FIRST ITALIAN AIR FORCE HH-101A "CAESAR" ENTERS SERVICE

The Italian Air Force celebrated today the entry into operational service of their first AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter, designated the HH-101A “CAESAR”, during an official ceremony at Cervia Air Base. A total of four HH-101A “CAESAR” helicopters, out of a total requirement of 15, have been delivered from the Finmeccanica Helicopter Division’s assembly line in Yeovil (UK) to date, and will be used to perform personnel recovery and special forces missions. The HH-101As will also support search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and slow mover intercept operations, countering small aircraft threats, to provide effective support to the Italian community.
finmeccanica

Poland To Cut Caracal Order, Reconsider Black Hawk, AW149

Poland’s has announced plans to decrease the amount of the Caracal EC725 helicopters the country is to acquire from Airbus Helicopters. This would allow the ministry to also purchase Black Hawk and AW149 helos from Sikorsky and AgustaWestland, respectively.
The decision comes following the forming of Poland’s new government in November by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. Last April, the previous Cabinet decided to order 60 multi-role helos from Airbus Helicopters to replace the Polish military’s Soviet-designed Mil Mi-8, Mi-14 and Mi-17 copters.
Sikorsky’s local subsidiary PZL Mielec makes the Black Hawk, while AgustaWestland’s PZL Swidnik offshoot produces the AW149.
defensenews

Royal Navy receives first updated Merlin HC3

The Royal Navy has taken delivery of its first AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HC3 helicopter with an initial package of upgrades to support maritime operations.
Modified under the Ministry of Defence’s 25-aircraft Merlin Life-Sustainment Programme, the rotorcraft is one of seven being adapted during a first-phase activity. This will cover for the retirement of the Commando Helicopter Force’s last Westland Sea King HC4s in March 2016 and the updated aircraft are due to reach initial operating capability status “in spring 2016”, AgustaWestland says.
Updates include a folding main rotor head and a revised main undercarriage, which, along with new deck lashing rings, will allow for operations from naval vessels, plus communication system updates.
flightglobal

UK To Remanufacture their 'Apaches' to AH-64E Version

The United Kingdom has requested the remanufacture of fifty WAH-64 Mk 1 Attack Helicopters to AH-64E Apache Guardian Helicopters with one hundred and ten (110) T-700-GE-701D Engines (100 installed and 10 spares), the refurbishment of fifty-three (53) AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sights (M-TADS) (50 installed and 3 spares), the refurbishment of fifty-three (53) AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (PNVS) (50 installed and 3 spares), the refurbishment of fifty-two (52) AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCR) (50 installed and 2 spares) with fifty-five (55) Radar Electronics Units (Longbow Component) (50 installed and 5 spares), fifty-two (52) AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (50 installed and 2 spares), sixty (60) AAR-57(V) 3/5 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) with 5th Sensor and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser (50 installed and 10 spares), one hundred and twenty (120) Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with Inertial Navigation (100 installed and 20 spares), and three hundred (300) Apache Aviator Integrated Helmets.
dsca

Last of Batch of Nine T129s Delivered to Turkish Army

The last in a batch of nine early entry packages of T129 attack helicopters was recently delivered to the Turkish Army.
Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), maker of the T129 under license from the Italian-British company AgustaWestland, said that the chopper was delivered to the Turkish Army on July 31.
TAI started to deliver the T129 to the Turkish Army in April 2014. Under the full program, a batch of 59 helicopter gunships will be delivered. TAI officials say T129 features 97 percent sovereign production.
The Turkish Army deploys the T129 gunships at its southeastern military bases in Turkey to support anti-terror operations against Kurdish rebels fighting for autonomy.
The T129 choppers are Turkey’s first locally made platforms under license. The attack and reconnaissance helicopters are outfitted with an arsenal of Hellfire missiles and guided rockets.
In addition to the Turkish Army, TAI hopes to sell the T129 to foreign markets.
defensenews

RAF Puma helos prepare for deployment to Afghanistan

The United Kingdom is to deploy its newly upgraded Westland/Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC.2 medium transport helicopters to Afghanistan this month, just weeks after initial operating capability (IOC) for the type was declared, as part of Operation 'Toral', the UK's contribution to the NATO 'Resolute Support' training and assistance mission. They will replace the three Chinook helicopters that have been flying in support of the Afghan National Army and Afghan Security Ministries in Kabul since late 2014.
The HC.2 is earmarked to remain in service until 2025, but Gp Capt Paterson said that he could see this being date being pushed back. "You can break the Puma down in four hours, load into the back of a C-17 [transport aircraft], fly it to anywhere in the world, and assemble it again in four hours. That's not something you can do with any other [UK military] helicopter.
janes

AgustaWestland lobbying against United Kingdom's possible AH-64E Buy

The UK's efforts to sustain its Apache attack helicopter capability are being seriously hampered by lobbying from AgustaWestland.
With the British Army's 66 AgustaWestland-Boeing WAH-64D helicopters soon needing replacement due to obsolescence, the Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) preferred option of buying the new AH-64E directly from the United States is being delayed by AgustaWestland lobbying for work on any such procurement programme.
Boeing has offered to sell the AH-64E to the UK at GBP20 million (USD30 million) per aircraft (taking advantage of a US Army multi-year procurement package). If the helicopters were to be licence-built or modified by AgustaWestland, as was the case when the WAH-64D Block I helicopters were first acquired in the 1990s, this sum would more than double to GBP44 million.
Deciding how to proceed is becoming ever more urgent for the MoD, as the processing chips that drive the early-model Apache systems are no longer made, and the stockpile that Boeing has built up is expected to be depleted by around 2017.
Defence chiefs fear that delays of this nature may result in a capability gap between the older WAH-64Ds having to be retired around this date, and a replacement being introduced. The process has now been put back until after the General Election on 7 May, and a decision will not be taken until March 2016. This could mean a replacement platform not entering service until about 2020.
The AH-64E is understood to be the favoured option.
janes

First Airborne Mine Counter Measures MCH-101 Deliverded To The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force

AgustaWestland and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) announced the delivery of the first Airborne Mine Counter Measures (AMCM) equipped MCH-101 helicopter to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. The KHI MCH-101, is equipped with the Northrop Grumman AN/AQS-24A airborne mine hunting system and the Northrop Grumman AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). Together these systems provide a complete surface-to-bottom mine detection capability. .
The development of the AMCM variant of the AW101/MCH-101 has been led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, as prime contractor, with AgustaWestland providing technical support.
Following the handover ceremony at Kawasaki’s factory on 27th February, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force aircraft was delivered to Iwakuni where it will perform evaluation trials with the 51st Experimental Squadron before entering operational service in 2016.
The first AMCM configured is the eighth of 13 AW101s that Kawasaki Heavy Industries is building under licence from AgustaWestland for the Japan Maritime Defense Force. The eight aircraft delivered to date comprise six MCH-101s and two CH-101s. The CH-101s are used to support Japan’s Antarctic research activities.
agustawestland

The Philippine Navy Armed AW-109s to be Commissioned in May

The Philippine Navy (PN) has announced that its two armed AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopters will be commissioned during its 117th anniversary on May 27.
The two armed AW-109 airframes arrived in the country last December as part of the five-helicopter deal signed by the Philippines with AgustaWestland in early 2013.
Three of the AW-109s were delivered and commissioned on Dec. 22, 2013.
The armed versions of the AW-109s will be armed will have machine guns, 20mm cannons and possibly with air-to-ground rockets.
For shipboard operations, the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures.
defense-studies

Sikorsky willing to supply S-92 VVIP helicopters to India

Sikorsky, is keen to sell VVIP transport helicopters to the Indian government.
India cancelled a deal for 12 VVIP helicopters with Italian Finmeccanica's last year over a corruption scandal.
Industry sources in India expect a new tender this year. Sikorsky, which pitched its S-92 helicopter but lost to AgustaWestland in the initial tender, could take part once again.
India needs 12 helicopters to replace its Russia-made Mi-8 aircraft. After the cancellation of the AW101 order, it modified some of its Mi-17 helicopters for VVIP missions.
Russian Helicopters could also bid for a new contract using Mi-17s while Airbus Helicopters could enter the fray with its EC225.
In May 2014, Sikorsky won an initial contract to develop and build six U.S. presidential helicopters, the first step toward a fleet of 21 new aircraft by 2023.
reuters

Dutch NH90 deliveries to resume

Deliveries to the Dutch armed forces of its remaining seven NH90 maritime helicopters – halted on the back of corrosion issues – are set to resume after the two sides hammered out a compromise agreement.
The acceptance process was stopped in June after problems were noticed on two aircraft that had been deployed at sea. Subsequent analysis by the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory found a number of design faults contributed to the corrosion.
Under the terms of the deal announced on 16 December, the NHI consortium – comprising Airbus Helicopters, AgustaWestland and Fokker – accepts full responsibility for the issue and will bear the cost of developing any modifications, repairs and preventive measures.
In all, some 75 points from the 100 identified now have solutions, with the remainder to be addressed in early 2015.
Two further deliveries of NH90 NFHs to the Netherlands Defence Helicopter Command are anticipated in 2014.
flightglobal

New Algerian Super Lynx nears delivery

AgustaWestland is close to delivering its first of six new Super Lynx 300-series helicopters to the Algerian navy, with the manufacturer having recently conducted flight trials of the type carrying South African-produced missiles.
flightgloba

Italian army receives new CH-47F Chinook

AgustaWestland delivered the Italian army's first two of at least 16 ICH-47F Chinook transport helicopters on 2 October, during a ceremony held at its Vergiate plant near Varese.
The current fleet of modernised CH-47Cs, has been the workhorse of Italian army aviation for more than four decades and have flown 5,600h in the extreme conditions of Afghanistan.
The first ICH-47F left AgustaWestland's facility with the army's first qualified crew immediately after the ceremony to reach Viterbo; the home of the 1st Regiment “Antares”, which already operates 17 CH-47C+ helicopters. The second aircraft will follow around mid-October, with two more to be transferred before the end of the year. Initial operating capability with the new variant is expected to be declared in around 12 months.
flightglobal

AW-159 Likely to be Philippines Navy First ASW Helicopters

There is a strong possibility that the AgustaWestland AW-159 "Wildcat" will be selected as the Philippine Navy's (PN's) first anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter as revealed a military source Tuesday.
The AW-159 (previously called the Future Lynx and Lynx Wildcat) is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military helicopter.
The helicopter has been ordered for the Royal Navy and British Army.
It is to enter service with the British Army in 2014 and with the Royal Navy in 2015.
Money for the two ASW helicopters will be sourced from Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Trust Fund.
Acquisition of the two ASW helicopters is under the Medium Term Development Capability Plan for 2013 to 2017.
The AW-159 ASW will be assigned to the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz.
The acquisition process for these ASW helicopters is expected to go on full gear once the PN completes its five AW-109 order deal from AgustaWestland by the third quarter of 2014.
defense-studies

Italy's defense ministry sees UAV demo

AgustaWestland has demonstrated its Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial System / Optionally Piloted Helicopter (RUAS/OPH) to the Italian Ministry of Defense.
The company successfully demonstrated remote-controlled operations from a ground station for the modified SW-4 Solo RUAS/OPH single-engine helicopter, developed by AgustaWestland and Poland's PZL-Swidnik.
The SW-4 Solo RUAS/OPH is designed for both manned and unmanned operations. The manned version can perform transport and surveillance missions, while the unmanned model can perform ISR and resupply flights.
c4isrnet

Italy Gives AW149 Military Certification

AgustaWestland’s AW149 helicopter, which the firm is pitching to Poland, received Italian military certification Tuesday.
The helicopter, which has been undergoing trials, is being pitched by the Finmeccanica unit for Poland’s requirement for a multirole helicopter, and would be partially assembled in Poland by PZL-Swidnik, the local firm owned by Finmeccanica.
defensenews

First T-219 Attack Helos Join Turk Army

The first batch of three T-129 attack helicopters coproduced by AgustaWestland and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) joined the Turkish Army’s inventory.
Under the program, AgustaWestland and TAI produced nine T-129 helicopter gunships. The contract was signed in 2007 for an eventual batch of 59 helicopters. The partnership is coproducing five more.
defensenews

Philippines Navy's Armed AW-109Es to be Delivered Before Year-End

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Wednesday announced that the two armed versions of its AgustaWestland AW-109Es are scheduled to be delivered before the end of 2014.
These versions will be armed with machine guns and air-to-ground rockets.
Three of the PN's AW-109Es, the unarmed version, was formally activated and tasked to join the fleet last May 21.
These aircraft were formally commissioned into service last Dec. 22.
The AW-109 "Power" helicopter is a three-ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines.
defense-studies

Thailand to Receive First UH-72A in April 2015

Airbus has produced the first of six UH-72A for the Royal Thai Army. The aircraft will be delivered in December to the US Army, which will transfer it to Thai Army. The remaining five aircraft will be built in 2015.
Thailand requested six UH-72As through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process in 2013. The contract would be the first international sale of the aircraft, a variant of the EC145 civil helicopter.
Thailand is recapitalising its rotary wing fleet. In February 2011 it acquired three Mil Mi-17V-5, with three further helicopters ordered. In October 2012 the Thai Army signed a contract for two AgustaWestland AW139s for transport and utility missions with delivery set for this year.
In August 2009 the U.S. Defense Security Co-operation Agency announced an FMS of three UH-60L aircraft, while in March 2010 the Thai government approved a proposal to purchase three UH-60Ms. In October 2011, the Thai Cabinet approved a plan to procure two further Black Hawks.
defense-studies

Turkish Army Accepts First T-129 Attack Helicopter

After several months of technical snags, the Turkish Army has accepted the first T-129 attack helicopter coproduced by TAI and AgustaWestland.
The first batch of T-129 (T-129A EDH), which Turkey acquired from AgustaWestland, had repeatedly failed acceptance tests since 2012.
The six T-129A EDHs are part of a batch of nine choppers that Turkey ordered in November 2010, increasing its total order to 60.
The T-129s were largely built by AgustaWestland in Italy with an expected delivery in late 2012, one year before the Turkish-built helicopters would start being delivered. The first nine choppers are to be armed by Turkey.
Under the coproduction agreement, Turkey also has full marketing and intellectual property rights for the T-129.
defensenews