DARPA Seeks Next Gen Aircraft Demonstrator | Elbit To Supply Artillery Rocket Systems To NATO Member | China Gets New Helicopter Developed

Americas

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks a high-speed, runway-independent next-generation aircraft demonstrator. DARPA is working with the US Special Operations Command on the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program to validate scalable concepts and technologies for different size military aircraft. The SPRINT project intends to develop an air platform that can cruise at over 400 knots (741 kilometers/460 miles per hour), hovering over austere environments that lack runways.

Bell Textron has announced a collaboration with fellow American aerospace firm Pratt & Whitney on the US Air Force High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) program. Bell is among 11 companies from over 200 entrants to receive market research funding for HSVTOL development. According to the Texas-based firm, Pratt & Whitney will provide cutting-edge propulsion solutions to support the aircraft.

CAE USA won a $35.9 million deal for the production, delivery, installation, verification testing, and associated logistics support of one exportable, non-motion MH-60R Tactical Operational Flight Trainer configured for the Republic of Korea. Work will take place ind Florida, Maryland, Quebec, Florida and South Korea. Expected completion will be in December 2026.

Middle East & Africa

Israel company Elbit Systems announced it was awarded two contracts with an aggregate value of $252 million to supply artillery rocket systems to a European NATO member country. Under the first contract in an amount of $119 million, Elbit Systems will supply a battalion’s worth of ATMOS (Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer) 155mm/52 caliber truck-mounted howitzers systems. The contract will be performed over a period of two years.

Europe

Ukraine has used an indigenous guided artillery rocket with greater range than the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) provided by the US and allies, a Ukrainian official revealed. The Vilkha-M can strike a target 110 kilometers (68 miles) away, the first deputy head of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries, Ivan Vinnyk, told The War Zone. In comparison, the GMLRS round, fired from the HIMARS and the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, has a range of 80 kilometers (50 miles).

The US Army V Corps will launch a project to enhance the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) capabilities of partner nations in Europe. Called the European HIMARS Initiative (EHI), the effort focuses on a “multi-faceted approach to build alliance lethality, interoperability and field artillery expertise.”

Asia-Pacific

Wu Ximing, designer of the Chinese Z-10 attack helicopter, recently told China Central Television (CCTV) that a new helicopter is being develop by Chinese aerospace engineers. Speaking prior to the ongoing annual Two Sessions, an annual parliamentary meeting in China, Wu was quoted as saying that it is not enough to simply mimic foreign helicopter designs when developing a new helicopter for China. Instead, helicopter products must be developed to suit China’s specific needs, integrate with current and future technological advancements, and align with development goals 20 to 30 years into the future.

Today’s Video

WATCH: HSVTOL Light SLURRP

Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract

In July 2012, the US military signed another huge contract with Sikorsky. With production of the Army’s HH/UH-60M, and the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, all in full swing, there’s no question about the need for future orders. In that environment, multi-year contracts allow efficiencies in purchasing, and security of staffing, throughout Sikorsky’s supply chain. These new helicopter types are also available to Foreign Military Sales class customers, under the American contract’s advantageous pricing and terms. The UH-60M, MH-60S and MH-60R models have already inked export deals, and official requests indicate that more deals are in the pipeline.

The new multi-year 2013-2017 contract could be worth up to $11.7 billion, and follows a 5-year, multi-service “MYP-VII” contract in December 2007. Like its predecessor, it covers UH-60M Black Hawk troop transport and light cargo helicopters, Army HH-60M SAR (Search And Rescue) / MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation) helicopters, and the US Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.