Poland signs contract for four AW101s for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Missions

Leonardo announced today that it has signed a contract valued at approximately 380 mln EUR (1.65 bn PLN) that will significantly enhance the Polish Navy’s helicopter capability. Through its fully owned Polish company and main industrial presence in the country, PZL-Świdnik, Leonardo will supply four AW101s and a comprehensive integrated logistics and training package to the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MoD).
PZL-Świdnik, acting as the prime contractor and responsible for the entire contract execution.
leonardocompany

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

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

Nigerian Air Force receiving additional Alpha Jets

The Nigerian Air Force has acquired at least two second hand Alpha Jet aircraft as it continues to expand its aerial fleet.
One of the jets was seen passing through the United Kingdom on 25 March, having travelled from the United States via Iceland. It then continued to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on its way to Nigeria.
It was flown by Air USA Inc, which specialises in military air combat readiness training and flies Hawks, Alpha Jets, MiG-29s and L-59 Super Albatroses. The Alpha Jet seen transiting the UK was cancelled from the United States register on 19 March together with a second Alpha Jet, both originally flown by the Luftwaffe before operating in the States.
The delivery status of the second aircraft is unclear. It is also not clear if the two Alpha Jets are attrition replacements or part of a larger batch being acquired by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Air USA Alpha Jets were converted for night vision goggle (NVG) operations, according to the company, and flight certified for operational use of TER, IMER and SUU-20 bomb racks.
Nigerian Alpha Jets have been used in the ground attack role to strike Boko Haram targets and a couple have been lost on operations.
The NAF has recently reactivated a number of its Alpha Jets. A total of 24 were acquired in the 1980s but several have been lost in crashes. Apparently 11 have been made flyable again.
In addition to refurbishing some of its existing aircraft such as the Alpha Jets, L-39s, Super Pumas and C-130s, the NAF is also acquiring additional platforms. For instance, it recently inducted Gazelle helicopters, which are believed to have entered service in February this year.
Three Beechcraft King Air 350i light transport aircraft were delivered in August last year, together with two AgustaWestland AW101 VIP transport helicopters. The NAF is also acquiring six Mi-35M attack helicopters and 12 armed Mi-171Sh helicopters, which were ordered in August 2014.
defenceweb

Royal Navy begins transferring ex-RAF Merlins to Yeovilton

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has relocated the first of its newly acquired fleet of AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HC.3/3A troop transport helicopters to their homebase in Yeovilton following a five-year transition from the Royal Air Force (RAF).
846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) flew its six helicopters from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton in Somerset on 26 March.
The RN acquired 25 Merlin HC.3/3A helicopters from the RAF under the Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) in 2010. These are intended to the replace the Westland Sea King HC.4 platforms that are being retired in March 2016.
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

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

India opts for Seahawk in navy's MRH tender

The Indian MoD has shortlisted Sikorky's S-70B for the navy's long-delayed Multi-Role Helicopter requirement
The decision follows a 'partial ban' imposed on Finmeccanica after the AW101 corruption scandal
India has chosen Sikorsky's S-70B Seahawk over the NH Industries (NHI) NH90 helicopter to fulfill the Indian Navy's (IN's) long-pending Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) programme.
The NH90 had been excluded from the bidding process because of its commercial links with Italian defence conglomerate Finmeccanica, which the MoD 'partially banned' from new tenders in July.
This limited proscription followed the 1 January termination of the contract for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on alleged corruption charges that remain under investigation in India. Finmeccanica has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
Under this partial ban Finmeccanica and its subsidiaries or joint ventures are permitted to participate in ongoing defence contracts that were at an advanced stage of negotiation, but are prohibited from joining new tenders. NHI is 32% owned by AgustaWestland.
Only Sikorsky's MRH commercial bid, submitted in 2009-10 along with NHI's, will now be opened by the MoD later this month for a requirement pending since 2007-08. Thereafter, price negotiations for 16 platforms will be opened.
The S-70B ,under the terms of the tender, it will be customised for amphibious assault operations and replace the navy's ageing fleet of Sea King.
Field trials featuring the NH90 and the S-70B were completed in 2011.
janes

UK RAF begin transferring Merlin helicopters to RN

The United Kingdom's (UK's) Fleet Air Arm's 846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) was stood up at RAF Benson on 30 September with the AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin, while the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) 78 Squadron was disbanded.
As part of the UK's 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Merlin utility helicopters are migrating from the RAF's Support Helicopter Force to the Royal Navy's (RN's) Fleet Air Arm's Commando Helicopter Force.
janes

Nigeria AW101 makes debut flight

The maiden flight of the first of two VIP transport-roled AW101 helicopters for the Nigerian air force was performed on 19 September from manufacturer plant.
It was previously allocated to India as part of the nation's now-cancelled order for 12 of the 15t-class rotorcraft.
flightglobal

Navy Set to Pick Presidential Helicopter Contractor

The Navy plans to select the contractor who will build the next generation presidential helicopter next month.
It appears the service will only have one contractor to choose from, Sikorsky, after two other teams dropped out of the bidding process. AgustaWestland and Northrop Grumman had planned to offer the AW101 helicopter, and Boeing had discussed offering modified versions of the V-22 Osprey and the CH-47 Chinook. Both dropped out.
That would leave Sikorsky as the lone bidder with the company set to offer its S-92 helicopter to replace the aging VH-3D Sea King.
The Navy plans to build a fleet of 21 operational aircraft and 2 test aircraft for the president. Marine Helicopter Squadron One will fly the new aircraft. Full operational capability is expected in 2022 and the first test aircraft will be delivered in 2016.
The Navy’s selection of a new contractor will come five years after the former contract with Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland to building the helicopter was canceled. Cost overruns had ballooned by so much.
The former helicopter was so advanced it was supposed to survive a nuclear blast.
Five years later the Navy is ready to start anew, likely with the same company who built the aging presidential helicopter.
dodbuzz

First Italian air force HH-101A breaks cover

The first AgustaWestland AW101 destined for the Italian air force has been displayed to service officials.
To be designated the HH-101A Caesar in Italian service, Rome has ordered 15 of the type to replace its current fleet of Agusta/Sikorsky HH-3 Pelicans for use on personnel recovery and special forces operations.
They will be handed over to the Italian air force in the fourth quarter.
The HH-101A will be equipped with three M134 7.62mm pintle-mounted miniguns, armoured cockpit seats, ballistic protection for the door gunners as well as for the helicopter's critical systems. It will also feature an air-to-air refuelling kit for extended range operations.
flightglobal

HMS Queen Elizabeth II carrier to be launched in July

Queen Elizabeth will launch the Royal Navy's super-carrier named for her in Scotland in the summer. The 65,000-ton HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled for launch at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife in July.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is being built by a consortium of BAE Systems Surface Ships, Thales Group and Babcock Marine.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is to be commissioned in early 2017, with full operational capability from 2020.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is not fitted with steam catapults and arresting wires, so the vessel will be restricted to operating vertical takeoff and landing (V/STOL).
HMS Queen Elizabeth's air wing will consist of F-35B Lightning II fighter-bombers and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare.
upi.com

Agusta deal over, India Air Force looks at options for VVIP Helicopter

Following the termination of the AgustaWestland deal for AW 101 choppers, the Defence Ministry is now looking at options to ferry VVIPs, given that the service life of the existing Mi 8 fleet being operated by the communication squadron of the Air Force is drawing to an end this year.
Several options are being considered by the Air Force to ensure that choppers are available for travel of VVIPs over the next few months as concerns have surfaced about the safety of the Mi 8 fleet that has now been in service for 26 years and has seen several scares in the past due to technical issues.
With the option of the AW 101 VVIP choppers firmly out of the window, sources said one option that has been floated by the Air Force is to extend the life of the existing fleet of eight Mi 8s in incremental levels over the next few months.
The Mi 8s — six were initially inducted into the VIP squadron in 1988 and two more were introduced later — are at the very edge of their maximum service life that can at best be extended to 30 years. As per current standards, the extended total technical life of the fleet is coming to an end this year. While this can, technically speaking, be extended for another four years, it is not considered to be safe for VVIP duty.
The option most likely to meet the requirement — is to upgrade some choppers of the newly acquired Mi 17 V5 fleet that has been inducted by the Air Force. This option is the easiest to implement at short notice.
The option of initiating a new acquisition process for VVIP choppers is also being considered. However, given that this new acquisition process would take at least three-four years, it is not being looked at as very viable.
The fourth option before the defence ministry is to temporarily lease choppers in the VVIP configuration from international players as an interim measure.
indianexpress

UK sets 2019 target for AW101 Merlin HM2 Crowsnest introduction

The UK Royal Navy will field a new-generation organic airborne early warning capability in 2019, three years after it retires the last of its aged Westland Sea Kings currently tasked with protecting its surface fleet.
Dubbed Crowsnest, the project to replace the Fleet Air Arm’s Sea King Mk7 airborne surveillance and control system helicopters had previously been due to deliver its first adapted AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2s for service trials from 2020, but only to achieve full operational capability in 2022.
The introduction of Crowsnest 18 months early will ensure HMS Queen Elizabeth has the full range of capabilities when it enters service.
The UK’s last Sea King Mk7s are due to be retired in March 2016.
flightglobal

U.K. To Spend £454M On Merlin Modernization Program

AgustaWestland has been awarded a £454 million contract to transform the U.K.’s Merlin battlefield support helicopter fleet for amphibious operations.
Twenty-five of the U.K. Royal Air Force’s current fleet of 28 AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin Mk. 3 and Mk. 3A helicopters will undergo the upgrade to the Mk. 4/4A standard for the U.K. Royal Navy’s amphibious Commando Helicopter Force (CHF). The upgrade is part of the Merlin Life Sustainment Program and ship optimization project.
The upgraded Merlins will be used to replace the aging Westland Sea King Mk. 4 currently in use by the CHF, which will exit service along with all other Sea Kings in the U.K. inventory by the end of March 2016.
AgustaWestland will use its experience from the development of a naval transport version of the EH101, now the AW101 for the Italian navy. The company will remove the current tail rotor system and replace it with a folding version.
A folding main rotor head will be fitted. The aircraft will also be given strengthened landing gear, deck lashing mounting points and a new fast-roping point. In the cockpit, the aircraft will be refitted with the avionics suite used in the update of the Royal Navy’s current fleet of Merlin helicopters used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
Because the program is also converting the six former Danish air force aircraft purchased by the U.K. in 2008, AgustaWestland also has to develop a common emergency egress system for use on both versions due to differences in aircraft configuration. The upgrade will give the six Danish aircraft a taste of front-line operations for the first time. In RAF service, they have been held back to support training.
The first two helicopters will enter the conversion process at the end of this year, with the first fully converted Mk. 4s expected to be available for trials in September 2017. An initial operating capability for the Merlin Mk. 4 with seven helicopters is expected in early 2018.
To provide an amphibious transport capability between the retirement of the Sea King and the introduction of the first Mk. 4 models, several Merlins will be given a folding main rotor head to allow ship-based operations, should a deployment occur. These will be known as Merlin Mk. 3i, in the interim.
aviationweek

India Cancels VVIP Chopper Deal

For the first time ever, India has scrapped a military hardware contract. Less than a year after the Indian government suspended a Euro 556 million deal for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 VVIP helicopters, the deal has finally been formally cancelled. Execution of the deal was frozen mid-course in February with the delivery of three helicopters, currently in a hangar at Delhi's Palam air force station. A formal statement from the MoD has just been issued.
livefistdefence

Norway Taps AgustaWestland Copter for SAR Role

Norway has selected AgustaWestland to supply new search-and-rescue helicopters in a deal that include more than 16 AW101 helicopters.
An announcement on a Norwegian government website on Nov. 8 stated that Norway had “decided to commence final negotiations with the company AgustaWestland Ltd. for the delivery of new search and rescue helicopters to replace the current Sea King.”
AgustaWestland defeated competition from Eurocopter, as well as Europe’s NHIndustries and US maker Sikorsky.
AgustaWestland’s AW101 was chosen after the acquisition process started in October 2011, with tender documents released in July 2012 and offers received last December.
The first new helicopters will be introduced in 2017.
defensenews

Sikorsky ready to replace AgustaWestland as supplier of VVIP helicopters to India

American aircraft firm Sikorsky Thursday said it was willing to provide VVIP helicopters to India as the government takes steps to scrap the existing deal with AgustaWestland.
Sikorsky, which had also bid for the Rs.3,600 crore contract to supply 12 VVIP helicopters to the Indian Air Force, is ready to supply the helicopters if the Indian government calls it to do so.
Sikorsky had offered its S-92 helicopters to the Air Force but the deal was won by Italian helicopter major AgustaWestland's AW-101.
Sikorsky's willingness to supply the choppers comes amid reports that the Indian government issued show cause notice for cancelling the contract after AgustaWestland's bid to seek arbitration.

Canada may boost SAR fleet with former US presidential helicopters

Canada is considering the economic viability of resurrecting a number of mothballed helicopters – originally destined to provide VVIP transportation for the US government – to augment its long-range search and rescue (SAR) fleet.
Ottawa acquired nine AgustaWestland AW101 airframes, spare parts and support equipment in 2011, following the cancellation by President Barack Obama of the US Navy's VH-71 Kestrel programme to replace the presidential transport fleet. AgustaWestland had teamed up with Lockheed Martin to build the Kestrels.
They have since been kept in storage, with the Royal Canadian Air Force using them for spare parts to support its fleet of AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant SAR aircraft.
flightglobal