Sikorsky to modify UAE Black Hawks into gunships

 

UH-60 BLACKHAWK

The United Arab Emirates is set to turn a number of its Sikorsky Black Hawks into gunships in a deal with the U.S. helicopter maker worth nearly 1 billion Arab Emirate dirhams ($272 ).

The announcement of a plan to buy “weaponization” kits for 23 of its Black Hawk UH-60M helicopters was the pick of a 4 billion Arab Emirate dirham order bonanza unveiled by the UAE armed forces at the IDEX show Feb. 21 in Abu Dhabi.

Included in the list of 21 orders was a second deal with Sikorsky, this time a program to train Black Hawk pilots and technicians in a contract valued at 65 million Arab Emirate dirham.

The scheme to turn the UH-60M into an air assault machine gives the U.S. helicopter maker a launch customer for the Battle Hawk weaponization package it has been working on for some time now.

Information previously released by the company shows the weaponization package will give the UAE military a helicopter able to fire rockets, heavy-caliber machine guns and missiles from four weapon stations.

The bulk of the work will be undertaken by AMMROC, the maintenance, overhaul and repair center set up here last year in a joint venture between Sikorsky and a local company, Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.

With further development work still needed on the weaponization package, sources said it was likely the first modified helicopters would be handed over to the UAE around 2014. The deal could be expanded later to cover further weaponization kits, the sources said.

UAE has long been tipped as a launch customer for the Battle Hawk package, but Sikorsky wasn’t the only helicopter manufacturer to benefit from new orders here.

AgustaWestland secured a 336 million Arab Emirate dirham order for the delivery of four AW139 rotorcraft for VIP duties.

Included in the list of contracts this time around is South Korean company Hanwha, which is supplying arms and ammunition; engines for unmanned air systems from Denel of South Africa; fire control systems for naval guns from Selex of Italy; munitions from Diehl BGT Defence of Germany; and bulletproof vests from local company Al Naboodah Protection.

- defensenews

Sikorsky Delivers 1st 2 S-92 in Afghanistan

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has delivered two S-92 helicopters to airlift services provider AAR CORP. for operations in Afghanistan. AAR will perform passenger and cargo lift missions on behalf of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), a government agency that provides transportation for the Department of Defense.

Both aircraft are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to simultaneously carry both passengers and cargo in the same cabin space.

“Deployment to Afghanistan is a tremendous opportunity for AAR and the U.S. Government to see what the multi-mission S-92 aircraft is capable of in some very challenging flight conditions at high altitude,” said Ed Beyer, vice president for Sikorsky Global Helicopters.

The FAA certified an easily configurable interior with variable seating while carrying up to three 4 ft. sq.-sized cargo pallets secured to rings in the seat tracks and cabin walls to assure crashworthiness. For each pallet, Sikorsky developed a special fire containment cover to contain and suffocate flames, and added smoke detectors. To separate the passengers from cargo, Sikorsky designed a fabric partition, and added a fire extinguisher and Protective Breathing Equipment for passengers and crew.

AAR purchased the two S-92 aircraft following an October 2010 USTRANSCOM contract award valued at $450 million to provide up to five years of airlift service in Afghanistan. Both aircraft are expected to begin operations in Afghanistan during February 2011. AAR already operates 15 Sikorsky S-61N aircraft in various mission roles, including Afghanistan.

“We evaluated a number of alternatives before concluding that the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter was the best choice to meet the arduous demands of supporting tactical lift missions in remote and extremely harsh environments,” said Jeff Schloesser, president of AAR’s Airlift Group.

- ASD News

Sikorsky sweetens deal for Turkey helicopter

 

Sikorsky logo

Sikorsky,a helicopter manufacturer from the United States, competing with an Italian rival for a Turkish tender to jointly produce 109 mostly military-utility helicopters worth around $4 billion, sweetened its bid over the weekend.

A senior official from Sikorsky Aircraft said that his company would guarantee that Turkey would do repair and maintenance work worth $1 billion on S-70i Black Hawk International helicopters belonging to third countries.

“Turkey will do maintenance-repair-overhaul work for the platforms of countries that have S-70i Black Hawk International helicopters. We guarantee this,” the official said. “Altogether, this will be worth $1 billion for Turkey’s defense industry over the next 20 years.”

Sikorsky Aircraft is offering Ankara the T-70, a Turkish version of the S-70i Black Hawk International, which already features in the inventories of several countries as the export model of the U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk.

Sikorsky’s rival, the Italian AgustaWestland, is proposing the TUHP 149, a Turkish version of its A149, a newly-developed utility helicopter, in the tender.

- Hurriyet Daily News

S-92 in Service in Brazil for Offshore Oil Market

The S-92 helicopter has entered into the offshore oil market in Brazil, following the well-established work of another Sikorsky Aircraft product already serving that industry in the region.

Petrobras, one of the largest oil companies in the world, has been using Sikorsky helicopters through their contracts with Líder Taxi Aéreo S.A. Air Brasil and Brazilian Helicopter Services (BHS) to serve the offshore and onshore oil markets there for more than three decades. These companies have flown Sikorsky products, beginning with the S-58TTM helicopter, since the 1970s.

Carey Bond, President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, says “The offshore oil industry is one of the industries where Sikorsky Aircraft products play a critical role in the missions they perform.” Bond also said, “These aircraft fly day and night to bring employees to oil platforms and rigs, and today we are pleased to announce that the S-92 helicopter has joined the fleet of S-76 helicopters that have been flying well and serving these Petrobras customers for 20 years.”

More than 30 Sikorsky helicopters are operated by Líder in support of offshore oil operations in Brazil. Most of those have been S-76 helicopters, but the company recently added the S-92 to its fleet.

BHS has been another important customer for Sikorsky in Latin America, having placed into service the hard-working S-92 helicopter just last month. With two S-92 helicopters already in Brazil, additional aircraft are expected to enter into service with Petrobras throughout this year.

Built for the civil and military helicopter market, the Sikorsky S-92 is a four-bladed twin-engine medium-lift helicopter developed from the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has similar parts such as flight control and rotor systems.

 

-planenews.com

-wikipedia.org

 

12 S-76D Helicopters for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior

A subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. announced Nov. 1 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) has signed a contract to procure 12 S-76DTM helicopters and has taken options to acquire eight additional S-76D aircraft. The aircraft will perform security, transport and other missions. Delivery of the first helicopter is scheduled for early 2012.

Shane Eddy, Vice President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, said “We’re truly honored to work with the MOI and proud to be announcing the largest S-76D fleet order to date,” adding, “We appreciate the opportunity to show that the S-76D helicopter will provide the superior performance and capability that the MOI requires and is well-suited for operations throughout the region.”

The latest model in the highly successful S-76 helicopter line, the S-76D helicopter features are all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual rotor speed for quiet mode operation with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney 210S engines; a quiet mode; and an optional Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS) for all-weather capability. The S-76D helicopter also will offer an increase in useful load and extended range performance versus the S-76C+TM and S-76C++TM aircraft currently fielded. Nearly 800 S-76 helicopters have been produced and delivered.

Based in Stratford, Connecticut, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service.

 

-planenews.com

 

1st S-70i BLACK HAWK Helicopter Completes Flight Testing

The first S-70iTM BLACK HAWK helicopter has successfully completed production flight testing and will begin development and flight testing of options that will be made available to international customers.

The aircraft has flown more than 50 hours in its production flight test program. It will undergo extensive flight testing in the coming months as options are integrated into the aircraft.

“The next phase of the program will expand the capability of the aircraft, transitioning it from a baseline configuration to a multi-faceted platform,” said Debra A. Zampano, S-70i Senior Program Manager, International Military Programs. “The aircraft has performed to all program requirements and has made a smooth transition from its production build in Poland through Sikorsky’s rigorous flight test program in Florida. The next phase of development will produce a BLACK HAWK helicopter that the global marketplace has never seen before.”

The options that will be developed for the S-70i will enable customers to perform missions such as humanitarian relief, search and rescue, medical evacuation, command and control, and armed patrol. Deliveries to the launch customer of the S-70i helicopter program are slated to begin by mid-2011.

The S-70i helicopter utilizes a global supply chain and is the first BLACK HAWK helicopter ever to be assembled in Europe. The aircraft are being manufactured at PZL Mielec, Sikorsky Aircraft’s company in Poland.

-ASDNews

 

 

Production Starts For Sikorsky’s S-76D Helicopter

The S-76D helicopter program is entering production and this signifies the latest major milestone in the program that is manufacturing the next generation model of the popular S-76 helicopter.

The first S-76D helicopter airframe has entered production on the assembly line at Aero Vodochody (Aero) in the Czech Republic in preparation for the customer deliveries planned to begin in 2011. The first S-76D helicopter airframe with a serial number 761004 had its fuselage joined and then entered final assembly at Aero. The fuselage is scheduled to depart Aero in April 2010 for delivery to Sikorsky Global Helicopters facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where final assembly and completion of the S-76D helicopters will take place

A Sikorsky S-76C Helicopter

Tim Fox, S-76D helicopter program manager, said “It has taken a tremendous amount of coordination, teamwork and dedication to reach this important milestone in the S-76D helicopter program, both within Sikorsky’s operations and with many key suppliers who have contributed to the program,” adding, “Today we can say we are manufacturing S-76D aircraft, and we are truly excited about it.”

The S-76D helicopter production effort is supported by more than 30 key suppliers. Fox said, “These suppliers are committed to the program and are working collaboratively towards the delivery of the aircraft. With the airframe originating in the Czech Republic, the engines in Canada, avionics in France, and tail pylon in Turkey, to name a few components, the S-76D helicopter is truly a world citizen supported by world-class suppliers.”

Among the S-76D helicopter’s features are all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual speed rotor with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines; a quiet mode for enhanced public acceptance; and an optional Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS) for all-weather capability. The S-76D helicopter also will offer an increase in useful load and extended range performance versus the S-76C+ and S-76C++ aircraft currently fielded.

A subsidiary of United Technologies Corp, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service.

 

-planenews.com

 

Successful Critical Design Review for Sikorsky’s CH-53K Program

Last August 3, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation announced the success of the completion of the CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Program Critical Design Review (CDR) event, signaling the program is ready to proceed to assembly, test and evaluation.

Sikorsky's CH-53K Helicopter

The joint Sikorsky/Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) CH-53K helicopter program team hosted a meeting in late July along with stakeholders and key collaborators from the government and the industry for an in-depth aircraft design review. The CH-53K team successfully demonstrated that the design meets the system requirements, setting the stage for the next phase of the program. Review participants included members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, NAVAIR, Sikorsky Aircraft, and 21 major industrial partners who displayed component exhibits that augmented technical presentations.

The CH-53K helicopter team has successfully completed numerous major reviews over the past four years, including the System Requirements Review (SRR), System Functional Review (SFR), System Preliminary Design Review (PDR), 77 supplier-level Critical Design Reviews (CDR’s), 64 supplier and internal software reviews, and 16 sub-system CDRs.

Over 93% of the design has been released for manufacturing. System-level performance projections indicate all seven Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) will be achieved with adequate risk mitigation margin built-in for subsequent phases of the program. The team is ready to move into fabrication and assembly of test articles, component qualification, and flight test.

The CH-53K helicopter will maintain virtually the same footprint as its predecessor, the three-engine CH-53E SUPER STALLION helicopter, but will nearly triple the payload to 27,000 pounds over 110 nautical miles under ”hot/high” ambient conditions. The CH-53K helicopter’s maximum gross weight (MGW) with internal loads is 74,000 pounds compared to 69,750 pounds for the CH-53E aircraft. The CH-53K’s MGW with external loads is 88,000 pounds as compared to 73,500 for the CH-53E helicopter.

Features of the CH-53K helicopter include: a modern glass cockpit; fly-by-wire flight controls; fourth generation rotor blades with anhedral tips; a low-maintenance elastomeric rotor head; upgraded engines; a locking cargo rail system; external cargo handling improvements; survivability enhancements; and improved reliability, maintainability and supportability. The program is expected to achieve the Initial Operational Capability milestone in FY18.

Sikorsky has been building CH-53 helicopters for the Marine Corps since the CH-53A aircraft was introduced in 1963. The heavy lift mission is currently performed by the Sikorsky CH-53E SUPER STALLION helicopter and CH-53D SEA STALLION helicopter models that have logged a cumulative total of 1.37 million flight hours in over 40 years.

-sikorsky.com

-wikipedia.org

Sikorsky makes first S-70i sale to Saudi Arabia

Sikorsky announced at the Farnborough International Air Show that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) has become the launch customer for Sikorsky’s new S-70i International Black Hawk helicopter.

The MOI has signed a contract for three aircraft and taken options for 12 additional S-70i helicopters according to a company statement. The delivery of the first S-70i is scheduled for early 2011, with the aircraft performing transport, border protection and other missions for the MOI.

Also, the MOI signed a further contract for twelve S-76D medium twin helicopters and has taken options for eight additional aircraft. Delivery of those aircraft is scheduled for early 2012.

The first S-70i Black Hawk, which was produced at PZL Mielec in Poland, first flew last July 1 at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The company is confident that it will become popular with customers who want a Black Hawk type capability but at a reduced cost and without going through the US foreign military sales process. With PZL Mielec acting as the dub for international sales of the Black Hawk, the company is also eyeing the Turkish Utility Helicopter Programme TUHP, although Sikorsky plans to establish a further Black Hawk franchise in that country should it win the competition.

The S-70i features a digital cockpit with a dual digital automatic flight control system and coupled flight director as well as an active vibration control system and dual GPS/INS system with digital map.

- shephard.co.uk

- aviationtoday.com

Sikorsky and Lockheed team-up for USAF HH-60 Recap

Sikorsky’s UH-60M BLACK HAWK

Former rivals Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft are teaming up to offer a modified UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter they say will better meet the pared-down expectations for the U.S. Air Force combat, search and rescue (CSAR) replacement program.

The two companies signed a teaming agreement formalizing their intent to offer an advanced version of Sikorsky’s UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter for the Air Force’s HH-60 Personnel Recovery Recapitalization program (HH-60 Recap). The program would replace the 112 existing HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet with an equal number of new aircraft requiring minimal airframe modification or mission systems development.

The agreement positions Sikorsky as prime contractor, with Lockheed Martin as the major subsystems supplier.

“Our team has the resources and experience to rapidly deliver the proven UH-60M airframe design with mature situational awareness sensors and mission systems,” said Scott Starrett, president of Sikorsky Military Systems. “We believe a UH-60M aircraft missionized for the complexities of the combat search and rescue mission will fit seamlessly into established Air Force training and logistics operations.”

Lockheed Martin on the other hand, has provided integrated avionics and mission systems for other H-60 aircraft, including U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force special operations helicopters, and Air Force combat rescue helicopters. Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin also have a well established working relationship over 38 years, delivering more than 400 SH-60B and MH-60R/S mission-ready aircraft to the U.S. Navy.

“Lockheed Martin has 25 years of experience integrating mission systems for special operations and combat rescue helicopters,” said Dan Spoor, Aviation Systems vice president at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors in Owego, N.Y. “We also can bring to the HH-60 Recap program the mature systems and readiness from our work on the prior CSAR-X competition.”

The companies will share facilities, experience and engineering talent for both opportunities.

- planenews.com
- aviationweek.com