28 Desember 2011

Airborne Low Frequency Sonar for MH-60R ASW helicopters (photo : Raytheon)

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, R.I. is being awarded an $80,830,000 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-11-C-0077) to provide for the procurement of 25 MH-60R AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) systems for the Royal Australian Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex, France (68 percent), and Portsmouth, R.I. (32 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

(US DoD)

28 Oktober 2011

A nearly complete MH-60R at Lockheed Martin's Owego facility. (photo : Australian Aviation)

The first two of 24 Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin MH-60R naval helicopters being acquired for the Royal Australian Navy under Air 9000 Phase 8 could be delivered as early as December 2013, according to Lockheed Martin.

Under Air 9000 Phase 8 the RAN requires delivery of its first MH-60R ‘Romeos’ from mid 2014, but Australia has requested early delivery of some of the aircraft. Consequently, under current planning the first two MH-60Rs will be delivered in December 2013, followed by seven in 2014, seven in 2015, and the last eight in 2016, according to George Barton, director of naval helicopter programs at Lockheed Martin’s MS2 business.

Lockheed Martin is hopeful an acquisition contract for the Australian Romeos will be signed by the end of this year, while a through life support contract will be signed in 2013. The acquisition contract will also incorporate a commitment that Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky place work with Australian industry under their respective Global Supply Chain agreements with the Australian government (Lockheed Martin signed its GSC with the Australian government last January, Sikorsky is expected to sign a GSC around the time of the Romeo acquisition contract). Then Australian Industry Capability work packages will be negotiated over a three month timeframe once the acquisition contract is signed.

“We’ve got an awful lot of work to do this year with regard to the Australian Air 9000 [Phase 8] program,” Barton told Australian journalists on October 27. “We just completed a through life support survey at Nowra, and we spent two weeks over there going through the facilities, a site survey meeting with the DMO reps fleshing out the details of exactly what they are going to want. We have a meeting here in November to discuss some of the development options, and then in December there is a scheduled program review with the US Navy and Australia. So a lot of work is going to be ongoing between the two teams and industry will be supporting those.”

Meanwhile, production of the Romeo at Sikorsky’s Stratford, Connecticut, and Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York plants, is continuing apace, with aircraft currently being delivered to the US Navy at a rate of approximately three per month. The 100th Romeo for the US Navy was delivered mid this year, while a new multiyear contract to take production for the US Navy through to 2018 is expected to be signed in the December-January timeframe. The helicopter is also currently being marketed to Denmark, South Korea and Qatar.

(Australian Aviation)

26 Oktober 2011

Northrop Grumman AQS-24A (all photos : Northrop Grumman)

ANNAPOLIS, Md., -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been competitively selected to supply the AQS-24A airborne mine-hunting system to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Under the initial contract, Northrop Grumman's Undersea Systems business unit will deliver the airborne mine-hunting system to Kawasaki Heavy Industries for integration into Japan's new Airborne Mine Countermeasures MCH-101 helicopter.

AQS-24A Common Post Mission Analysis Station

"The combination of our proven high performance, low cost and ease of integration in the MCH-101 airframe makes the AQS-24A the ideal choice for Japan's helicopter-based mine-hunting needs," said Tom Jones, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Undersea Systems business unit. "As the only operational airborne mine-hunting search system in the U.S. Navy, the AQS-24A has demonstrated very high reliability in the field with the Navy's Helicopter Mine Countermeasures squadrons."

AQS-24A Minehunting System

The AQS-24A and its predecessors, the AQS-24 and the AQS-14, have been the only operational airborne mine hunting search systems used by the U.S. Navy for the past 27 years. The AQS-24A is a high speed mine-hunting system that is primarily towed from the MH-53E helicopter, but has been easily adapted to the smaller Japanese MCH-101 aircraft. With a track record of proven reliability and performance across the globe, the system's high-resolution side-scan sonar detects, localizes and classifies both bottom and moored mines in real time at high area coverage rates.

AQS-24A Deployment

The AQS-24A contains a laser line scanner that provides precision optical identification of underwater mines and other objects of interest. The AQS-24A allows for simultaneous operation of the sonar and laser, which significantly improves area coverage rate, shortens the mine clearance timeline and alleviates unnecessary maintenance cycles. Advanced navigation controls and processing provide highly accurate target positioning.

(Northrop Grumman)

23 Agustus 2011

SH-2G Seasprite of the RNZN (photo : Claire Gow)

New Zealand is finding its five Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters increasingly difficult to maintain, with the issue resulting in fewer flight hours than targeted.

In New Zealand's 2009/2010 fiscal year, Royal New Zealand Navy Seaspritesachieved just 882 flying hours, compared with a target range of 1,240h to 1,370h, said a report issued by the nation's defence ministry.

"That target was itself reassessed during the year to 904h, in reflection of the difficulty being experienced in keeping enough helicopters available," the report said.

New Zealand aims to have three Seasprites deployed on its Anzac-class frigates at any one time. This requires that four aircraft be operational, with the fourth required for training and certification.

In October 2010 just one Seasprite was available, with two helicopters undergoing heavy maintenance and two others awaiting heavy maintenance.

"Corrosion and vibration damage are the main maintenance issues on the Seasprite," said the ministry. "Regular operation of the Seasprite in a corrosive, salt-laden environment exacerbates maintenance issues.

"Good prevention and husbandry can slow, but not stop, the rate of airframe deterioration."

It added that "vibration damage is endemic to helicopters and worsens in line with hours flown rather than physical age. The only way to ameliorate is to lower flying hours, which is not a viable option if capability is to be maintained."

New Zealand has identified several other problems, including long lead times for spares and engineering support from manufacturer Kaman.

It also identified problems with New Zealand Defence Force training and processes.

The report makes a number of recommendations, most focused on addressing procedural and training shortcomings. It makes no mention of possibly replacing the aircraft.

The Super Seasprite entered service in New Zealand in 2001.

The Egyptian air force and Polish navy are the only other operators of the type, withFlightglobal's HeliCAS database recording them as having active fleets of 10 and three, respectively.

(FlightGlobal)

02 Agustus 2011

Z-9EC Anti Submarine Warfare helicopter (image : CATIC/RTN)

A delegation from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corperation (CATIC) visited Thailand and accepted by Royal Thai Navy . Delegation provides wide information about the Z-9 helicopter especially Z-9EC a naval ASW helicopter.

Z-9 helicopter is a license-built version of the French Eurocopter Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The Z9EC is a light ship-borne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter powered by two ARRIEL2C engines. It is mainly equipped with advanced dipping sonar system, torpedo and searching radar for fulfilling the anti-submarine mission. A harpoon system is equipped for its take-off and landing on ships. In addition, it can be used for search and rescue (SAR) mission.

The ASW version used by the Chinese Navy and Pakistani Navy.

(Royal Thai Navy)

16 Juni 2011

MH-60R naval helicopter (all photos : Lockheed Martin)

New Naval Combat Helicopters

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Australian Government had approved the acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters at a cost of over $3 billion.

The 2009 Defence White Paper committed the Government to equipping naval warships with a new combat helicopter capable of conducting a range of maritime missions with advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities and the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles.

This announcement delivers on that commitment.

The new helicopters will replace the Navy’s current combat helicopter capability provided by 16 Seahawk S-70B-2 helicopters and will also provide the air to surface strike capability which was to have been provided by the cancelled Seasprite program.

This decision follows a 15-month competitive acquisition process involving the Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin built MH-60R and the NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 NFH assembled by Australian Aerospace.

This competitive process has ensured value for money for the tax payer.

The Australian Government has chosen the ‘Romeo’ helicopter because it represents the best value for money for taxpayers and was the lowest risk option.



The ‘Romeo’ is a proven capability currently operated by the United States Navy. The United States Navy has accepted around 100 ‘Romeos’ which have accumulated 90,000 flying hours, including on operational deployments.

Interoperability with Australia’s Alliance partner, the United States, is also a significant advantage of this helicopter.

The helicopters are largely military off-the-shelf built by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin and will be purchased through the Foreign Military Sales process from the US Navy.

Defence has signed a Letter of Agreement for the acquisition with the United States Government.

The first two helicopters will arrive in mid-2014 for testing and evaluation with operations expected to commence in mid-2015.

Acquisition of 24 ‘Romeos’ means that Navy will have the capacity to provide at least eight warships with a combat helicopter at the same time, including ANZAC Class frigates and the new Air Warfare Destroyers. The remainder will be based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales, and will be in various stages of the regular maintenance and training cycle.

They will be equipped with a highly sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missile and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo.

The Government will work with Australian Small-to-Medium Enterprises to identify opportunities to form part of the ‘Romeo’ global supply chain.

The Government has established a joint working group between Defence and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research to progress Australian industry involvement in the project.

(Australian DoD)

22 Mei 2011

Royal Thai Navy's Super Lynx 300 ASW helicopter (photo : USNavy)

UKTI Defence & Security Organisation (DSO) is 'in discussions' with various South-East Asian militaries to upgrade their Lynx helicopters for the maritime environment, according to a senior official.

Speaking to Shephard at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) in Singapore, Keith Smith, UKTI DSO Regional Director East described how a number of Lynx-operating nations were 'seriously' considering such upgrades particularly in the realm of anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Referring to the 33 AgustaWestland Lynx helicopters currently being operated in the region, Smith said: 'There is the potential to re-role these helicopters for different uses and quite a few Lynx operators in the region are seriously looking at the evolution of Lynx and Wildcat and ASW.

'Merlin ASW is a capable and very attractive, new generation, six-ton military helicopter and Wildcat is unique in that it will be used by the [British] army and [Royal] navy and all will be “marinised”,' he continued.

Existing Lynx users in the region include the Republic of Korea Navy which has 12 Super Lynx Mk 99 and 13 Super Lynx Mk 99A aircraft; the Royal Malaysian Navy which has six Super Lynx Mk 100s; and the Royal Thai Navy with two Super Lynx 300s.

'Discussions are ongoing but I cannot comment further,' Smith added. 'The UK is committed to 62 airframes so potentially, it would be very attractive for other nations to piggy back on the back of that.

'All potential deals are bespoke. Economics and throughlife costs savings are common throughout. I see a scenario where quite a small number of platforms generate a long term pattern of benefit for the local economy. To be able to maintain and operate [helicopter assets] under their own steam, there has to be a certain degree of technology transfer,' he said.

(Shephard)

21 Mei 2011

Malaysia's Super Lynx ASW helicopter (photo : Jetphotos)

SINGAPORE — Concerns over China’s growing submarine fleet are leading Asian nations to invest in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.

The Malaysian Navy uses six Westland SuperLynx helicopters for ASW, but wants ASW helicopters with more capability and plans to buy six, a senior official from the navy tells Aviation Week on the sidelines of this week’s Imdex naval defense show in Singapore. The government has included the requirement in the country’s 10th Malaysia Plan 2011-2015, he says.

The official says the navy wants medium-lift helicopters that have long range and endurance. He declines to name the helicopters in the running. But it is understood the contenders are the Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R and the AgustaWestland AW159.

South Korea also uses SuperLynx helicopters for ASW missions, but it is also considering buying the MH-60R, a South Korean navy official tells Aviation Week. AgustaWestland also is in the running. Besides the AW159, AgustaWestland has the AW101, a much larger ASW helicopter powered by three engines. The AW101 is out of the Malaysia competition because it is too big for Malaysia’s ships.

Singapore's S-70B ASW helicopter (photo : Cyberpioneer)

In the next couple of months South Korea is expected to decide whether it will seek to buy the helicopters from overseas or go for a locally developed product, an industry executive familiar with the situation says. Industry executives anticipate a request for proposals will be issued at year’s end.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is proposing a naval variant of the Surion, the utility helicopter that KAI is developing, for the Korean army, with help from Eurocopter. The Surion is due to enter service next year. But it will be a challenge for KAI to develop a naval variant within a schedule and cost that meets the navy’s needs. The country also has a requirement for airborne mine countermeasures helicopters.

Another procurement that is in the works, but will take a few years to become a firm deal is Indonesia’s requirement for ASW helicopters. Indonesia’s navy has no ASW helicopters but wants to buy some, an Indonesian navy official says. He was unable to say when the ASW helicopters will be purchased and says it is up to the government. The navy plans to station the ASW helicopters on its Sigma 9113-class corvettes, he says. Indonesia recently took delivery of four aircraft from a Dutch shipbuilder, and a fifth is under construction in Indonesia, with more to follow.

Thai's S-70 ASW helicopter (photo : Military Images)

Thailand, meanwhile, plans to purchase ASW upgrade kits for its Sikorsky S-70-7 helicopters, a Thai Navy official tells Aviation Week. Thailand bought six of the helos in the late 1990s, but to save money it never purchased the ASW kits, which include dipping sonar.

Mark Jarvis, Lockheed Martin’s director of design and production on the P-3, disclosed late last year that Singapore had issued a letter requesting information on the aircraft.

If Singapore purchases the P-3, it is likely to get former U.S. Navy P-3Cs in a similar configuration to the P-3Cs that Taiwan is getting from 2012 onward, Jarvis says. Taiwan already has S-70 ASW helicopters.

Asian countries consider boosting their ASW capabilities an urgent matter because of China’s submarine fleet and increased assertiveness.

(Aviation Week)

25 Februari 2011

MH-60R anti aubmarine warfare helicopter (photo : Sikorsky)

Lockheed Martin has issued a request for information to Australian firms to supply weapons pylons for the MH-60R multi-mission naval helicopter.

"Growth in orders for the MH-60R has resulted in an urgent need for an expanded supply base, and Australian industry has a depth of capability that would be an ideal supplement to our dedicated supplier base," says George Barton, Lockheed Martin's naval helicopter programme head.

The pylons are located on either side of the helicopter and carry either missiles or torpedoes. The selection process is likely to be concluded by the end of 2011, says Lockheed Martin.

The MH-60R is competing against the NH Industries NH-90 to fill a 24-helicopter requirement for the Royal Australian Navy, the AIR 9000 Phase 8. Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky submitted their original proposal for the competition in July last year, at which time they said a decision was likely to be announced in the first quarter of 2011.

The MH-60R is being pitched by 'Team Romeo', which comprises Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, General Electric, Raytheon, and CAE.

Separately, in early February the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified congress of a possible military sale to Australia of a 10-year, $1.6 billion through life support programme for the MH-60R including helicopters, parts, and logistical support.

(Flight Global)

03 Februari 2011

US has offered Australia a fixed-price, $3.7 billion deal for 24 MH-60R helicopters and 10 years’ support. (photo : US Navy)

WASHINGTON, – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Feb. 1 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of a 10-year Through-Life-Support (TLS) for 24 MH-60R MultiMission Helicopters, and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.6 billion.

The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of ten year Through-Life-Support (TLS) for (24) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters. The sustainment effort will include spare and repair parts provisioning, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $1.6 billion.

Australia, one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific, contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Iraq and in Afghanistan have served U.S. national security interests.

The proposed sale will provide Australia the resources necessary to properly maintain its 24 MH-60R helicopters. Australia, which already has S-70B helicopters in its inventory, will have no difficulty performing the actions necessary to properly sustain these additional helicopters.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut; Lockheed Martin of Owego; New York; GE of Lynn, Massachusetts; and the Raytheon Corporation of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require temporary assignment of approximately 20 U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Australia on an intermittent basis over the life of the case.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

(DSCA)

19 Januari 2011

Singapore's S-70B ASW helicopter for Formidable class frigates (photo : Mindef)

With the return of all six Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters to Singapore in October 2010, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) reached a significant milestone in its transformation into a 3rd Generation fighting force.

At a ceremony marking the inauguration of the naval helicopters into 123 Squadron (SQN) on 18 Jan, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen expressed confidence in the squadron's ability to "build on its tradition of cross-service integration as it embarks on a new chapter of air-sea operations."

Set up in 1979, 123 SQN initially operated as a basic training wing for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). In 1992, the squadron was restructured to support the Singapore Army, with the introduction of Singapore's first dedicated armed helicopter, the AS550 Fennec (which has been retired from service).

With the addition of the S-70B naval helicopter, the squadron will continue to provide cross-Service interoperability between the RSAF and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

"The naval helicopter and frigate are able to fight together as an integrated system," said Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC) Jonathan Tan, Commanding Officer of 123 SQN. "In a way, the helicopter serves as the extended arm of the ship it is embarked on, allowing personnel to act faster, see further and make more decisive operational decisions."

As a helicopter pilot himself, SLTC Tan described naval-based operations as "challenging" but not without their own sense of satisfaction. "Operating on board a ship presents its own set of challenges. The ship is in constant motion and that makes it harder to land the aircraft," he explained.

Details of ASW equipment on S-70B (image : Mindef)

The integration of the RSN's frigates with the naval helicopters enables the frigates to undertake anti-surface and anti-submarine missions at much longer ranges. Each frigate's sophisticated command and communications suite allows it to network with a wide array of SAF assets.
The RSN's S-70B naval helicopters carry a dipping sonar system which can be lowered below sea surface to detect submarines which may be lurking in the vicinity. It also has the capability to fire torpedoes.

Each helicopter is operated by two pilots from the RSAF, and a Tactical Coordination Officer (TACCO) and a Sensor Supervisor (SENSUP) from the RSN. Cross-service integration between the crew is thus crucial to the success of their missions.

"It's natural for SAF people to gel together to achieve their missions," said Major (MAJ) Eng Cheng Heng, who serves as a TACCO in 123 SQN.

Due to differences in the way individual Services communicate with each other, there were some teething problems when the RSAF and RSN first got together to operate the S-70B naval helicopters. "We are moving closer towards a common operating language and have developed procedures to further streamline operations," said MAJ Eng.

"It was an eye-opening experience to be able to see more of how the RSAF works since the SAF is moving towards integrated operations," he added of his experience in the United States (US).
Personnel from the squadron trained intensively with the US Navy from March to September 2010, as part of the Peace Triton detachment stationed in San Diego.

First Warrant Officer (1WO) Permjit Singh, Chief Aircrew Specialist in 123 SQN spoke highly of his RSN counterparts' hospitality. "Whenever we came on board during training, the ship crew would reduce its frequency of piping calls in order not to disturb our rest," he said. Akin to public address systems in the civilian world, piping systems on board warships are used to broadcast meal times, page for certain personnel, amongst other operational messages.

Following the inauguration, 123 SQN will continue training to achieve full operational capability.

(Mindef)