Stewart Penney/LONDON
In the next year or so several key military rotorcraft competitions should be settled. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is on the brink of an initial production contract and the US Army's plans for updating its utility aircraft fleet are moving slowly forwards.
Attack helicopters are a must-have requirement and a number of procurement battles continue. Turkey was expected to select a type for its 145-machine, $3.5 billion order earlier this year but has delayed the decision twice. Agusta's A129 Mangusta International, Bell's AH-1Z King Cobra and the Kamov/Israel Aircraft Industries KA-50-2 Erdogan are competing. The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow and Eurocopter Tiger were eliminated last year.
South Korea has restarted a competition for attack helicopters which was shelved during the country's economic problems of the late 1990s. Competitors are expected to include the five evaluated by Turkey as well as Denel's CSH-2 Rooivalk, Mil's Mi-28 Havoc and Sikorsky's armed version of the UH-60 Black Hawk. The South Korean army needs 30-40 helicopters, from around 2004.
Australia's long-running Air 87 competition is under review along with all other procurements exceeding A$50 million ($30 million). Until earlier this year, the battle for a 30-aircraft order was between the Apache, Mangusta and Tiger, but Bell successfully appealed against the AH-1Z not being shortlisted. If funding continues, first deliveries are set for 2003, although this could slip.
The Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP) is a joint procurement by Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden which aims to buy up to 100 machines to replace a range of diverse types. Contenders are the Eurocopter Cougar Mk2-Plus, EH Industries EH101, NH Industries NH90 and Sikorsky S-92 for roles including anti-surface warfare (ASW), transport and search and rescue. Sikorsky has redesigned its S-92, stretching the fuselage by 400mm (15.7in) to allow for a larger door and including an avionics bay. The tail has been lowered to improve the machine's hovering performance. Portugal is evaluating the same group of helicopters.
Canada also requires new ASW machines, to replace Sikorsky CH-124 Sea Kings. Teams are forming to bid for the contract, with the S-92 and EH101 looking like the prime competitors. The latter already has a contract from Canada, for 15 SAR machines, the first of which should be delivered next February.
The signing of the NH Industries productionisation contract in June will be a boost to the NH90 in the NSHP competition and allows the consortium to step up its marketing campaign. Early targets are Portugal and Oman. The latter requires around 30 transport helicopters.
Sikorsky is to restart CH-53E production after a Turkish order for eight aircraft. Each aircraft will be equipped with a Rockwell Collins glass cockpit, similar to that specified by Turkey for a Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk follow-on order. The UH-60 family, meanwhile, remains the mainstay of US Army Aviation's utility fleet. Earlier aircraft are being rebuilt to UH-60L+, similar to the current build standard, while the UH-60Ls will be modified as UH-60Xs. One key element will be the Common Engine Programme, which aims to develop a 2,235kW (3,000shp) engine with improved operating performance. Meanwhile, the US Navy's fleet of SH-60s and HH-60s are being upgraded to SH-60R and CH-60S respectively.
Despite a fatal crash earlier this year the US Marine Corps is pushing ahead with its V-22 acquisition. A low rate initial production contract is due later this year, kicking off procurement of 360 tiltrotors for the marines as well as Ospreys for the air force and navy.
Source: Flight International
