Showing results 1 - 10 of 36 for the search terms: LUH.
Results for "LUH"
The USAF’s KC-X Aerial Tanker RFP
16-Nov-2009 11:12 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, EADS, Issues - Political, Lobbying, Northrop-Grumman, Power Projection, RFPs, Rumours, Specialty Aircraft, Spotlight articles, Transport & Utility
Old as the hills…
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DID’s FOCUS articles cover major weapons acquisition programs – and no program is more important to the USAF than its current bid to replace its aerial tanker fleet. In January 2007, the big question was whether there would be a competition for the USA’s KC-X proposal, which will cover 175 production aircraft and 4 test platforms. The cost for this first phase alone is likely to reach $35+ billion spread over about 20 years, but America’s 40-50 year old aerial tanker fleet demands new planes. Otherwise, unpredictable age or fatigue issues, like the ones its F-15A-D fleet experienced in 2008, could ground its aerial tankers – and with them, a substantial slice of the USA’s total airpower. KC-Y and KC-Z contracts may follow in subsequent decades, in order to replace all 530 KC-135s/ Boeing 707s (195 active; ANG 251; Reserve 84) that were delivered until 1965, as well as the USAF’s 59 larger KC-10 tankers delivered from 1979-1987.
In the end, it was Team Boeing’s KC-767 Advanced (767-200 derivative) vs. the Team Northrop Grumman KC-30B (Airbus A330-200 derivative), both within the Pentagon and in the halls of Congress. Most observers correctly pointed out that all this lobbying was important, since the financial stakes guaranteed a huge political fight no matter which side won. A fight that ended up sinking, and restarting, the entire program.
Recent additions revolve around the KC-X v2.0 draft RFP’s release, as the canceled competition is on again, with a decision expected by mid-2010. As expected, complaints regarding the structure and process have already begun. The latest additions include a pair of milestones for the Airbus entry, and political battles around the RFP’s chosen selection process…
India’s Light Helicopter Contract Hits Turbulence, Rises
04-Nov-2009 11:28 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - India, EADS, Europe - France, Helicopters & Rotary, Lobbying, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, RFPs, Rumours, Spotlight articles
Austrian Alouette-III
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In 2003, India issued an RFP for 197 light helicopters to replace its Army’s aging fleet of Chetaks (Aerospatiale SA316 Alouette III) and Cheetahs (SE316B Alouette II). These helicopters are old designs, but they have consistently proven themselves in high altitude operations, and remain useful as long as their airframe’s remain safe. The problem is, at their age that isn’t a very long time. India’s Army Aviation Corps needs replacements, and wants new helicopters with better performance and support characteristics. These new machines will perform a variety of armed light utility tasks, including ferrying loads of up to 75 kg to troops based at 23,000 feet above sea level in Kashmir, the Siachen Glacier, etc. Operation at these altitudes has traditionally been very challenging for helicopters, owing to reduced rotor lift in the thinning air.
Indian officials were discussing a deal worth between $500-$600 million to buy 60 helicopters outright, with the remaining 137 being built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Eurocopter’s AS550 C3 Fennec and Bell Textron’s 407 competed in the second and final round of summer trials, and as 2007 ticked toward a close, it looked like we had a winner. As often happens in India, however, the process ended up completely derailed. There’s a new RFP out – but inside lobbying from HAL has backed India off of its initial goal of 312 foreign helicopters.
Bell Helicopter’s withdrawal from the v2.0 RFP made this a smaller competition. Now there are reports that dithering by India’s procurement bureaucracy will make it a late one…
Algeria Switching Frigate Order, Buying Helicopters from Italy?
11-Oct-2009 12:07 EDT |
Related Stories: Africa, Finmeccanica, Helicopters & Rotary, Issues - International, Other Corporation, Rumours, Surface Ships - Combat
Italian FREMM
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According to London’s Asharq Al-Awsat, Algeria has shifted negotiations for 6 FREMM multirole frigates from France’s DCNS to Italy’s Fincantieri, while negotiating a contract with AgustaWestland for about 100 helicopters. The paper reports that Algeria will receive the frigates in 2011:
”...equipped with American anti-submarine missiles following a deal with Italy worth 4 billion euros. The deal replaces a similar agreement with France…. Algeria concluded another deal with Italy to sell 100 helicopters.”
Or are there deals at all? The latest report comes from UPI, which says the frigate order is now an international competition…
Continue reading…
Iraq Seeks Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters
23-Sep-2009 14:10 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, Guns - Artillery & Mortars, Helicopters & Rotary, Lockheed Martin, Middle East - Other, Missiles - Anti-Armor, Other Corporation, Rockets, Rolls Royce, Shells & Mortar Rounds, Support Functions - Other
YRH-70 w. Hydras
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In July 2008, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Iraq’s formal request to buy 24 helicopters. Based on the request, Iraq seems to be interested in Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters that act as scouts, perform light close air support, and escort other helicopters on dangerous missions.
The IqAF currently relies on a small force of Russia’s popular Mi-8/17 and refurbished Bell “Huey II” helicopters. While the Russian helicopters can be armed, their status as Iraq’s only medium utility helicopters makes them a poor fit for an ARH role. Instead, Iraq chose between 2 competitors: Bell’s 407, whose derivative ARH-70A won the competition in America but ran into trouble; and Boeing’s AH-6 “Little Bird” light attack helicopters used by US Special Forces. AH-6s are very effective in urban settings, and provided critical fire support during the 1991 “Blackhawk Down” incident.
The DSCA documents also included requests for airborne weapons – something the nascent post-Saddam IqAf has not really had to this point. Now, it appears that Iraq has picked its ARH winner – and issued production contracts. Even so, much still remains to be decided…
Continue reading…
Snakes and Rotors: The USMC’s H-1 Helicopter Program
22-Sep-2009 13:16 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, FOCUS Articles, Forces - Marines, GE, Helicopters & Rotary, IT - Software & Integration, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Simulation & Training, Thales
The US Marines’ helicopter force is aging on all levels, from CH-46 Sea Knights that are far older than their pilots, to the 1980s-era UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters that make up the Corps’ helicopter assault force. While the V-22 program has staggered along for almost 2 decades under accidents, technical delays, and cost issues, replacement of the USMC’s backbone helicopter assets has languished. Given the high-demand scenarios inherent in the current war, other efforts are clearly required.
Enter the H-1 program, the USMC’s plan to remanufacture older helicopters into new and improved UH-1Y utility and AH-1Z attack helicopters. The new versions would discard the signature 2-bladed rotors for modern 4-bladed improvements, redo the aircraft’s electronics, and add improved engines and weapons to offer a new level of performance. It seemed simple, but hasn’t quite worked out that way. The H-1 program has encountered its share of delays and issues, but the program survived its review, and continues on into the low-rate initial production stage and Initial Operational Capability.
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This article covers the H-1 helicopter programs’ rationales and changes, the upgrades involved in each model, program developments and annual budgets, the full timeline of contracts and key program developments, and related research sources. Recent additions include updated production plans, and an engineering change contract centered on the AH-1Z’s engines…
Boeing Remanufactures AH-64A Apaches to AH-64D Block II
21-May-2009 19:24 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, Helicopters & Rotary, Middle East - Other
Before: AH-64A
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With the collapse of the RAH-66 Comanche program, and rededication of its funding into the ARH-70 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), the UH-145 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), and other programs, the AH-64 Apache will remain the primary attack helicopter flown by the US and its allies over the coming decades. Unsurprisingly, some degree of remanufacturing and conversions to AH-64D status are either completed or ongoing for almost all AH-64A Apache owners.
In January 2007, Boeing announced a $1.149 billion extended Block II contract for the remanufacture of 96 US. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, as well as 30 AH-64Ds for the United Arab Emirates. Now, that number is growing…
- AH-64D Block II, “Extended Block II,” and “EBII+” [updated]
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings [updated]
Continue reading…
Comanche’s Child: The USA’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (updated)
07-May-2009 13:00 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Avionics, BAE, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, FOCUS Articles, Force Structure, Guns - under 20mm direct, Helicopters & Rotary, L3 Communications, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, Procurement Innovations, Project Methodologies, Sensors & Guidance, T&C - CSC
YRH-70 test, 2005
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The ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is a program by the United States Army to replace around 375 Bell Textron OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters. The Army’s initial replacement, the $14.6 billion RAH-66 Comanche program, was canceled in 2004. Instead, the Army would buy a larger number of less expensive platforms, with reduced capabilities.
Bell Helicopter Textron initially won the ARH competition, beating an MD Helicopter/Boeing consortium. As DID has noted re: a similar $500-600 million competition in India, Bell’s ARH-70 is a militarized version of its highly successful 407 single-engine commercial helicopter.
This will serve as DID’s FOCUS Article for the ARH program, providing updated background, details, and contract award information. Bell Helicopter continued to work on the ARH-70 at its own expense, but rising program costs killed the program. The OH-58Ds still need to be replaced, and Eurocopter is already testing an armed variant of the UH-72A that won the Army’s Light Utility Helicopter competition. Even as developments in the Army make it less certain that the next winner will be a helicopter solution…
CH-53K: The U.S. Marines’ HLR Helicopter Program
21-Apr-2009 12:48 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Budgets, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, Delivery & Task Orders, EADS, Europe - France, Europe - Other, Expeditionary Warfare, Force Structure, Forces - Marines, Helicopters & Rotary, Issues - Political, Lobbying, New Systems Tech, R&D - Contracted, Transformation, United Technologies
CH-53E, Cobra Gold 2002
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The U.S. Marines have a problem. The CH-53E Super Stallion medium-heavy lift helicopters they rely upon to move troops, vehicles, and supplies off of their ships are wearing out. Fast. Yet the pace demanded by the Global War on Terror is relentless, and usage rates are 3x normal. Attrition is taking its toll, and CH-53s are being recalled from “boneyard” storage at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ, in order to maintain fleet numbers in the face of recent losses and forced retirements. No flyable airframes are left, and by 2012-2015, replacements will be urgently needed.
Enter the Heavy Lift Replacement (HLR) program, also known as the CH-53X and given the formal designation CH-53K in April 2006. The program’s value is estimated at $4.2 billion, and its requirements will define the future of the US Marine Corps’ medium-heavy lift capabilities. In recent news, Sikorsky just received $3.04 billion for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the CH-53K aircraft, to include 4 SDD aircraft, 1 ground test vehicle, and associated program management and test support.
DID describes the CH-53K’s requirements, covers some of the potential improvements, and notes the treacherous political waters this program will need to survive, in order to wind up delivering US Marines the tools they’ll need to survive. The latest news involves additional sub-contracting by Sikorsky, and a GAO report that praises the program but reveals problems outside it…
LUH Program Win Lands Eurocopter in US Defense Market
21-Jan-2009 12:50 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Avionics, Contracts - Awards, EADS, Europe - France, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, Field Reports, Finmeccanica, Force Structure, Helicopters & Rotary, Issues - Political, L3 Communications, Lobbying, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Support & Maintenance, Thales
UH-72As: MEDEVAC
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In 2006, while the rest of EADS was targeted for divestment and beginning to face bottom line issues, Eurocopter continued to fly. Fresh off of major wins with Korea’s KHP development program ($1.3 billion) and Australia’s NH90 order ($1.5 bilion), in June 2006 Eurocopter racked up the biggest win of all: its EC145 will serve as the USA’s future Light Utility Helicopter, replacing existing UH-1s and OH-58s in a 345 helicopter, $3+ billion program between 2006-2015. Losing entries included Team MD Helicopters’ 902 Explorer NOTAR design, Bell-Textron’s 412EP Twin Huey, and Team AugustaWestland’s AB139. See DID coverage of the 4 competing teams.
Eurocopter’s LUH first carried the designation UH-145, before being renamed UH-72A Lakota at a December 2006 naming ceremony. This marks the first major US military program awarded to an EADS company; as such, it represents a breakthrough for both Eurocopter and its EADS parent. It would be followed by a much bigger breakthrough in the KC-X competition, a win whose path was paved in many ways by the UH-72’s success.
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. This is DID’s FOCUS Article regarding the LUH program, covering the program and its objectives, the winning bid team and industrial arrangements, and contracts. The latest additions include an additional handful for the Army…
Eurocopter Wins Additional Orders from American DHS
14-Sep-2008 14:06 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Domestic Security, Helicopters & Rotary
AS350 AStar
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EADS subsidiary American Eurocopter LLC recently announced a win in the US Department of Homeland Security’s Light Enforcement Helicopter (LEH) contract. This maximum $150 million indefinite-quantity/ indefinite-delivery contract will provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with up to 50 more AS350B3 helicopters. It begins with an initial order of 17 AS350B3s, and is structured as a base year and 4 one-year options. The first AS350B3 helicopter is to be delivered in 2009, ramping up to a target delivery schedule of one AS350B3 every 45 days. The helicopters will be built at American Eurocopter’s Mississippi facility, which also assembles the UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopter for the US Army.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection already owns 48 AS350s and 15 EC120s, with 5 more EC120s on order under a contract that could reach 55 helicopters. See also: EADS release | American Eurocopter release.
The AS350 Ecureuil/AStar is a single-engine helicopter, unlike the twin-engine AS355 which is promoted as a safer option over cities. Nevertheless, the A350B3 version packs enough power that it became the first helicopter to land on Mount Everest. It is popular in the USA, in service with the FBI, DEA, Department of Justice, and a wide array of police departments, and other state and federal agencies. The helicopter pictured above, for instance, serves with the California Highway Patrol (note to readers: never call them “CHiPS”).
