Chilean Air Force confirms delivery timeline for Black Hawk helos

Chilean Air Force(FACh) has confirmed the service is to receive all of its recently ordered Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters by the end of this year.
The first three of six S-70i helicopters ordered in December 2016 will be delivered to Chile in August, with the remaining three following in October.
After several years of searching and studying, the FACh selected the Polish-built S-70i so as to receive the aircraft as soon as possible. Since the air force has fielded a single S-70A since 1998, it has some experience of the type.
The FACh’s S-70i Black Hawks have been built to the US Army’s UH-60M standard, and will be especially useful for high-altitude operations. Once in service, they are being used to augment the service’s existing S-70A, Bell 412EP/SP, UH-1H, and Bell 206 JetRanger III helicopter fleet.
janes

Jordan completes Black Hawk deliveries

The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has received into service its final batch of new Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk helicopters.
Delivery of the final UH-60M-standard platforms aboard a US Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter took place in December 2017, and was part of a wider handover that included 12 such helicopters supplied to the kingdom over the nine months.
The build-up of the RJAF’s Black Hawk inventory is geared at reinforcing the defence of border security against Islamic State forces in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, and to enable the Royal Jordanian Army’s Quick Reaction Forces to immediately deploy anywhere in the country. The US Congress appropriated USD470 million in 2017 to the Jordanian armed forces, including training for pilots, crew chiefs, and maintenance technicians, as well as spare parts, ground equipment, weapons, ammunition and shelters for the Black Hawks.
janes

Chile signs for Black Hawk helos

Chile has signed for six Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to be delivered in 2018.
The contract signing followed a type selection made by the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile: FACh) in September, in which the Black Hawk beat off competition from Leonardo Helicopters, Airbus Helicopters, Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), and Rosoboronexport, which had offered the AW149, H215, Surion, and Mi-17 'Hip' respectively.
The S-70i (international) helicopters are to be built by Sikorsky's subsidiary, PZL Mielec, in Poland. Improvements made on the S-70i over the baseline Black Hawk include a fully integrated digital glass cockpit featuring colour 6x8-inch (15x20 cm) multifunction display (MFD) units and a dual digital automatic flight-control system (AFCS). It also features a digital map and more powerful General Electric T700-GE-701D engines (but with T700-GE-701C control systems).
Once delivered, they will augment the one S-70 that the FACh received in 1998 as well as its remaining rotary fleet of mainly Bell 412 and UH-1H platforms. While the current plan is to procure just six aircraft, Sikorsky has previously told that there is the potential for more to be bought at a later date.
janes

Poland picks Black Hawks after end of H225M talks

Sikorsky’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec already appears to be benefiting from the collapse of acquisition talks between its rival Airbus Helicopters and the Warsaw government.
Last week the country’s ministry of economic development ended nearly 18 months of protracted wrangling over a 50-unit commitment for H225M Caracal helicopters. It cited irreconcilable differences about the level of industrial offset proposed, which it said needed to equal the Zl13 billion ($3.4 billion) of the main contract.
However, all three branches of Poland’s armed forces still require new helicopters and its defence ministry has wasted little time in pushing business towards PZL Mielec, which assembles the S-70i Black Hawk for the international market.
During a visit to the firm’s assembly facility, defence minister Antoni Macierewicz said it would work to quickly finalise a deal for S-70is for operation by Polish special forces.
flightglobal

Brunei confirms Black Hawk transfer to Malaysia

Brunei confirmed its intention to transfer its S-70As Black Hawks to Malaysia on 28 January.
In a statement titled 'Defence Co-operation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia', the Brunei Ministry of Defence said that the transfer of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) S-70As to Malaysia would take place in September when the RBAF's S-70i Black Hawks become operational.
The ministry did not state how many helicopters would be transferred, but the RBAF has four S-70As in service.
The statement ended by saying that the transfer would contribute to the capabilities of the Malaysian armed forces and to the efforts of the two countries in maintaining regional peace and stability.
janes

Three Greek frigates upgraded to carry S-70B

The Hellenic Navy has certified three of its nine Elli (Kortenaer)-class frigates for accepting the Sikorsky S-70B Aegean Hawk helicopter.
Work had been conducted at the Salamis Naval Base's Technical Directorate to strengthen the landing pads on HS Navarinon , HS Themistocles , and HS Nikiforos Fokas in order to handle a crash landing of the 10-tonne helicopter. The three frigates will be able to refuel the S-70B helicopters, but not able to house them in a hangar, as this would require extensive reworking of the superstructure.
Previously, the Greek Navy's S-70Bs were typically accommodated on board its four MEKO-200 HN-class frigates, and occasionally on board the large replenishment vessel HS Prometheus or the five Jason-class landing ships.
The Hellenic Navy's Helicopter Command has eight S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk and three S-70B Aegean Hawks in service, as well as eight Agusta Bell AB-212s.
janes

Turkey, Sikorsky Sign $3.5 Billion Helicopter Deal

Turkish Prime Minister announced Friday that his government and Sikorsky Aircraft had signed a long-dormant contract to co-produce an initial batch of 109 utility helicopters.
Turkey in 2011 selected Sikorsky as its partner company to lead production of the country’s next-generation utility helicopters. Sikorsky defeated Italian-British AgustaWestland by bidding its T-70, the Turkish version of its S-70 Black Hawk International.
The first batch will be for 109 utility helicopters, but with follow-on orders, more than 600 platforms could be built.
Most helicopters in the first batch will go to the military, with the Gendarmerie receiving the largest portion, and the Army, Navy, Air Force and the special forces command each getting their share. The remaining machines will go to the Security Directorate, meaning the police forces, and to the Firefighting Department
defensenews

Turkey gears up efforts for indigenous helicopter production

Another sign has emerged that Turkey’s defense industry planners are serious about their ambition to manufacture an indigenous helicopter locally.
A Rotor Technology Center has been launched. The move comes as part of a June 2013 contract signed with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
The center would aim to build rotor technologies through research and development activity and to train the scientifically competent personnel Turkey’s defense industry would need in the future, in view of a program to design, develop and manufacture the country’s first indigenous helicopter.
The center is planning to organize a workshop on March 14.
Last summer, Turkish procurement authorities formalized their plans to build a Turkish helicopter when they tasked TAI with the job.
The program was launched in June 2010, and TAI submitted its bid to be the local prime contractor in October 2012. TAI’s five-ton, twin-engine “light” helicopter will meet the Turkish military requirements in the medium- and long-run, but will also have a civilian model for the commercial market.
The Turkish helicopter aims to replace Turkey’s aging UH-1s, but it could also be used to meet Army helicopter training needs.
Turkey in 2011 selected Sikorsky as its partner company to lead production of the country’s next-generation utility helicopters. Sikorsky’s T-70, the Turkish version of the company’s S-70 Black Hawk International, defeated Italian-British AgustaWestland for the contract. The S-70 Black Hawk International is used by the militaries of dozens of countries, including Turkey. AgustaWestland was competing with its TUHP 149, the Turkish version of its newly developed AW149.
The first batch will be for 109 utility helicopters, but with follow-on orders, more than 600 machines could be built.
hurriyetdailynews

La Armada española sólo cuenta con dos submarinos operativos

La crisis ha reducido a la mitad la flota de submarinos de la Armada, ya que después de que el 'Siroco' fuera dado de baja el pasado junio los presupuestos para el próximo año no contemplan la gran revisión a la que se tendría que someter el 'Tramontana' para continuar operativo.

De esta manera, España permanecerá sólo con dos submarinos disponibles a la espera de que se incorpore la nueva flota que está siendo construida por Navantia, un programa de más de 2.000 millones de euros.

La Armada espera que el primero de los nuevos submarinos, que ya está en avanzado estado de construcción en los astilleros de Navantia en Cartagena, esté operativo en 2016.

que.es

Turquía elegirá helicópteros y sistema de defensa aéreoen 2011/ Turkey to make chopper, air defense selections in 2011

En 2011, Turquía seleccionará a los ganadores de sus concursos sobre un nuevo helicóptero utilitario y un sistema de defensa aérea de largo alcance.
AugustaWestland propone su A149 mientras que Sikorsky, ofrece el T-70, versión del S-70 Black Hawk ya utilizado por Turquía.
Sobre el sistema de defensa aérea Raytheon y Lockheed Martin ofrecen el Patriot PAC-3, Italia y Francia ofrecen el SAMP/T-Aster 30, Rusia el S300, y China el HQ-9.
Otro ambicioso programa de Turquía es un plan para diseñar y producir su primer caa nacional, posiblemente junto a Corea del Sur.
Turquía ya seleccionó al F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II como uno de sus cazas de futura generación, con 100 unidades.
(leer más)
________________________________________________________
In 2011, Turkey will select the foreign winners of its billion-dollar tenders for both utility helicopters and long-range air and missile defense systems as part of a drive to bolster its defense procurement assets.
Italy and Britain’s AugustaWestland or the United States’ Sikorsky Aircraft are expecting for the $4 billion decission of 109-aircraft utility helicopter program.
AgustaWestland has proposed to build the TUHP 149, a Turkish version of its A149, a newly-developed utility helicopter. The A149's full prototype will have its first flight in January.
Sikorsky Aircraft, meanwhile, has offered the T-70, a Turkish version of the S-70 Black Hawk International, used by dozens of countries around the world, including Turkey.
About long range air missile defense system a partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin from the United States, with their Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, is competing against the mainly Italian-French Eurosam, the maker of the SAMP/T-Aster 30, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, marketing the S300, and China’s Precision Machinery Export-Import Corp., offering its HQ-9.
A third matter is Turkey ambitious plan to design, develop and produce its first own fighter aircraft. Turkey may cooperate with South Korea.
Turkey has already selected the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II as one of its next-generation fighter aircraft types with 100 units.
(read more)

LA ARMADA NO TIENE PRISA EN VENDER SUBMARINO S-70

El Almirante Jefe de la Flota, Juan Carlos Muñoz-Delgado, que ayer una visitó a la alcaldesa de Cartagena, Pilar Barreiro, aseguró que es aún muy prematuro para hablar de la posible venta de un submarino de la serie 70 a Tailandia. Dijo que lo que se busca es por un lado poder mantener a la arma submarina y, al mismo tiempo, buscar mercados para la empresa Navantia.
laverdad.es