Australia has requested costing information for three electronic warfare (EW) systems as part of extensive options included in the release of request for tenders for its Air87 armed reconnaissance helicopter.
The EW alternatives include the helicopter's standard fit. A second option comprises the BAE Systems ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing system, Elisra's SPS-100 radar warning receiver (RWR), LWS-20 laser warning system and Northrop Grumman's AAR-54 missile approach warning system. In the third option, BAE Systems Australia ALR-2002D replaces the machine's existing RWR.
Other options in the tender include the provision of an air-to-air missile, radar inferometry and a millimetric wave radar.
As part of its bid, Eurocopter is increasing the Tiger's engine power. Manuel Torres, Eurocopter Tiger managing director, says the MTR390's rating can be boosted 7% - from 1,160kW (865hp) - by improving the full authority digital engine control software.
A second step could increase the power by 17% over today's engine, but that would require major engine hardware modifications, says Torres.
The Aussie Tiger proposal is 95-98% common with the French army's HAP version, but the roof-mounted sight (RMS) will be modified. The laser rangefinder will be replaced by a laser designator for the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missile as the helicopter's main armament.
Torres says he has already ordered an upgraded RMS from supplier Sogerma because an analysis indicated that the market would require Tiger to be offered with Hellfire instead of European weapons.
BAE Systems Australia and Australia Technology Information (ATI) have joined Boeing's Air87 bid, based on the AH-64D Apache, says Martin Stieglitz, vice-president Apache programmes.
BAE will supply training, ground support and electro-optic system support as well as the ALR-2002. Australia's requirement for a wire-avoidance system could be met by BAE's TERPROM terrain matching navigation system. ATI will build the ground data terminal which receives data transmitted from the Apache's improved data market.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, meanwhile, has put electro-optical sensors on two Air 87 competitors. Its Target Sight System is offered as part of Bell's ARH-1Z proposal while Boeing's AH-64 Apache bid includes Lockheed Martin's Arrowhead, which was recently selected by the US Army to upgrade its AH-64s.
Bell's ARH-1Z is based on the upgraded machine being developed for the US Marine Corps. The fourth contender is Agusta's A129 Scorpion.
RFT responses are set for 30 April and the Australian Government has indicated a desire to select a winner by the end of the year. It requires between 20 and 24 machines.
Source: Flight International
