The folks at Defense Tech have come across a flyer for the X2 at Army’s Aviation symposium.
The full size iPaper is here.
Category: Helicopters
Boeing’s ARH Proposals
It looks like Boeing is leveraging its experience with the AH-64 Apache for its proposals.
The first proposal is a modification of it’s AH-6 “Little Bird” helo, with a 15 inch fuselage plug to allow space for extraction of downed airman, and a reprofiled nose to accommodate more avionics.
Interestingly enough, it eschews the common avionics architecture system (CAAS) for cockpit instrumentation that was used on the now canceled ARH-70, instead using a derivative of the suite on Boeing’s own AH-64 helicopter, along with rotor blades also derived from the Apache.
Of course, this is still a single engined helo, and Boeing is proposing a cut down version of the AH-64 “Apache Lite” if the army insists on two engines.
A160T Hummingbird Drone Achieves New Milestone
Boeing has announced that it’s Hummingbird drone has has successfully changed the final drive ratio of its transmission in flight, which will allow two rotor speed settings, one being about ½ of the other.
It turns out that slower rotational speeds work better at hover and low speeds, but limit forward speed, because of retreating blade stall, and most helos therefore operate as a compromise. (The A160T set its record in slow rotor mode).
All in all, this program is moving along at a blindingly fast pace, with US special forces already making purchases of the diminutive helicopter.
Boeing’s PR is here.
Brazil to Buy Hind Helos
This actually makes a lot of sense for them.
They are dealing primarily with things like dope dealers and insurgents, and purchase of 12 Mi-35M attack helicopters gets them an aircraft that is competent in attack, but also has the ability to carry 8 troops or a 4 of litters in a medevac situation, and so are more flexible.
They are also likely a lot cheaper, than the competition, the Eurocopter Tiger, and the Agusta-Westland Mangusta.
Israel Tests Black Hawk Gunship
It looks like Israel is looking at an armed variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk demonstrator.
From the photo, it appears that they would be carrying an chain gun and a targeting turret, along with a fair number of ATGWs, something on the order of 16 Hellfire class missles, though, given that this is an Israeli developed project, Rafael’s Spike, or some variant thereof, would likely be the actual weapon deployed.
It’s kind of a return to the old UH-1 gunships developed in Vietnam.
Army Re-Competes ARH
After the cancellation of the Bell ARH-70, the Army is looking at new proposals for a light scout helicopter.
My money is on Boeing Helicopters AH-6 Little Bird.
Damn, That Was Fast
US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has begun purchases of the Boeing Hummingbird helicopter UAV. They expect to take delivery of at least 10 units this month.
Considering the fact that it was still in test and demonstration earlier this year, this is a blindingly fast fielding, at least by US military standards, which implies that there is some sort of immediate application:
US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has begun purchasing a new unmanned helicopter, Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird, which can be used for resupply and surveillance missions and will soon be equipped with a new radar that can identify enemy targets hiding beneath dense tree cover.
Note that the bar under the fuselage is not a wing, it’s the foliage penetrating radar.
South African Rooivalk Attack Helo Still in Limbo
I always thought that this was a promising project, particularly in an COINS application, as the SADF had that as its primary duty before the end of Apartheid.
It appears that I was wrong and the Rooivalk program is a mess (paid subscription required).
Only 12 production helos were delivered, there are no prospects for foreign sales, and they have dissimilar avionics fits across the fleet, and they are now talking about, “revised functionality within the existing allocated financial resources,” which means downgraded capabilities.
X-49A SpeedHawk Goes to Phase 2
They will be making modifications to the compound helicopter to reduce drag, retractible gear, mast fairings, a supplementary engine for the tail prop, etc., before trying to get it to over 200 kts.
Video pr0n below:
US Army Aviation Looking for Helo Game Changer
It looks like they are checking out both the, “Piasecki/Boeing X-49 SpeedHawk compound helicopter and the Sikorsky X2 coaxial helicopter,” as an interim measure toward higher performance helicopters, and they are looking at things like the Joint Heavy Lift (JHL) , such as the, “Bell Boeing QuadTiltrotor, a Sikorsky heavylift helicopter concept and the Karem/Lockheed optimum speed tiltrotor,” to carry A-400M sized, or at least larger than C-130 sized, loads.
What is really at the core of a lot of this is that since 1947, when the USAF became a separate branch of the service, and took over fixed wing aviation, they have not been well served, so they are looking toward bringing the capabilities back in house through new helicopter technologies.
Boeing Looking at Compound Helicopter Technology for Apache
Boeing is looking at licensing Piasecki Aircraft’s compount helicopter technology for an improved Apache.
It strikes me that this might be a very good marriage of technology.
I’m not sure that it will make much difference on the actual battlefield, the mode would still be pop-up and shoot, but I can see a serious increase in range for deployment or by reducing response time from a base to the station.
Little Bird Returns in the Autumn
Sorry about the hed, I thought it sounded cool, like code words for two spies who meet for the first time.
It’s actually true too, as the AH-6 Little Bird scout light attack/reconnaissance helicopter is experiencing a renaissance as a result of the problems with the Bell ARH-70, which is behind schedule and over budget. Boeing is not explicitly looking to replace the ARH-70 through the cancellation of the contract, though the US Army is considering this.
Right now, they are pitching the AH-6 on the export market, which has viewed Bells problems with some alarm.
[Update]
The Pentagon has declined to certify the ARH-70A Arapaho following a Nunn-McDurdy (budget) breach, so the program is effectively canceled.
Seeing as how Boeing has largely fixed the manufacturing capability issues that dogged their first bid, I expect them to come back and win the bid, but we know what my predictions are worth.
ARH-70A Arapaho
AH-6 Little Bird
I will note that the AH-6 has seen combat service with the Israeli Defense Forces.
Army Looking at Dumping ARH
This is not a surprise, given that Bell Helicopter Textron’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter has proved to be a complete clusterf%$#, “Army officials acknowledged Tuesday that they are weighing alternatives to Bell Helicopter Textron’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter in anticipation of an upcoming Defense Department decision on the troubled program.”
Defense Video Pr0n: Sikorsky X2 Edtion
Care of The DEW Line. Stephen Trimble took a video of the Sikorski promotional video with his moblie
Yeah, Right, We Believe You
So, after what seems like 40 gazillion protests, contractor and congressional dick swinging, and a cloud over the whole program, the USAF hopes to complete the process for selecting a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) helicopter by years end, and to award a contract.
Let’s just say that I’m highly dubious of this.
Boeing Gets Darpa Helo Contract
After Boeing’s Canard-Rotar-Wing crashed and burned…literally…twice, it appears that they will be getting another bite at the apple, this time with a concept called Diskrotor, in which retractable rotor blades are housed in a circular wing.
Note that about a year ago, I mentioned a similar concept being explored by a small Swiss start up, here are some pictures from them, along with a vid:
Neat Tech: Coanda Effect Aircraft
In the UK, a company called GFS (which stands for — I kid you not — Geoff’s Flying Saucer), has been flying a small UAV, and expects it to be able to fly autonomously by years end.
The technology is pretty neat, it uses the Coandă effect, the tendency of a fluid to follow a surface, to generate lift.
The UAV is small, Max TOW is 18.5 kilos, but it does show one advantage over a conventional lift propeller, greater volumetric efficiency, because there is no big honking hole down the center of mass for the air.
Additionally, by tailoring the vanes on the body, you can eliminate torque issues, meaning that you have a single prop, rather than two counter rotating, which is smaller and lighter.
Additionally, they are looking at other applications, starting with a small manned vehicle:
Sikorsky’s ABC Helo Flies
And earlier than expected, reports were that it wasn’t to leave the ground until sometime in 2009.
In any case, it made a 30 minute test flight (also see here).
This was a fairly conservative flight, basic maneuvering with the tail propulsor shut down, as can be seen in the pics.
They plan to expand the envelope to a speed of 250kts, and then make a decision as to whether to manufacture helos with the technology.
12 Years to Modify a Bloody Helicopter?
We are talking about the UH-1Y and AH-1Z programs, which entailed a new propulsion pack, 4 bladed rotor, and avionics.
12 years…and 140% over budget……I need a tax refund.
Boeing Looks to Apache Upgrade
Basically, the modifications are to the engines, structure, and avionics:
- Composite rotor blades.
- A composite after body.
- Upgraded transmission, capable of handling 3,400shp, up from 2,860shp.
- A new 3000 shp engine.
- Active defense systems.
- Synthetic vision for the crew helmets.
Not clear on the need for the engine upgrade, as the two existing 1,900shp T701D engines already put out more horsepower than the upgraded transmission could handle.