An industry team bidding to secure central European contracts to upgrade the region's ageing fleets of Mil Mi-24 assault helicopters achieved its first flight of the Sova-Attack technology demonstrator last month.
Conducted at Bulgarian defence ministry-owned Terem's Letetz maintenance facility in the capital Sofia on 16 January, the 13min debut flight was used to test the aircraft's key systems, powerplant and drivetrain in the air, says the ATL consortium. The flight also included a hover after an engine shutdown and electronic balancing of the main rotor blades. Two more sorties took place on 18 January, during which the aircraft's performance envelope and weapons control system were tested further.
The ATL team comprises Advanced Technologies Engineering (ATE) of South Africa's ATE France subsidiary, Bulgarian firm Liconex, Terem and Thales. The consortium has embarked on the Sova demonstrator programme under a private initiative thought to be worth around $3 million.
n The Bulgarian defence ministry last month signed a contract with Eurocopter worth an estimated €360 million ($465 million) for eight AS532AL Cougar utility helicopters, four Cougar combat search and rescue aircraft and six AS565MB Panther maritime helicopters. Bulgaria's first Cougar will be delivered around June 2006, with the third to be handed over by January 2007. The aircraft will replace 12 of the air force's 18 Mil Mi-17s, the rest of which are to undergo an Elbit Systems/Lockheed Martin avionics upgrade and a life-extension programme managed by Terem.
The Panthers will replace navy Mi-14PLs for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, maritime patrol and VIP transport duties.
ALEXANDER MLADENOV / SOFIA
Source: Flight International
