADS and US based DRS Technologies,
Inc. have established a cooperation to market the system in
the USA.
Eurocopter is also conducting an assessment of potential Life
Extension Program for the RAF Puma Mk1 helicopters fleet. The
planned upgrades will extend the helicopter's operational life
through around 2022. The upgrade for up to 35 Pumas Mk1 (to
be designated Puma HC Mk2) could include the new Turbomeca ‘Makila’
engines, a ‘glass’ cockpits, and new communications,
navigation and defensive systems. Their performance and payload
capability will be significantly enhanced, particularly in hot
and high climate conditions. The Pumas are providing the backbone
of the RAF’s fleet of medium lift helicopters, and continue
to play a vital role in operational theatres such as Iraq, delivering
high operational readiness levels.
The Russian company Polyot introduced the Mi-19, an airborne
command post based on a derivative of the Mi-17 Hip helicopter.
The Mi-19 is operating with tank and motorized infantry regiments
of the Russian Army. The Mi-19 is based on the Mi-8MT/Mi-17
platform and is equipped with communications, command and control
systems to support continuity and stability of tactical control
during combat operations. The Mi-19R is specially configured
to provide a regimental command post for supporting rocket artillery.
The system supports target acquisition and target generation,
coordination and control, by communicating with tactical combat,
and combat support elements, aircraft, helicopters and dismounted
units.
RAFAEL added a dramatic new capability to attack helicopters
– the ability to launch mini-UAVs while airborne. The
company demonstrated this capability on their attack helicopter
simulator (Helicoat). "The Skylite
(mini UAV) was originally developed as a canister
launched mini-UAV, so its modification into a helicopter-borne
system does not require drastic redesign", Menachem Dvir
from RAFAEL told Defense Update. The canister-launched Skylite
was displayed loaded on a quad Spike launcher, identical to
a launcher already cleared for helicopters, such as the Spanish
Tiger. "When on a mission, helicopters can deploy the Skylite
to scan an area without exposing themselves to anti-aircraft
threats. When targets are detected, Skylite will hand over the
images to the crew, for prosecution with precision guided weapons,
such as Spike ER. Attack
helicopters are already using UAVs flown by other units to facilitate
accelerated ‘kill chains’. Therefore, offering such
capability as an integral capability would pose the next logical
step" said Dvir.
A modified and modernized version of the Target Acquisition
Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS), originally
developed for the AH-64D Apache helicopter, is now being offered
as "Pathfinder" for installation on cargo and utility
helicopters, improving operations under night, bad weather as
well as 'brownout' conditions, the thick dust cloud raised by
the rotor as the helicopter hovers low above the ground, during
landing and takeoff. Pathfinder is based on the PNVS element
of the AH-64D system, offering pilots increased situational
awareness and reduced workload.
New Vision Systems Wash 'Brownout' Away
The system is based on a thermal imager designed specifically
to support takeoff and landing in unprepared areas and low-level,
contour and nap-of-the-earth flight profile. The system offers
a wide field of view (52 deg.) and rapid refresh rate, supporting
both head down (multifunction display) and head-up (helmet display)
modes. The system maximizes the pilot's unobstructed visibility,
allowing for earlier identification of obstacles at lower altitudes
and higher airspeeds. Continuous display of critical flight
data also allows safer flight under extreme conditions. A typical
helmet display that could work with the Pathfinder is the TopOwl
developed by Thales, selected by Lockheed Martin to demonstrate
the modernized PNVS. TopOwl displays high resolution, high accuracy
FLIR images and video on a mini-screen positioned near the pilot's
eyes. Thales is currently delivering 350 systems to fulfill
initial orders from 15 countries. The company is expecting production
capacities of more than 1,500 systems and more over the coming
years.
Another safety system for helicopters funded by DARPA, is the
'Sandblaster' program. The system will integrate synthetic vision
from multiple sensors to improve the pilot vision trough 'brownout
conditions'. Also integrated is a radar-based sensor information
with terrain-and obstacle data providing highly detailed three-dimensional
view of the landing area on a primary flight display, regardless
of outside visibility conditions. The system will provide enhanced
ground proximity warning assisting safe landing and takeoff
procedures. The synthetic screen, overlaid with symbology indicating
current and predicted flight conditions will help pilots land
the aircraft without using outside visual reference points.
Honeywell expects systems configured for the Black Hawk helicopter
cockpit will be ready for delivery by 2010.
Topics covered in this review:
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