Brazilian Navy signs Exocet missile contract

The Brazilian Navy has signed a contract with Brazilian Aerospace Avibras to develop a new version of the Exocet AM39 B2 air-to-surface missile produced by European missile house MBDA.
The weapon is to be used on the Eurocopter EC725 that is being produced for the Brazilian Navy by Helibrás in Sao Paulo.
The AM39 will have about 50% domestic content with a Brazilian motor.
janes

French Army's NH90 TTH helicopter conducts initial naval trials

The French Army Aviation's (ALAT) NH90 tactical transport helicopter (TTH) has successfully conducted its initial naval trials onboard the second Mistral Class amphibious warfare ship, BPC Tonnerre.
Carried out at an undisclosed location, the trials enabled the helicopter's maximum take-off weight to be uprated to 10.6t, while additional trials, which are planned for March 2014, will lead to the helicopter's clearance for shipboard missions.
The helicopter's initial operational capability (IOC) is planned for mid-2014, when four NH90s will be available for operations.
The French Army has to date taken delivery of three of the total 34 NH90 helicopters, along with an option for an additional 34 aircraft, to help replace the army's ageing SA 330 Puma helicopters fleet.
Also known as Caiman, the next-generation helicopter can also be used to perform casualty and medical evacuation, electronic warfare, special operations and counter-terrorism missions, airborne command post and VIP transportation.
Around 27 NH90 Nato frigate helicopters (NFH) were also ordered by the French Navy to replace its Lynx and Super Frelon helicopters, which perform anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions.
The helicopters have been ordered by other NH90 members, including Australia, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Oman, Sweden, Spain, Finland and Italy.
army-technology

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

Lithuania Orders Eurocopter AS35 Dauphin Helos

Lithuania has ordered three AS365 N3+ Dauphin helicopters from Eurocopter.
The new copters will replace the Soviet-designed Mi-8 and will be mainly be used in search-and-rescue missions.
The contract also covers related equipment, and training and maintenance services.
In a bid to increase the airlift capacity of its armed forces, Lithuania is reportedly planning to acquire further helicopters by 2016.
defensenews

Belgium introduces first NH90 transport

Belgium's first NH Industries (NHI) NH90 tactical transport helicopter arrived at Beauvechain air base on 2 October.
Carrying the registration RN-05, the aircraft is one of eight NH90s on order for Belgium. Half of the aircraft fleet will be used to increase the air transport capability of the nation's air force, while the rest will be configured to perform search and rescue missions, replacing the ageing Westland Sea Kings. The first of these, RN-01, was delivered on 1 August 2013.
A second tactical transport, RN-06 is already undergoing flight-testing at NHI partner company Eurocopter's Marignane site in France. Belgian crews have also conducted training for the new rotorcraft at the location.
flightglobal

AgustaWestland nears certification for military AW149

AgustaWestland hopes it will clinch military certification of its in-development AW149 helicopter in a baseline configuration by year-end.
The new 8t-class medium-twin is being developed as a variant of the civil AW189, which is due to achieve EASA approval in the coming weeks.
However, the AW149 is yet to find a customer. Italy's air force was initially considered to be a likely buyer to fulfil a search and rescue requirement, but it instead acquired the lighter AW139M.
Nonetheless, AgustaWestland believes the AW149 will prove popular with armed forces looking for an alternative to Sikorsky's ubiquitous UH-60 Black Hawk.
The earliest test of its competitiveness against the Sikorsky aircraft, and Eurocopter's EC725, will come in Poland, which has a tri-service requirement for 70 helicopters. Warsaw is yet to issue a request for proposals for the contest.
flightglobal

Confirmada la compra de 12 helicópteros EC135 para el Ejército de Tierra

Los helicópteros EC 135 fabricados por Eurocopter para el Ejército de Tierra serán por fin una realidad en 2014. Los presupuestos de 2014 reflejan la compra, por un importe de 65,28 millones de euros, de 12 EC135 para formación. Es el único programa especial de armamento para el que se ha contemplado partida presupuestaria el próximo año.
La adquisición se materializará después de más de tres años de retrasos.
infodefensa

Australian Tiger ARH fires Hellfire

A Tiger ARH from the Australian Army fires a Hellfire missile during exercise Talisman Saber 13.

Belgium receives its first NH90 Naval Helicopter

Eurocopter delivered the first NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Helicopter) to the Belgium Armed Forces, providing an advanced, highly capable and fully-qualified rotary-wing aircraft for this nation’s multi-role mission requirements. In addition to being the no. 1 NH90 NFH received by Belgium, it also is the first built at Eurocopter’s Donauwörth, Germany.
Belgium will become the fifth country to put the NH90 NFH version into service, joining France, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway. The aircraft delivered is rated at Full Operational Capability (FOC), ensuring its aptitude for the full range of Belgium naval missions – such as Search and Rescue (SAR) or military missions at sea.
eads

The initial HAD/E Tiger assembled in Eurocopter Spain performs its first flight

Eurocopter’s Tiger combat helicopter program has reached an important new milestone with the maiden flight of the initial Tiger HAD/E variant assembled at Eurocopter's Spanish facilities in Albacete, Spain.
eads

El noveno helicóptero EC725 para Brasil inicia los vuelos de pruebas

La novena unidad de los 50 helicópteros EC725 encargados por las Fuerzas Armadas de Brasil ya está en fase de pruebas de vuelo en la fábrica de Helibras. Este es el primer EC725 que se recibirá en instalaciones desarrolladas por la industria de Brasil.
El EC725 número nueve estará destinado al Ejército de Brasil.
Marina, Ejército y Fuerza Aérea recibirán 16 ejemplares del EC725 y el Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE), unidad de la FAB responsable por transporte presidencial y de autoridades del Gobierno, va a operar dos ejemplares especialmente configurados para la versión VIP.
infodefensa

AgustaWestland prepares for Norwegian AW101 demonstration

AgustaWestland expects to soon begin the AW101 flight evaluation and bid refining phase for the Norwegian all-weather search and rescue helicopter (NAWSARH) programme, following Oslo's decision to narrow its Westland Sea King replacement contest to the Anglo-Italian type and Eurocopter's EC225.
flightglobal

Germany's Special Forces Command Set to Fly Eurocopter's EC645 T2 Light Utility Helicopter

Eurocopter and the German Federal Ministry of Defense signed a contract for 15 EC645 T2 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) to be used by Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK), Germany’s Special Forces Command. With this order, the Bundeswehr has now joined the customer list for the most powerful model in Eurocopter’s proven EC145 family.
The contract, worth a total of 194 million euros, includes not just the helicopters but also the related equipment packages to allow KSK to carry out its special operations missions. Deliveries of the 15 aircraft begin in late 2015 and will be completed by mid-2017.
eurocopter

AgustaWestland and Eurocopter to fight for Norway SAR deal

Norway's NAWSARH contest, to replace its ageing fleet of Westland Sea King search and rescue (SAR) helicopters with as many as 22 new rotorcraft, has moved a step closer to resolution with two bidders - AgustaWestland and Eurocopter - invited to engage in further negotiations.
AgustaWestland has pitched its AW101 and Eurocopter the EC225 for the requirement for 16 helicopters, with options for an additional six.
flightglobal

Australian Navy first in the World with MRH90 Helicopter Introduction at Sea

The Royal Australian Navy is leading the world in bringing the new MRH90 ‘Taipan’ Multi-Role Helicopter into service at sea.
The Navy’s soon-to-be-commissioned 808 Squadron has been conducting trials, testing, evaluation and training on the MRH90 Taipan helicopter since 2010.
defense-studies

La Fuerza Aérea de Venezuela negocia la compra de doce helicópteros Eurocopter Cougar

El presidente de Venezuela anunció que para el fortalecimiento de la Fuerza Aérea Venezolana, está previsto adquirir doce helicópteros Cougar.
No se ha especificado la variante contemplada en la negociación; sin embargo, desde finales de 2007, cuando la FAV anunció que tenía proyectado adquirir un nuevo lote de helicópteros Cougar, trascendió que se trataba de la última versión EC725, o Súper Cougar.
La FAV es un antiguo operario de la familia Super Puma/Cougar. En 1988, adquirió ocho AS332B1 Super Puma, y, diez años más tarde, ocho Cougar: seis AS532AC y dos AS532UL. Los AS332B1/AS532AC operan con el Grupo Aéreo de Operaciones Especiales Nº 10, mientras que los AS532UL están asignados al Grupo Aéreo Presidencial Nº 4.
infodefensa

Eurocopter wins RAF's Puma HC2 support deal

Eurocopter has won a €60 million ($79 million), three-year deal to support 24 Puma helicopters it is upgrading to the HC2 standard for the UK Royal Air Force.
The support contract will be co-ordinated through Eurocopter UK's facility in Oxford, close to the main operating base for the Puma fleet at RAF Benson.
Eight Pumas have been upgraded under the programme so far, which was awarded to Eurocopter by the UK Ministry of Defence in 2009.
The enhancements add uprated Turbomeca Makila 1A1 powerplants, a full glass cockpit, additional defensive aids and ballistic protection. The programme extends the operational life of the helicopters to 2025.
flightglobal

Australia shortlists contenders for military helicopter training deal

Australia has shortlisted three contenders for a contract to provide its military with rotary wing training.
The three parties selected to contest Canberra's Air 9000 Phase 7 requirement are Eurocopter's local unit, Australian Aerospace; Boeing/Thales; and Raytheon/Bell.
A final decision is likely by the middle of 2014, and the DMO calculates the project value at A$1 billion ($960 million).
flightglobal

France orders 34 NH90

France has signed a deal to buy 34 twin-engine, medium-sized NH90 military helicopters from the NHIndustries joint venture.
reuters

Australia to get one MRH90 for free

European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co.’S Eurocopter (EAD) unit, the world’s largest helicopter maker, will provide Australia with an extra NH90 model after the program fell three years behind plan.

businessweek