The US Marine Corps has delivered an upbeat message on the Bell AH-1Z/UH-1Y modernisation programme at Le Bourget, despite cost over-runs on the helicopters' integrated avionics suite which have delayed the start of low-rate initial production (LRIP).
Capt Tom Curtis, USMC H-1 programme manager, confirms that although the start of LRIP had been put back, the number of LRIP machines will increase. That means that full-rate production of 36 helicopters a year will begin in 2005, giving operational capability by late 2006. Nine attack and utility helicopters will be manufactured in 2003, ramping up to 19 in 2004. Once full-rate production starts, the mix will be 2:1 in favour of the AH-1Z.
"We are getting ready to celebrate the 100th flight hour of the AH-1Z at Pax River," says Capt Curtis. "First flight of the UH-1Y is scheduled for November and we're on target for that."
These aircraft will be a huge step forward in terms of crash worthiness, survivability, range, payload and speed. The fact that 85% of major components are identical - not just from the same family but serial number identical - will give us major commonality benefits."
The biggest enhancement for the AH-1Z will be the Lockheed Martin AAQ-30 Hawkeye target sighting system (TSS) which the USMC says offers twice the detection, recognition and identification range of second generation systems.
Capt Curtis highlighted the importance of the TSS by referring to figures showing that 238 out of the last 253 missions involving the USMC included urban operations.
Source: Flight Daily News
