Bolivian Air Force to upgrade UH-1H helicopters

The Bolivian government has authorised a budgetary increase of BOB47.7 million (USD6.8 million) to upgrade the air force’s Bell UH-1H ‘Huey’ helicopters for counter-narcotics operations.
The funding, which was approved on 19 March, is in addition to an initial BOB82.7 million that was granted in late 2018. Under the upgrade, 11 of the air force’s 15 helicopters are to be modernised to the Huey II standard that includes a more powerful engine, new dynamic parts (such as rotors, transmissions, and gearboxes), new wiring, and an optional ‘glass’ cockpit.
janes

Philippines confirms its interest in getting P-3C, helicopters from Japan

The Department of National Defense on Thursday confirmed reports that it is planning to acquire a P-3C patrol aircraft from Japan to boost the military’s capabilities especially in monitoring the nation’s maritime boundaries.
Several P3-C Orion aircraft from Japan’s Self Defense Force are participating in ongoing military exercises in Philippines.
The aircraft, together with a Philippine Navy Islander spotter plane, conducted a joint patrol exercise near the Recto (Reed) Bank off the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
Aside from the Orion aircraft, Galvez said the Philippines is also eyeing to acquire helicopters from Japan.
manilatimes

Royal New Zealand Air Force To Retire UH-1H Iruquois next July

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s fleet of Iroquois helicopters has provided almost 50 years of service to New Zealand and has been a stalwart of Defence Force operations since its purchase. The Iroquois is scheduled to cease flying operations with the Air Force on 01 July 2015. Ahead of this withdrawal from service, No.3 Squadron from Ohakea who fly the Iroquois are making various stops around New Zealand in May.
The Iroquois is being replaced by the NH90 helicopter.
The RNZAF UH-1H Iroquois were first brought into service in 1966, two of the aircraft have been donated to the air force Museum, while an airframe will be donated to the Waiouru Army Museum for public display. Another airframe will be loaned to the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology for training technicians. Ten airframes would be sold by tender for commercial use after they had cleared US State Department approvals as ex-US military technology.
defense-studies

Belize likely to receive ex-US Marines UH-1N Helicopters Through FMS programme

The United States government has issued a request for information (RfI) to provide Belize with a helicopter type under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
The helicopters are to be delivered between 2015 and 2016.
The helicopter should be capable of operating in day and night conditions and in all weather. It will have a minimum payload capacity of 2,000 lb (907 kg), with 2,500 lb (1,133 kg) being the objective capacity. At sea level standard conditions, in the full troop configuration described, the helicopter should have a maximum cruise speed of at least 120 kt (222 km/h), and minimum combat radius of 250 n miles (463 km).
The most likely platform to fulfil this requirement appears to be the Bell UH-1 'Huey'.
The US Marine Corps retired the last of its UH-1N helicopters from service in late 2014.
Belize does not currently operate a helicopter type, although the BDF Air Wing does have a handful of propeller-driven fixed-wing types, which it uses for light transport, liaison, and surveillance duties.
janes

Kazakhstan to acquire Su-30SM fighters

Kazakhstan is to acquire the Sukhoi Su-30SM 'Flanker' as it looks to recapitalise its Soviet-era fighter force.
The disclosure was made by the Commander in Chief of the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces , during a visit to the Irkutsk Aviation Plant where the Su-30SM is built.
The government announcement did not disclose aircraft numbers or delivery timelines.
The Su-30SM has been developed from the Indian Su-30MKI and is intended by the Russian Air Force as a stop-gap until the Su-35 and Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA enter service later in the decade. The two-seat Su-30SM features an improved radar, communications, and ejector-seat system. In addition, the aircraft's weaponry configuration has been adjusted to Russian specifications.
Kazakhstan currently fields MiG-27, Su-25, MiG-31, Su-27, and MiG-29, all inherited from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
Kazakhstan has recently been procuring Western aircraft for the first time in the guise of the Airbus C295 transport aircraft, as well as EC145 and Bell UH-1 Huey II helicopters (and has been touted as a potential customer of the Airbus A400M transport aircraft).
janes

Vietnam Grounds Decades-Old Huey Choppers After Fatal Crash

Vietnam's military announced Friday it has temporarily grounded Vietnam War-era U.S.-built helicopters after a crash killed four personnel.
The UH-1 "Huey" chopper crashed in farmland on Wednesday soon after taking off from Ho Chi Minh City on a training flight.
Army Deputy Chief of Staff said all UH-1 helicopters would be grounded for maintenance checks. He said an investigation discovered that crew members had found a problem with the control system of the doomed aircraft and had tried unsuccessfully to fix it.
The chopper, one of some 50 Hueys originally belonging to American forces but seized by the victorious communists when the war ended in 1975, was overhauled in the United States in 2012. He said had been decommissioned for failing to meet safety standards, but declined to say how many are still in service.
abcnews

Taiwan receives four out of 60 ordered Black Hawks from US

Taiwan (Republic of China) receives four out of sixty ordered UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from United States. Sixty Black Hawk choppers from US cost approximately USD3.1 billion. This Foreign Military Sale was approved by US government in 2010.
Delivery of all medium-lift utility helicopters is expected to be completed in ten batches through 2019.
Taiwan Army will be replacing its aged UH-1H Huey utility helicopters with the said choppers.
angmalaya

Lebanon to acquire 18 UH-1H Huey

Lebanon has requested to US the sale of 18 Huey II helicopters, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, publications and technical documentation.
The State Department has made the determination of approving the Foreign Military Sale.

Philippines Air Force to get first 4 Huey helicopters of 21

Four of 21 UH-1 helicopters acquired by the Philippines military from North American suppliers arrived last Sunday.  Three more Huey helicopters might be delivered next month.
abs-cbnnews

Turkey Completes Predesign of Indigenous Helo

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), has completed critical predesign work for what will become the country’s first indigenous utility helicopter, a 5-ton, twin-engine, light helicopter that will start flight tests in five years.
The helicopter will be in the Turkish inventory by 2023.
The Turkish government last year signed a contract with TAI for the design, development and manufacturing of the helicopter. A TAI official said the helicopter is intended to replace Turkey’s aging UH-1s, but it also could be used to meet helicopter training needs of the Army.
Turkey could eventually buy more than 800 helicopters and with exports final sales numbers could reach about 1,200.
TAI also is the prime local contractor of a $3.5 billion program under which Sikorsky will co-produce 109 utility helicopters for the Turkish military. Turkey intends to use know-how and technology transfers from the Sikorsky-led program in its indigenous helicopter effort.
Turkey in 2011 selected Sikorsky Aircraft as its partner company to lead production of the country’s next-generation utility helicopters.
defensenews

Turkey begins new helicopter programme

Turkey's undersecretariat of defence industries held talks with executives from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) on 11 October to kick off the nation's planned indigenous helicopter programme.
Envisaged as a 5t utility aircraft, able to carry nine passengers and three crew, the helicopter is designed to replace the Turkish army's fleet of Bell Helicopter UH-1Hs. Other government departments such as the police and health ministry are also interested in acquiring the new model.
TAI is talking to both Sikorsky and AgustaWestland to acquire Western technologies for the programme.
The first example is likely to make its maiden sortie within five years, and TAI is targeting EASA certification in 2020. Entry into service for the military variant is scheduled for 2022.
flightglobal

Turkey Set Off to Build Own Helicopter

Turkish procurement authorities have formalized their plans to build an indigenous Turkish helicopter, tasking the country’s main aerospace company with the job.
Under the Indigenous Helicopter Project, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) signed the contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for all three phases of the program.
The program was launched in June 2010, and TAI submitted its bid to be the local prime contractor in October. TAI’s five-ton, twin-engine “light” helicopter would meet the Turkish military requirements in the medium- and long-run, but also will have a civilian model for the commercial market.
The Turkish helicopter aims to replace Turkey’s aging UH-1s, but it also could be used to meet Army helicopter training needs.
defensenews

US firm offering 21 Hueys for P1.2B to Philippines

A California-based firm is offering the government 21 UH-1 or Huey helicopters for P1.2646 billion for use in the May elections.
The Air Force made the request for additional Hueys in 2011.
The offer was accepted because the amount is lower than the allotted P1.2649 billion.
Rice Aircraft Services Inc. was the sole bidder for the helicopters.
It was declared an eligible bidder after submitting all the necessary documentary requirements to the Bids and Awards Committee.
Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo told The STAR the helicopters will be delivered by March 31, weeks before the elections.

philstar

El presidente de Colombia hace entrega oficial de los nuevos Black Hawk al Ejército

En una ceremonia encabezada por el presidente de la República, Juan Manuel Santos, se hizo la entrega oficial -al Ejército de esta nación- de cinco nuevos helicópteros Black Hawk (S70i), así como de un UH-1H Huey II y dos aviones Cessna Grand Caravan C-208.

El acto, tuvo lugar en la Brigada 25 de Aviación en el fuerte Militar de Tolemaida, con la presencia del ministro de Defensa Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno, el general Alejandro Navas Ramos y el general Sergio Mantilla Sanmiguel, así como por el general Alberto José Mejía, comandante de la División de Aviación de Asalto Aéreo.

Las aeronaves fueron adquiridas por sumas cercanas a los US 143 millones de dólares y serán destinadas al apoyo de las unidades de operaciones especiales y en tareas de evacuación de personal herido y enfermos en todo el territorio de este país.

podermilitar

Taiwan donates two UH-1H to Guatemala/Guatemala recibe dos helicópteros del Gobierno de Taiwán

Taiwan donated two UH-1H helicopters to Guatemala this week.
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Los dos helicópteros donados por el Gobierno de Taiwán a Guatemala llegaron al país el domingo 24 de noviembre por mar, y se encuentran en las instalaciones de la Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca (FAG), zona 13.

alert5

prensalibre

Philippine Air Force Opens Bid for 21 Hueys

The Department of National Defense (DND) is planning to spend P1.26 billion to purchase 21 combat helicopters to give a much-needed boost to the Philippine Air Force.
In a notice posted on the DND website on Monday, October 29, the department said it intends to acquire the refurbished Bell UH-1 ("Huey") helicopters along with the corresponding logistics support package

defense-studies

Filipinas recibe 5 helicópteros UH-1H modernizados/ Philippines to take delivery of 5 refurbished UH-1Hs

La Fuerza Aérea de Filipinas recibirá 5 helicópteros UH-1H modernizados este fin de semana, procedentes de Estados Unidos.
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The Philippines Air Force will take delivery of five refurbished UH-1Hs soon. The helicopters are being shipped from United States and will arrive this weekend.
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FILIPINAS PARALIZA FLOTA DE HELICÓPTEROS UH-1H "HUEY"/ PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE GROUNDS "HUEY" FLEET

La Fuerza Aérea de Filipinas (PAF), ha paralizado los vuelos de toda su flota de helicópteros UH-1H “Huey”, tras el incidente sufrido recientemente por uno de ellos, que se incendió tras aterrizar de emergencia. La situación permanecerá hasta que se determinen las causas del incendio.
El UH-1H es el caballo de batalla de la PAF y se utiliza para transporte de tropas, rescate, y misiones de abastecimiento. Actualmente la PAF dispone de unos 40 Huey.
La PAF recibirá en el primer cuarto de 2011 ocho nuevos helicópteros de la compañia polaca PZL, para reemplazar a los UH-1H mas antiguos.
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The entire fleet of Philippine Air Force (PAF) UH-1H “Huey” helicopters has been grounded following the incident last Friday wherein one of their choppers was engulfed in flames after making an emergency landing, until investigators determine the cause of the fire.
The UH-1H helicopter is the PAF’s workhorse used in combat, troop transport, rescue, and re-supply missions. With the latest incident, the PAF is now left with just about 40 Huey helicopters.
Meanwhile, the PAF is anticipating the delivery of eight brand-new utility helicopters from Poland to replace their aging fleet of UH-1H’s.
According to Okol, they expect the delivery of the combat utility helicopters from PZL Swienik Company of Poland by the first quarter of 2011.
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