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I
n their new study The Market for Medium/Heavy Military
Rotorcraft, Forecast International (FI) projects that 4,319
such rotorcraft will be produced during the 10-year period
between 2010 and 2019. The value of this production is
estimated at $92.3 billion, in constant 2010 US dollars. In
general, the study defnes a medium/heavy rotorcraft as one
with a gross weight that equals or exceeds 6,804 kilogrammes
(15,000 lb).
The projections indicate that the medium/heavy segment of
the military rotorcraft market will experience strong growth in
the near term. Some decline in the market, though, is anticipated
in the longer term. On an annual basis, production in the medium/
heavy military segment is expected to grow by more than 25
percent in the frst half of the forecast period, from 391 rotorcraft
in 2010 to 500 in 2014. A combination of factors is driving this
growth, including an infux of new models in the global market
as well as continued robust rotorcraft procurement by the US
military services and others.
The steady rise in output, though, will not extend into the
second half of the forecast timeframe. Beginning 2015, annual
production in the medium/heavy military sector is projected to
go downward, dropping to a level of 376 units by 2019. By
this point of the forecast period, production for a number of
high-volume procurement programmes will be nearing an end,
and many of the production ramp-ups for once-new rotorcraft
models will have crested.
The study also includes market share projections company-
wise for the 10-year forecast timeframe. These projections indicate
that Sikorsky will lead the market during this period in both unit
production and production value. According to FIs senior aerospace
analyst Raymond Jaworowski, Sikorsky benefts from a solid
business foundation of strong US military procurement, as well as
export sales, of Black Hawk and Naval Hawk helicopters. Other
major players in the medium/heavy military rotorcraft market will
include Boeing, the NH Industries consortium (of AgustaWestland,
Eurocopter, and Fokker), and Russian Helicopters.
HIGH FLIGHT
Military helicopter programmes
Boeings heavy lift CH-47F.
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provided to the Navys LUH feet of fve UH-72A helicopters
to meet the Navys CLS requirement. It will provide the army a
total life-cycle support capability at a dollar per fight hour rate,
and is being subcontracted to HSI by EADS North America, the
prime contractor for the LUH programme.
Apache IOS fully operational
AgustaWestland has announced that the Apache Integrated
Operational Support (IOS) contract is now fully operational
just six months after contract award and 12 months earlier than
originally planned. In the six months since contract award,
AgustaWestland has moved from being a supplier to a capability
provider, enabling the MoDs Apache Project Team to be
reorganised, transitioning from being a provider to a decider,
defning the aircraft availability requirements to fully support
the needs of the Joint Helicopter Command. The Apache IOS
Contract was awarded end 2009 to AgustaWestland to support
the British Armys feet of 67 Apache AH Mk.1 helicopters until
their out of service date, with a 439 million contact covering the
initial period to March 2014. The fexible service is based upon
payment for fying hours achieved which is not only increasing
aircraft availability but also reducing through life costs, with a
saving of more than 50 million in the initial period.
NGC, Bell Helicopter to develop new VUAS
US war fghters will be able to keep tabs on their enemies for
longer periods of time, communicate more easily with their
commanders, and deliver more cargo to more remote locations
using the new Fire-X medium-range vertical unmanned aerial
system (VUAS) which was unveiled by Northrop Grumman and
Bell Helicopter. The two companies have joined forces to develop
Among the emerging trends in this market identifed by
the study is a new emphasis by the US military on technology
innovation and new product development. In recent years,
rotorcraft procurement by the U.S. military services has mostly
been of improved derivatives of already-existing helicopter
types rather than all-new, clean-sheet designs. In response, US
manufacturers have generally evolved their military helicopter
product lines around these requirements. Jaworowski says, In
many ways, the U.S. military has the domestic helicopter industry
for which it has been asking. Concerns about the stifing of
innovation within this industry, though, have in part prompted the
Pentagon to launch a number of initiatives intended to kickstart
research and development efforts.
FIs The Market for Light Military Rotorcraft study projects a
total of 2,026 rotorcraft in this market segment will be produced
during the 2009-2018 time period. The value of this production is
estimated at $20.8 billion in constant 2009 US dollars. It projects
that annual production of light military rotorcraft will rise each
year from 2009, when 163 are expected to be produced, through
2014, when production of 227 are forecast. Helping to drive this
near-term market growth are an infux of new light helicopter
models that have either just entered service or will soon do so.
The new models comprise a mix of all-new types and improved
versions of existing helicopter models.
Also contributing to growth in the market is the continuing
acquisition by US armed forces of signifcant numbers of light
helicopters. Bell is building AH-1Z attack helicopters and UH-
1Y transports for the US Marine Corps, while Eurocopter is
producing UH-72A models for the US Armys Light Utility
Helicopter programme.
On the horizon is an impending launch of another US
Army helicopter procurement effort, the Armed Aerial Scout
programme, which is expected to involve the acquisition of
more than 500 helicopters to replace OH-58D Kiowa Warriors
in the Army feet.
Though not even formally launched, the AAS programme
is already drawing considerable interest from rotorcraft
manufacturers both in the US and beyond, said Jaworowski.
As examples, he notes that unoffcial proposals have been made
by Boeing, Eurocopter, and Sikorsky regarding potential AAS
candidate rotorcraft.
After 2014, the studys projections indicate that production of
light military rotorcraft will decline somewhat for a couple of years
before rebounding by the end of the forecast period. The study
predicts that, over the 10-year timeframe, Eurocopter will lead the
market in unit production, with Bell, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd,
and AgustaWestland capturing the next three spots.
In general, the Forecast International study defnes as light
those military rotorcraft with a maximum gross weight of less
than 6,804 kilogrammes (15,000 pounds), though the study does
makes some minor exceptions to this rule in determining the
composition of the light class.
Sikorsky support for USN H-72As
Sikorsky has been chosen to provide a Contractor Logistics
Support (CLS) programme for US Navy Light Utility Helicopters
(LUH) at Patuxent River, Naval Air Station under its contract
with EADS North America. A modifed version of the existing
Army Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) programme will be
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Elbit
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and demonstrate the new rugged, high-capacity unmanned
aerial system based on the four-blade, single-engine Bell 407
helicopter. First fight of Fire-X is expected by the end of 2010.
The new system also represents Northrop Grummans entry in
an anticipated US Navy competition in 2011 to demonstrate a
new medium-range UAS. Fire-X will incorporate Fire Scouts
modular, feld-proven architecture that accommodates a variety
of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and
communications payloads. It also provides complementary
capabilities for missions that demand larger payloads (up to 3000
pounds), longer endurance (more than 14 hours) and robust cargo
hauling (up to 2646 pounds external).
300th AW139 delivered to Italian Coast Guard
The Italian Coast Guard has taken delivery of its frst AW139
medium twin helicopter which will perform a range of missions
including maritime patrol, search and rescue (SAR) and
emergency medical services. Three more AW139s will be
delivered this year and the frst Italian Coast Guard aircraft of
this type is also the 300th AW139 delivered so far. The AW139
is equipped with a wide range of SAR equipment including an
external rescue hoist, cargo hook, wire strike protection system,
search/weather radar, FLIR/LLTV system, NVG compatible
cockpit, night sun searchlight, external loudspeaker system,
emergency foatation system and external life rafts.
Multi-role EC645 military helicopter makes debut
The newest member of Eurocopters military helicopter family
was frst displayed at the recently concluded Eurosatory defence
exhibition with the EC645s unveiling as a highly capable,
medium-sized multirole platform for armed reconnaissance,
fre support, observation, airlift missions and search & rescue.
The EC645 is the militarised version of Eurocopters EC145
helicopter, which is in widespread use worldwide for homeland
security, para-military, law enforcement, search and rescue and
medical evacuation missions, along with other applications. The
US Army is currently acquiring 345 EC145s in the UH-72A
confguration as its new Light Utility Helicopter, while a US-
specifc armed version called the AAS-72X is proposed for the
US militarys Armed Aerial Scout requirement.
Thales EW stations for French Army and Navy
helicopters
Thales has been selected by the French defence procurement
agency (DGA) to supply 50 electronic warfare programming
stations for seven families of helicopters in service with the
French armed forces. The helicopters are the upgraded Cougar,
EC725 HUS, Tiger standard 1 & 2, NH90, Gazelle and Puma
operated by French Army aviation; and the Panther in service with
the French Navy. The electronic warfare programming stations
are scheduled for delivery by the end of the frst quarter of 2012,
following customer qualifcation starting in late 2011. Twenty-six
stations have been ordered for French Army Aviation and 24 for
the French Navy. A key beneft of the contract is commonality:
the new stations can be used with all seven families of helicopters,
whereas previous stations were restricted to a single family.
Thales self-protection systems equip the majority of
helicopters in service with the French armed forces, providing
aircraft and their crews with the crucial protection they need
against a broad array of threats - in particular surface-to-air and
air-to-air missiles - in all types of theatres of operations.
Eurocopter to cooperate with Boeing
Together with its competitor Boeing, Eurocopter intends to develop
a new transport helicopter for the German armed forces, the military
in other European countries and the US forces. They are seeking to
create a partnership in which Eurocopter is the main contractor for
clients in Europe, and Boeing fulfls the same role for American
customers. This is the only recognisable, joint transatlantic project
of the present decade, said CEO Lutz Bertling at ILA 2010.
AgustaWestland and Thales unveil ASaC capability
AgustaWestland and Thales have unveiled an enhanced Airborne
Surveillance and Control (ASaC) capability. The low cost, low
risk capability builds upon the combat proven Sea King Mk7
ASaC Cerberus mission system and Searchwater 2000 radar,
to provide enhanced operational effectiveness through the use
of the AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter. The two companies
have teamed to jointly explore the potential for this capability
in advance of the keenly expected MoD requirement to replace
the Sea King Mk7 ASaC aircraft after its planned retirement in
2016. The palletised Searchwater 2000 radar is deployed through
the rear ramp aperture when in operation and stows in the cabin
when not in use, enabling rapid transit between tasking. Two
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Boeing IDS
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Eurocopter
Tiger HAD.
The Lynx.
aft-facing modernised mission crew stations are located at the
forward end of the cabin.
Australia to purchase MH-60Rs
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency notifed Congress on 7
July of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of 24 MH-60R
Sea Hawk multi-mission helicopters and associated equipment,
parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $2.1
billion. The Government of Australia has requested a possible
sale of 24 MH-60Rs, 60 T-700 GE 401C Engines (48 installed
and 12 spares), communication equipment, support equipment,
spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data
and publications, personnel training and training equipment, US
government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics
support services. The estimated cost is $2.1 billion.
MBDA selected for Spanish Tigers self protection
MBDA is to supply SAPHIR-M decoy systems to provide self
defence on the 24 Tiger HAD attack helicopters ordered by
Spain from Eurocopter in December 2005. The contract has
been awarded to MBDA by Indra Sistemas, the prime contractor
responsible for integrating the self protection suite onto the
Spanish Tiger. MBDAs Saphir-M self protection decoy
system provides protection against the full threat spectrum,
particularly against the infrared and electromagnetic threat.
The system can operate in either automatic or semiautomatic
mode in conjunction with Indra Sistemas ALR-400 and EADS
MILDS AN-AAR 60 missile detectors. Saphir-M has also been
selected for the German, Australian and French Tiger feets as
well as for the European and export NH90 helicopters.
Sikorsky upgrades RSLFAC Black Hawks
Sikorsky Aerospace Services has signed a contract with the
Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command (RSLFAC) to
upgrade its feet of Black Hawk helicopters from the UH-60A
model configuration to the more modern UH-60L aircraft
confguration. The A-to-L upgrade programme incorporates key
improvements consisting of a T700 to T701D engine upgrade for
increased power and reliability, upgraded fight controls, avionics
and instrument panel modifcations. Additionally, the upgraded
H-60 helicopters will be equipped with a new Aircraft Flight
Control Computer (AFCC) as well as new wiring harness, high
speed shaft and seal lead acid battery.
Lynx upgrades for British Army
AgustaWestland has been awarded a 42 million contract extension
by the UK Ministry of Defence for the upgrade of 10 more British
Army Lynx Mk.9 helicopters with LHTEC CTS800-4N engines.
This contract extension follows on from a contract signed in
December 2008 for the initial upgrade of 12 aircraft, the frst four
of which were upgraded and delivered back to the British Army in
just 12 months. Delivery of the additional ten Lynx Mk.9A aircraft
back to the British Army will start in early 2011 and be completed
in early 2012. The major upgrade requires top deck structure of
the aircraft to be modifed and ftted with new engine bays and
cowls to accommodate the CTS800-4N engines. The cockpit is
also modifed to accommodate new engine controls and the engine
instrument display system. Additionally minor changes are made
to the transmission system and aircraft structure to enable the
increased power of the engines to be fully utilised.