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Philippines in the Market for ASW Helicopters

19 Agustus 2012

Philippines will acquire 4 ASW helicopters for Navy within 2013-2017 (photo : Militaryphotos)

MANILA — As part of its efforts to improve the capabilities of the naval service, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it will be acquiring four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters for the Philippine Navy (PN) within the period 2013 to 2017.

Col. Arnulfo M. Burgos, Jr., AFP spokesperson, said the decision to acquire ASW assets for the PN is part of country's Medium Term Defense Acquisition List for the next four years.

The ASW choppers will be assigned to the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and the soon-to-come BRP Ramon Alcaraz and hopefully to the two "Maestrale" class missile-firing frigates from Italy being eyed by the Department of National Defense (DND) for acquisition by 2013.

Burgos declined to identify the manufacturer of the proposed ASW helicopters but said studies are now undergoing to identify the best and most affordable aircraft for the Philippines.

DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier announced that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be getting 10 brand-new units of Eurocopter attack choppers to boost its fleet.

He added that this contract is worth P3.2 billion.

Gazmin said that the DND has already presented it to the government policy and procurement board for evaluation.

This was after the defense department recommended acquisition approval for the above-mentioned helicopters.

And should the contract be signed anytime this August, the DND chief said that the first four units will be delivered within the year.

"All these choppers are brandnew and fitted with weapons, navigation and sensor equipment," Gazmin stressed.

The body of the Eurocopter is made from 80 percent carbon fiber reinforced polymer and kevlar, 11 percent aluminum, and six percent titanium.

The rotors are made from fiber-plastic able to withstand combat damage and bird strikes.

Protection against lightning and electromagnetic pulse is ensured by embedded copper/bronze grid and copper bonding foil.

Eurocopter's armor can withstand 23 mm autocannon fire.

The helicopter can be equipped with a variety of air-to-ground weapons, rockets, and even air-to-air missiles and state-of-the-art sensor and navigation systems. (PNA)

(ZamboTimes)

TNI AL akan Mendapatkan 11 Helikopter ASW pada 2014

15 Agustus 2012

Dari Kementrian Pertahanan saat ini belum ada keputusan mengenai jenis 11 helikopter anti kapal selam kelas ringan (+ 5 ton) yang akan dipilih, apakah dari Kaman Super Seasprite Amerika Serikat atau Agusta dari Italia (photo : Airliners)

TNI AL Siap Beli Heli dari Amerika

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta: TNI Angkatan Laut mengaku berencana membeli 11 helikopter anti kapal selam dari Amerika Serikat. Helikopter Super Seasprite SH2G itu diproduksi Kaman Aerospace, Amerika. "Kami sudah dua kali kunjungan penjajakan ke sana," ujar Kepala Dinas Penerangan TNI AL Laksamana Pertama Untung Suropati saat dihubungi Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012.

Hasil kunjungan Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Laut dan timnya ini sudah dipaparkan kepada Kementerian Pertahanan. "Kami bahkan sudah sempat test flight," ujar Untung.Meski begitu, Untung tak bisa memastikan apakah rencana pembelian itu pasti dilakukan atau tidak. "Keputusan pembelian ada di tangan Kementerian Pertahanan,” katanya.

Dari sejumlah uji coba, TNI AL menilai helikopter ini cukup bagus. "Ini heli anti kapal selam versi AL yang sudah dilengkapi torpedo," ujar dia.

Wakil Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Laut Laksamana Madya Marsetio membenarkan rencana ini. Menurutnya, 11 unit helikopter anti kapal selam ini sesuai kebutuhan TNI AL. "Bermanfaat untuk menggantikan helikopter anti kapal selam yang kita miliki selama ini,” katanya.

(Tempo)

US Approves 24 Raytheon Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems for Australia

07 Agustus 2012

Raytehon MTS - Multi Spectral Targeting System integrated on manned and unmanned aerial systems such as the C-130 fixed wing aircraft, the MH-60 helicopter and the medium altitude long endurance Reaper drone (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $23,933,208 firm-fixed-price contract for 24 Multi-Spectral Targeting systems. The system is an airborne, electro-optic, forward-looking infra-red, turreted sensor package that provides long-range surveillance, high altitude target acquisition, tracking, range-finding, and laser designation, and for all tri-service and NATO laser guided munitions.

This contract includes purchases for the government of Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program under FMS Case AT-P-SCF.

Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This non-commercial contract was procured and solicited on a sole source basis under Basic Ordering Agreement N00164-12-G-JQ66.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-12-G-JQ66).

(US DoD)

Black Hawk and Seahawk Maintenance and Engineering Services Contract

10 Juli 2012

Australian Army Blackhawk helicopter (photo : 3AW)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the signing of a $124.8 million contract for maintenance and engineering support for the Black Hawk and Seahawk fleet of helicopters.

The Black Hawk multi-role helicopters have been the mainstay of the Australian Defence Force’s troop lift helicopter capability since 1987.

Black Hawks can also carry out aerial reconnaissance, observation, direction of artillery fire, casualty evacuation and aerial fire support. Black Hawks also played a vital role in search and rescue and the provision of disaster relief support during the 2011 natural disasters in Australia.

The Seahawk have been a key element of Australia’s anti-submarine warfare capability since 1988.

Seahawks can deploy from Navy frigates and amphibious ships. In addition to anti-submarine warfare, Seahawks perform a wide range of roles at sea, including anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, supply and replenishment and medical evacuation.

Seahawk SW helicopter (photo : RAN)

“Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopters have been a key part of the Australian Defence Force for the last 25 years,” Mr Smith said.

“They have supported our troops on operations as well as providing important disaster relief support here in Australia.”

“For every hour in the sky, there are a lot more hours of repair and maintenance needed on the ground,” Mr Clare said.

“That’s why signing this contract is so important. The highly skilled workers at Sikorsky Helitech play an important role in keeping our helicopters flying.”

The four year contract with Sikorsky Helitech is for the provision of maintenance and engineering services in support of the Black Hawk and Seahawk fleets, with options to extend for a further six years.

(Aus DoD)

US to Give Permit to Kaman to Negotiate a Possible Sale of SH-2G(I) to New Zealand

22 Juni 2012

Super Seaprite ASW helicopter (photo : Militaryphotos)

Kaman Confirms SH-2G(I) Negotiations with New Zealand

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.-- (NYSE:KAMN) Kaman Corporation confirmed today that The U.S. Department of State has granted authorization that would permit the Company to negotiate a possible sale of SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite Helicopters to the Government of New Zealand. The potential sale would include eleven SH-2G(I) helicopters, a full motion flight simulator, training aids, spares inventory, publications and the introduction into service and through life support of the aircraft.

New Zealand officials have been working over the past year to determine the most effective way of meeting their future maritime helicopter requirements and the Cabinet has recently directed defence officials to engage in further discussions with Kaman.

The Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite is the latest version of the multi-mission maritime helicopter and would potentially replace the country’s existing fleet of SH-2G’s. These helicopters would significantly enhance New Zealand’s vertical lift capabilities with exceptional performance and low operating costs. Kaman continues to support the Ministry’s objective of extending the Naval Helicopter Capability through 2025. As stated in their Defence Capability Plan, this capability would fulfill a vital national role in the provision of extended reach, surveillance, and air-delivered weapons capability for the ANZAC frigates. These aircraft are also capable of operation from offshore patrol vessels, and the multi-role vessel when required to do so.

Negotiations regarding a potential program between the New Zealand Government and Kaman are in process and are confidential. No investment decisions have been made by New Zealand at this time and Kaman continues to work with other potential customers on the sale of the aircraft.

(Kaman)

New Zealand Negotiates Purchase of 11 SH-2G Super Seasprite

15 Mei 2012

Kaman offers 11 refurbished older helicopters rejected by Australia in 2008 focusing on the three countries : New Zealand, Egypt and Poland. (photo : Phlil Vabre)

Reject Aussie choppers on Navy shopping list

The Navy's troubled fleet of five Seasprite helicopters may soon be replaced by up to 11 refurbished older helicopters rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable.

But Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said the air worthiness issues the Australians identified had been corrected and there were still plenty of "off-ramps" before any deal was done.

Australiaordered the helicopters in 1997 under the John Howard Government but the project was delayed when modifications ordered by Australia failed to meet performance standards or were too difficult to implement in the refurbished air frames.

According to AAP, seven of the 11 helicopters were originally built in 1963 to 1965 and the other four in the mid-1980s.

Dr Coleman said that what was on offer was up-to-date capability overall, not second-hand capability.

"The reality is we wouldn't buy it if it's not state-of-the-art capability that fits our need.

We not going for 'this is cheap, let's grab it.' There's been a hell of a lot of work that has gone into it."

He was not sure how old the air frames were but the technology on military aircraft was upgraded "and that is actually the key functionality".

The Cabinet has given Defence officials approval to negotiate with the American manufacturers, Kaman Corporation, for the SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters and a flight simulator in what a Navy source said was a "very good deal".

He would not be specific about the price but it is thought the 11 helicopters, worth $1.4 billion in 2008, would cost New Zealandbetween $130 million to $230 million depending on numbers and extras.

That compares with the nine NH90 helicopters that are under delivery for $770 million.

The present Seasprites operate from the Navy's two Anzac class frigates, Te Kaha and Te Mana, and the multi-role ship Canterbury.

The Defence Capability Plan released last year foreshadowed a programme to upgrade or replace the Seasprite fleet over four years from 2012.

The botched deal cost Australian taxpayers more than $1 billion in 2008 when the Australian Government told the Kaman Corporation it was pulling out of the deal.

The helicopters were a vital part of the defensive role in the Australian Anzac-class frigates and were meant to protect the frigates from hostile ships and submarines.

Kaman's vice-president of investor relations, Eric Remington, said last week that as part of the settlement with Australia Kaman "took title to the 11 aircraft so that we may offer them for resale".

He said the company was in discussions "with a number of nations" to sell the helicopters but refused to confirm New Zealand was one of the countries in negotiation.

Kaman had earlier said it was focusing on the three countries flying Seasprites: New Zealand, Egypt and Poland. It was also talking to three unnamed potential buyers, Nato and some nations in South Asia, South America and Eastern Europe.

The company denied allegations in Australiathat the Seasprites were ever unsafe and said the United States military had operated an earlier version for decades without any serious problems.

Rumours have been circulating in Navy and Defence circles for weeks that the deal was about to be settled.

New Zealand has five Seasprite helicopters which were bought new.

The fleet had been troubled by corrosion and a lack of staff to keep them flying.

Last year then-Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said the New Zealand Seasprites were safe and very capable.

A Ministry of Defence report had earlier indicated only one of the five helicopters was serviceable in October 2010 and earlier last year only two were flying.

The first of Australia's Seasprites arrived in 2003 but within two years many deficiencies had been identified, including an inability to fly in bad weather and low light and a failure to meet Australian airworthiness certification standards. The Australian machines were grounded in 2006.

(NZHerald)

Ferra, LMI Join to Build MH-60R Shipsets

17 Maret 2012

MH-60R anti submarine warfare helicopter (photo : Militaryphotos)

Ferra, LMI Join MH-60R Team

Lockheed Martin signed a Global Supply Chain (GSC) Deed with Australia’s Department of Defence in 2011, promising to identify business opportunities for Australian companies.
This week, Lockheed Martin made good on that commitment, selecting Ferra Engineering of Queensland, Australia, as one of two companies to build 120 shipsets for the MH-60R maritime helicopter, known as the Romeo.

Ferra and LMI Aerospace of Missouri will split the MH-60R work worth an anticipated value of approximately $12 million (US). The shipsets include weapons pylons for the Romeos’ left and right sides and mission kit assemblies.

“Lockheed Martin is committed to promoting a strong Australian industrial base,” said Dan Spoor, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s aviation systems. “This agreement positions Ferra and LMI to perform work not only for the MH-60R helicopters being built for Australia, but also for existing and future Romeos as well. It gives Freer and Australia an opportunity to show the rest of the world just how good their aerospace industry is.”

Last June, Australia announced its plans to purchase 24 MH-60Rs from the U.S. Navy to replace 16 existing S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters in operation since the late 1980s. The first two Romeos are scheduled for delivery in early 2014. Lockheed Martin performs the mission package integration work on the MH-60R, while Sikorsky builds the airframe.

Ferra specializes in the design, manufacture, assembly and test of aerospace structures and sub-systems for Australian and international defense and aerospace companies. It has developed high speed machining processes for aerospace materials and is also working with Lockheed Martin on the F-35 Lightning II fifth generation fighter.

Founded in 1948, LMI Aerospace fabricates, machines, finishes, and integrates formed, close tolerance aluminum and specialty alloy components and sheet metal products primarily for large commercial, corporate and military aircraft.

Under the GSC Deed, Lockheed Martin will continue working to establish long-term partnerships with Australian companies so they can compete for subcontracts on a full range of the company’s products and services.

(Lockheed Martin)

Seven Minor Modifications will be Made for RAN's MH-60R

10 Maret 2012

Sikorsky MH-60R ASW helicopter (photo : Sikorsky)

AIR 9000 Phase 8 seeks to acquire 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo maritime combat helicopters, associated support systems, and weapons, to replace the existing capability provided by the Navy’s 16 aging S-70B-2 Seahawks, and the cancelled Seasprite project.

The MH-60R is a mature platform currently in service with the United States Navy, with 100 aircraft delivered and 90,000 flying hours achieved at the time of signing the acquisition agreement. The aircraft will be equipped with Hellfire air to surface missiles, Mk 54 torpedoes, dipping sonar, sonobuoy launcher, multi-mode radar, and an integrated self defence system. The primary roles of the MH-60R are Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare, while secondary roles include surveillance, search and rescue, and utility functions.

The MH-60R is a “military off the shelf” solution, although seven minor modifications will be made to adapt the aircraft to suit unique Australian requirements. All aircraft will be delivered in standard USN configuration, with modification work scheduled to occur during the period 2018 – 2020. The project will also necessitate limited modifications to both the Anzac class frigates and Hobart class air warfare destroyers, and planning for this work is underway.

Second Pass approval for the MH-60R project was announced on 16 June 2011. DMO aims to deliver the first aircraft in 2014, and to reach Initial Operating Capability, consisting of the first flight at sea, in 2015. The capability is expected to mature to provide eight embarked flights (in USN configuration) by July 2018. Final Operational Capability, including all ship and aircraft modifications, and a mature weapons suite, will be achieved by 2023. The S-70B-2 will be sustained until the new capability is established.

(Aus DoD)

Puspenerbal Akan Tambah 10 Helikopter dan 3 Pesawat

26 Februari 2012

Pesawat CN-235 pesanan TNI AL per Januari 2012 (photo : Indonesia Raya)

TRIBUNJATIM.COM,SURABAYA- Program pembangunan kekuatan unsur udara untuk mengantisipasi potensi ancaman dari laut dalam tahun ini Pusat Penerbangan Angkatan Laut (Puspenerbal) TNI AL akan menambah 10 Helikopter dan tiga pesawat patroli maritim (Patmar).

KSAL Laksamana TNI Soeparno mengatakan, kebutuhan Helikopter dan Patmar tersebut adalah tuntutan mengimbangi kekuatan lawan, terutama Helikopter yang memiliki kemampuan Anti Kapal Permukaan (AKPA) dan Anti Kapal Selam (AKS).

“Ini adalah Prioritas teutama Helikopter dengan kemampuan AKS yang paling ditakuti oleh kapal selam lawan yang disinyalir sering melakukan kegiatan spionase melalui perairan teritorial maupun alur laut,” papar Soeparno usai menjadi Irup Sertijab Komandan Puspenerbal di Apron Hanggar Lanudal Juanda, Jumat (23/2/2012).

Heli Anti Kapal Selam dan Anti Kpal Permukaan akan melengkapi arsenal TNI AL (photo : ADF)

Selain Helikopter AKPA dan AKS pihaknya juga memesan jenis Helikopter angkut taktis. Untuk pesawat terbang, Puspenerbal dalam tahun ini juga akan menambah tiga pesawat Patroli Maritim (Patmar).

“Satu pesawat sudah selesai dan akan diserahkan tanggal 28 nanti,” jelasnya.

Sementara untuk pesawat lama seperti jenis pesawat Nomad, kata Soeparno jika masih bisa dirawat, pesawat tersebut tetap akan dipakai.

“Akan dipelajari lagi rencana grounded, kalau bisa dipertahankan akan dipakai,” pungkasnya.

(TribunNews)

Raytheon Wins the ALFS for Australian Navy

28 Desember 2011

Airborne Low Frequency Sonar for MH-60R ASW helicopters (photo : Raytheon)

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Portsmouth, R.I. is being awarded an $80,830,000 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-11-C-0077) to provide for the procurement of 25 MH-60R AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) systems for the Royal Australian Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program.

Work will be performed in Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex, France (68 percent), and Portsmouth, R.I. (32 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2016. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

(US DoD)

11 Helikopter Seasprite untuk TNI AL Diproses Pengadaannya

01 Desember 2011

Helikopter SH2G Seasprite buatan Kaman Helicopters AS (photo : Jetphotos)

Heli Antikapal Selam Perkuat TNI AL

JAKARTA – Kekuatan alat utama sistem senjata (alutsista) TNI Angkatan Laut akan bertambah menyusul proses pengadaan 11 unit helikopter antikapal selam, antikapal permukaan, serta dua pesawat patroli laut.

Tambahan alutsista itu akan mengisi kelemahan-kelemahan yang dimiliki kapal TNI AL. Kepala Dinas Penerangan Angkatan Laut Laksamana Pertama TNI Untung Suropati mengatakan, keberadaan pesawat sayap tetap maupun sayap putar (helikopter) penting bagi TNI AL, karena mereka merupakan kepanjangan “mata” dan “telinga” dari kapal TNI AL (KRI). Wilayah laut Indonesia yang luas, menurut dia, tidak memungkinkan untuk dijangkau oleh KRI mengingat kekuatannya yang terbatas.

Karena itu, keberadaan tambahan dua unit maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) dan11 helikopter anti kapal selam Seasprite itu sangat penting untuk mengisi kekosongan yang tidak terkover kapal-kapal TNI. “Pesawat tentunya memiliki kelebihan di manuver, fleksibilitas, jangkauan yang luas, dan kemampuan deteksinya juga lebih cepat,” tegas Untung di Jakarta, kemarin. Dua unit MPA yang akan menambah kekuatan TNI AL yaitu pesawat CN-235 yang rencana sudah mulai diterima TNI AL pada 2013.

Selain radar deteksi, pesawat ini juga akan dilengkapi dengan kemampuan untuk melakukan penindakan. Adapun untuk helikopter Seasprite sejumlah satu skuadron itu, memiliki kemampuan penindakan yang lebih ampuh. Enam dari 11 helikopter dilengkapi dengan senjata antikapal selam, sisanya lima unit merupakan antikapal permukaan. “Rencananya pada 2012 pengadaannya,” ujarnya. Sekretaris Komite Kebijakan Industri Pertahanan Letjen TNI Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin mengatakan, pengadaan CN-235 untuk MPA TNI AL masuk dalam prioritas alutsista TNI.

Rencananya, biaya pengadaan menggunakan alokasi dari pinjaman luar negeri sebesar USD60 juta, namun pemesanan di PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Sjafrie yang juga wakil menteri pertahanan itu menuturkan, dalam strategi pertahanan Indonesia, saat ini memang sedang dikembangkan penguatan di kawasan Indonesia bagian timur.

(Seputar Indonesia)

2013 Delivery Planned for First Australian Romeos

28 Oktober 2011

A nearly complete MH-60R at Lockheed Martin's Owego facility. (photo : Australian Aviation)

The first two of 24 Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin MH-60R naval helicopters being acquired for the Royal Australian Navy under Air 9000 Phase 8 could be delivered as early as December 2013, according to Lockheed Martin.

Under Air 9000 Phase 8 the RAN requires delivery of its first MH-60R ‘Romeos’ from mid 2014, but Australia has requested early delivery of some of the aircraft. Consequently, under current planning the first two MH-60Rs will be delivered in December 2013, followed by seven in 2014, seven in 2015, and the last eight in 2016, according to George Barton, director of naval helicopter programs at Lockheed Martin’s MS2 business.

Lockheed Martin is hopeful an acquisition contract for the Australian Romeos will be signed by the end of this year, while a through life support contract will be signed in 2013. The acquisition contract will also incorporate a commitment that Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky place work with Australian industry under their respective Global Supply Chain agreements with the Australian government (Lockheed Martin signed its GSC with the Australian government last January, Sikorsky is expected to sign a GSC around the time of the Romeo acquisition contract). Then Australian Industry Capability work packages will be negotiated over a three month timeframe once the acquisition contract is signed.

“We’ve got an awful lot of work to do this year with regard to the Australian Air 9000 [Phase 8] program,” Barton told Australian journalists on October 27. “We just completed a through life support survey at Nowra, and we spent two weeks over there going through the facilities, a site survey meeting with the DMO reps fleshing out the details of exactly what they are going to want. We have a meeting here in November to discuss some of the development options, and then in December there is a scheduled program review with the US Navy and Australia. So a lot of work is going to be ongoing between the two teams and industry will be supporting those.”

Meanwhile, production of the Romeo at Sikorsky’s Stratford, Connecticut, and Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York plants, is continuing apace, with aircraft currently being delivered to the US Navy at a rate of approximately three per month. The 100th Romeo for the US Navy was delivered mid this year, while a new multiyear contract to take production for the US Navy through to 2018 is expected to be signed in the December-January timeframe. The helicopter is also currently being marketed to Denmark, South Korea and Qatar.

(Australian Aviation)

Northrop Grumman to Supply AQS-24A Airborne Mine-Hunting System to Japan

26 Oktober 2011

Northrop Grumman AQS-24A (all photos : Northrop Grumman)

ANNAPOLIS, Md., -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been competitively selected to supply the AQS-24A airborne mine-hunting system to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Under the initial contract, Northrop Grumman's Undersea Systems business unit will deliver the airborne mine-hunting system to Kawasaki Heavy Industries for integration into Japan's new Airborne Mine Countermeasures MCH-101 helicopter.

AQS-24A Common Post Mission Analysis Station

"The combination of our proven high performance, low cost and ease of integration in the MCH-101 airframe makes the AQS-24A the ideal choice for Japan's helicopter-based mine-hunting needs," said Tom Jones, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Undersea Systems business unit. "As the only operational airborne mine-hunting search system in the U.S. Navy, the AQS-24A has demonstrated very high reliability in the field with the Navy's Helicopter Mine Countermeasures squadrons."

AQS-24A Minehunting System

The AQS-24A and its predecessors, the AQS-24 and the AQS-14, have been the only operational airborne mine hunting search systems used by the U.S. Navy for the past 27 years. The AQS-24A is a high speed mine-hunting system that is primarily towed from the MH-53E helicopter, but has been easily adapted to the smaller Japanese MCH-101 aircraft. With a track record of proven reliability and performance across the globe, the system's high-resolution side-scan sonar detects, localizes and classifies both bottom and moored mines in real time at high area coverage rates.

AQS-24A Deployment

The AQS-24A contains a laser line scanner that provides precision optical identification of underwater mines and other objects of interest. The AQS-24A allows for simultaneous operation of the sonar and laser, which significantly improves area coverage rate, shortens the mine clearance timeline and alleviates unnecessary maintenance cycles. Advanced navigation controls and processing provide highly accurate target positioning.

(Northrop Grumman)

TNI-AL Pertimbangkan Tawaran Helikopter Antikapal Selam AS

14 Oktober 2011

Kaman SH-2G Seasprite (photo : Philip B Hosking)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - TNI Angkatan Laut mempertimbangkan tawaran helikopter antikapal selam SH-2G Supersprite dari perusahaan maritim Amerika Serikat untuk memperkuat armada tempurnya.

"Kami tertarik sekali dengan arsenal tersebut, karena sangat mendukung untuk memperkuat daya tempur dan daya tangkal. Tetapi kami akan pertimbangkan matang-matang," kata juru bicara TNI Angkatan Laut Laksamana Pertama TNI Untung Suropati ketika dikonfirmasi ANTARA di Jakarta, Jumat.

Paparan tentang helikopter antikapal selam itu disampaikan Direktur Pemasaran dan Pengembangan Bisnis Kaman Helicopters Company Mark Tattershall dan Manajer Pengembangan Bisnis Kaman Aerospace Company Stephen D Rutter kepada Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut Laksamana TNI Soeparno.

Untung menambahkan, keberadaan arsenal baru sangat diperlukan armada udara TNI Angkatan Laut untuk memantau dan mengawasi wilayah perairan nasional yang sangat luas.

"Karenanya, keberadaan helikopter antikapal selam itu sangat menarik untuk mendukung kegiatan patroli maritim, daya tangkal dan daya tempur," katanya menegaskan.

Selama ini patroli maritim TNI Angkatan Laut masih menggunakan pesawat udara Nomad dan Cassa yang usianya relatif sudah uzur.

Kekuatan udara Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut saat ini terdiri atas pesawat sayap putar (helikopter) dari jenis NBell 412, NBO-105 dan NAS Super Puma, Colibri, serta pesawat sayap tetap untuk keperluan transportasi dan patroli maritim berupa NC-212 dan Nomad. (T.R018/Z002)

(Antara)

New Zealand Struggles with Seasprite Sustainment

23 Agustus 2011

SH-2G Seasprite of the RNZN (photo : Claire Gow)

New Zealand is finding its five Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters increasingly difficult to maintain, with the issue resulting in fewer flight hours than targeted.

In New Zealand's 2009/2010 fiscal year, Royal New Zealand Navy Seaspritesachieved just 882 flying hours, compared with a target range of 1,240h to 1,370h, said a report issued by the nation's defence ministry.

"That target was itself reassessed during the year to 904h, in reflection of the difficulty being experienced in keeping enough helicopters available," the report said.

New Zealand aims to have three Seasprites deployed on its Anzac-class frigates at any one time. This requires that four aircraft be operational, with the fourth required for training and certification.

In October 2010 just one Seasprite was available, with two helicopters undergoing heavy maintenance and two others awaiting heavy maintenance.

"Corrosion and vibration damage are the main maintenance issues on the Seasprite," said the ministry. "Regular operation of the Seasprite in a corrosive, salt-laden environment exacerbates maintenance issues.

"Good prevention and husbandry can slow, but not stop, the rate of airframe deterioration."

It added that "vibration damage is endemic to helicopters and worsens in line with hours flown rather than physical age. The only way to ameliorate is to lower flying hours, which is not a viable option if capability is to be maintained."

New Zealand has identified several other problems, including long lead times for spares and engineering support from manufacturer Kaman.

It also identified problems with New Zealand Defence Force training and processes.

The report makes a number of recommendations, most focused on addressing procedural and training shortcomings. It makes no mention of possibly replacing the aircraft.

The Super Seasprite entered service in New Zealand in 2001.

The Egyptian air force and Polish navy are the only other operators of the type, withFlightglobal's HeliCAS database recording them as having active fleets of 10 and three, respectively.

(FlightGlobal)

China Offers Z-9 ASW to Thailand

02 Agustus 2011

Z-9EC Anti Submarine Warfare helicopter (image : CATIC/RTN)

A delegation from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corperation (CATIC) visited Thailand and accepted by Royal Thai Navy . Delegation provides wide information about the Z-9 helicopter especially Z-9EC a naval ASW helicopter.

Z-9 helicopter is a license-built version of the French Eurocopter Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The Z9EC is a light ship-borne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter powered by two ARRIEL2C engines. It is mainly equipped with advanced dipping sonar system, torpedo and searching radar for fulfilling the anti-submarine mission. A harpoon system is equipped for its take-off and landing on ships. In addition, it can be used for search and rescue (SAR) mission.

The ASW version used by the Chinese Navy and Pakistani Navy.

(Royal Thai Navy)

New Naval Combat Helicopters for RAN

16 Juni 2011

MH-60R naval helicopter (all photos : Lockheed Martin)

New Naval Combat Helicopters

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Australian Government had approved the acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters at a cost of over $3 billion.

The 2009 Defence White Paper committed the Government to equipping naval warships with a new combat helicopter capable of conducting a range of maritime missions with advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities and the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles.

This announcement delivers on that commitment.

The new helicopters will replace the Navy’s current combat helicopter capability provided by 16 Seahawk S-70B-2 helicopters and will also provide the air to surface strike capability which was to have been provided by the cancelled Seasprite program.

This decision follows a 15-month competitive acquisition process involving the Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin built MH-60R and the NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 NFH assembled by Australian Aerospace.

This competitive process has ensured value for money for the tax payer.

The Australian Government has chosen the ‘Romeo’ helicopter because it represents the best value for money for taxpayers and was the lowest risk option.

The ‘Romeo’ is a proven capability currently operated by the United States Navy. The United States Navy has accepted around 100 ‘Romeos’ which have accumulated 90,000 flying hours, including on operational deployments.

Interoperability with Australia’s Alliance partner, the United States, is also a significant advantage of this helicopter.

The helicopters are largely military off-the-shelf built by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin and will be purchased through the Foreign Military Sales process from the US Navy.

Defence has signed a Letter of Agreement for the acquisition with the United States Government.

The first two helicopters will arrive in mid-2014 for testing and evaluation with operations expected to commence in mid-2015.

Acquisition of 24 ‘Romeos’ means that Navy will have the capacity to provide at least eight warships with a combat helicopter at the same time, including ANZAC Class frigates and the new Air Warfare Destroyers. The remainder will be based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales, and will be in various stages of the regular maintenance and training cycle.

They will be equipped with a highly sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missile and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo.

The Government will work with Australian Small-to-Medium Enterprises to identify opportunities to form part of the ‘Romeo’ global supply chain.

The Government has established a joint working group between Defence and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research to progress Australian industry involvement in the project.

(Australian DoD)

Wildcat Pushing for South-East Asia Upgrades

22 Mei 2011

Royal Thai Navy's Super Lynx 300 ASW helicopter (photo : USNavy)

UKTI Defence & Security Organisation (DSO) is 'in discussions' with various South-East Asian militaries to upgrade their Lynx helicopters for the maritime environment, according to a senior official.

Speaking to Shephard at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) in Singapore, Keith Smith, UKTI DSO Regional Director East described how a number of Lynx-operating nations were 'seriously' considering such upgrades particularly in the realm of anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Referring to the 33 AgustaWestland Lynx helicopters currently being operated in the region, Smith said: 'There is the potential to re-role these helicopters for different uses and quite a few Lynx operators in the region are seriously looking at the evolution of Lynx and Wildcat and ASW.

'Merlin ASW is a capable and very attractive, new generation, six-ton military helicopter and Wildcat is unique in that it will be used by the [British] army and [Royal] navy and all will be “marinised”,' he continued.

Existing Lynx users in the region include the Republic of Korea Navy which has 12 Super Lynx Mk 99 and 13 Super Lynx Mk 99A aircraft; the Royal Malaysian Navy which has six Super Lynx Mk 100s; and the Royal Thai Navy with two Super Lynx 300s.

'Discussions are ongoing but I cannot comment further,' Smith added. 'The UK is committed to 62 airframes so potentially, it would be very attractive for other nations to piggy back on the back of that.

'All potential deals are bespoke. Economics and throughlife costs savings are common throughout. I see a scenario where quite a small number of platforms generate a long term pattern of benefit for the local economy. To be able to maintain and operate [helicopter assets] under their own steam, there has to be a certain degree of technology transfer,' he said.

(Shephard)

Asians Look To Counter Chinese Submarines

21 Mei 2011

Malaysia's Super Lynx ASW helicopter (photo : Jetphotos)

SINGAPORE — Concerns over China’s growing submarine fleet are leading Asian nations to invest in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability.

The Malaysian Navy uses six Westland SuperLynx helicopters for ASW, but wants ASW helicopters with more capability and plans to buy six, a senior official from the navy tells Aviation Week on the sidelines of this week’s Imdex naval defense show in Singapore. The government has included the requirement in the country’s 10th Malaysia Plan 2011-2015, he says.

The official says the navy wants medium-lift helicopters that have long range and endurance. He declines to name the helicopters in the running. But it is understood the contenders are the Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R and the AgustaWestland AW159.

South Korea also uses SuperLynx helicopters for ASW missions, but it is also considering buying the MH-60R, a South Korean navy official tells Aviation Week. AgustaWestland also is in the running. Besides the AW159, AgustaWestland has the AW101, a much larger ASW helicopter powered by three engines. The AW101 is out of the Malaysia competition because it is too big for Malaysia’s ships.

Singapore's S-70B ASW helicopter (photo : Cyberpioneer)

In the next couple of months South Korea is expected to decide whether it will seek to buy the helicopters from overseas or go for a locally developed product, an industry executive familiar with the situation says. Industry executives anticipate a request for proposals will be issued at year’s end.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is proposing a naval variant of the Surion, the utility helicopter that KAI is developing, for the Korean army, with help from Eurocopter. The Surion is due to enter service next year. But it will be a challenge for KAI to develop a naval variant within a schedule and cost that meets the navy’s needs. The country also has a requirement for airborne mine countermeasures helicopters.

Another procurement that is in the works, but will take a few years to become a firm deal is Indonesia’s requirement for ASW helicopters. Indonesia’s navy has no ASW helicopters but wants to buy some, an Indonesian navy official says. He was unable to say when the ASW helicopters will be purchased and says it is up to the government. The navy plans to station the ASW helicopters on its Sigma 9113-class corvettes, he says. Indonesia recently took delivery of four aircraft from a Dutch shipbuilder, and a fifth is under construction in Indonesia, with more to follow.

Thai's S-70 ASW helicopter (photo : Military Images)

Thailand, meanwhile, plans to purchase ASW upgrade kits for its Sikorsky S-70-7 helicopters, a Thai Navy official tells Aviation Week. Thailand bought six of the helos in the late 1990s, but to save money it never purchased the ASW kits, which include dipping sonar.

Mark Jarvis, Lockheed Martin’s director of design and production on the P-3, disclosed late last year that Singapore had issued a letter requesting information on the aircraft.

If Singapore purchases the P-3, it is likely to get former U.S. Navy P-3Cs in a similar configuration to the P-3Cs that Taiwan is getting from 2012 onward, Jarvis says. Taiwan already has S-70 ASW helicopters.

Asian countries consider boosting their ASW capabilities an urgent matter because of China’s submarine fleet and increased assertiveness.

(Aviation Week)

Lockheed Martin Issues MH-60R Pylon RFI in Australia

25 Februari 2011

MH-60R anti aubmarine warfare helicopter (photo : Sikorsky)

Lockheed Martin has issued a request for information to Australian firms to supply weapons pylons for the MH-60R multi-mission naval helicopter.

"Growth in orders for the MH-60R has resulted in an urgent need for an expanded supply base, and Australian industry has a depth of capability that would be an ideal supplement to our dedicated supplier base," says George Barton, Lockheed Martin's naval helicopter programme head.

The pylons are located on either side of the helicopter and carry either missiles or torpedoes. The selection process is likely to be concluded by the end of 2011, says Lockheed Martin.

The MH-60R is competing against the NH Industries NH-90 to fill a 24-helicopter requirement for the Royal Australian Navy, the AIR 9000 Phase 8. Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky submitted their original proposal for the competition in July last year, at which time they said a decision was likely to be announced in the first quarter of 2011.

The MH-60R is being pitched by 'Team Romeo', which comprises Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, General Electric, Raytheon, and CAE.

Separately, in early February the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified congress of a possible military sale to Australia of a 10-year, $1.6 billion through life support programme for the MH-60R including helicopters, parts, and logistical support.

(Flight Global)

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