Military helicopters

Sikorsky Civil Helicopter Production Surges
May 2, 2012 - 12:20am

Strong deliveries of the S-92 medium twin will boost civil activity at Sikorsky this year, according to recently released 2011 results and 2012 outlook. President Jeff Pino is expecting S-92 handovers to leap by 42 percent and overall civil deliveries by approximately 30 percent.

This year’s plans call for delivery of approximately 260 civil and military rotorcraft, with civil revenue expected to exceed $1.1 billion. Operating profits are predicted to be in the $50 million to $75 million range, down from $820 million last year.

Eurocopter Japan Opens New Kobe Facility
April 18, 2012 - 3:50pm
Eurocopter Japan recently opened a $50 million facility at Kobe Airport.

Eurocopter Japan held an opening ceremony earlier this week for its $50 million facility at Kobe Airport. The opening marks a 50-year relationship between Eurocopter and Japan that began with the introduction of the Alouette II. It also marks the merger of Eurocopter Japan T&E, a provider of maintenance, repair, overhaul and engineering services, into Eurocopter Japan, which was established in 2009 to handle sales, training, logistics and technical support.

Latest Apache Helicopter Controls Unmanned Aircraft
April 13, 2012 - 2:40pm
Col. Openshaw

U.S. Army AH-64D Block III helicopter crews exercised directional control of the MQ-1C Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during the recently completed initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) of the upgraded Apache. The Army will decide whether to approve full-rate production of the Block III in July, including production of the mast-mounted UAS tactical datalink assembly (UTA) developed to control the Grey Eagle.
Contractors Await U.S. Army’s Armed Scout Evaluation
April 6, 2012 - 10:37am
AAS-72X

A highly anticipated opportunity for contractors to demonstrate their helicopters for the U.S. Army’s armed aerial scout (AAS) requirement, originally planned for this spring, has been postponed until this summer or fall as the Army contemplates improving or replacing the aging OH-58D Kiowa Warrior in the manned reconnaissance role.
MD Helicopters Enters Armed Scout Contest with MD 540F
April 6, 2012 - 10:35am
Lynn Tilton

The field of companies offering armed scout helicopters to the U.S. Army and other militaries has grown with the addition of MD Helicopters, which is proposing the MD 540F, an upgrade of its MD 530F light helicopter, equipped with a weapons management system from Israel’s Elbit Systems. The offering is based on the same airframe MD Helicopters supplies to Boeing for the AH-6i, which is also a competitor for the Army’s armed aerial scout (AAS) program.
Sikorsky Gets Fresh S-76D Orders
April 5, 2012 - 4:20am

The Japan Coast Guard has ordered four Sikorsky S-76Ds, which will replace “several helicopters that were damaged in the tsunami of 2011,” the manufacturer said. The Japan Coast Guard had been a long-time user of the S-76C, C+ and C++. Sikorsky has also received an order for one S-76D from Swiss-based Air Engiadina. It will be operated in the UK or Switzerland for VIP and other passenger flights. Delivery is scheduled for next year.
EC Approves State Aid for X4, AW169
April 2, 2012 - 2:10am
Italy is providing a subsidized loan for AgustaWestland’s AW169.

The European Commission (EC) has allowed France and Italy to grant aid for the development of two medium twins in the 10,000-pound class–the Eurocopter X4 and the AgustaWestland AW169, respectively.
U.S. Air Force Tries Again for Combat Rescue Helicopter
March 23, 2012 - 4:10pm
HH-60G

The U.S. Air Force has released a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the combat rescue helicopter (CRH) program, a successor to the ill-fated CSAR-X competition to replace the service’s Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk search-and-rescue helicopters.

Eurocopter EC175 Aims for Late 2012 Certification
March 4, 2012 - 1:35am
Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling

Eurocopter has clarified the EC175 certification status, having apparently changed plans. The new medium twin is “on time” for full certification late this year. At one point, Eurocopter was planning a basic type certification late last year, followed by offshore mission equipment certification this year. The company has decided to combine the certifications.
U.S. Presidential Helo Delayed Again by Cost, Acquisition Concerns
March 2, 2012 - 10:30am
presidential vh-3d

The U.S. Navy’s latest attempt to replace the aging Presidential helicopter fleet has been delayed. The Pentagon rejected an analysis of alternatives (AoA) for the VXX program because no “cost-effective” solution was identified, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

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