Helikopter til Hæren - Sikorsky presser på i UK - AW&ST

 

Som du kan lese i artikkelen til Jan-Petter Helgesen i går, så går forsvarssjefen inn for at nye helikoptre skal være i samme familie. Vel, nå er et Sikorsky produkt valgt; det er derfor rimelig å anta at det velges et tilsvarende familieprodukt til Hæren, altså Black Hawk. Et samarbeid med briter, svensker og dansker vil være lurt.

1 milliard til oppgradering av 9 Bell 412SP er fint, men løfteevnen til disse  små maskinene er begrenset, selv med oppgradering av cockpit, motorer, skrog og MRB`s. Og de er i utgangspunktet gamle. De 9 som ikke moddes går til Spesialstyrkene. 

Det er imidlertid betimelig å ta med den oppdaterte Bell 412SP. Det ser for meg ut som om den oppdateres til UH-1Y:

Design[edit]

UH-1Y refueling at night

The UH-1Y variant modernizes the UH-1 design. The Y-model upgrades pilot avionics to a glass cockpit, adds further safety modifications, and provides the UH-1 with a modern forward-looking infrared system. Engine power was increased. Its most noticeable upgrade over previous variants is a four-blade, all-composite rotor system designed to withstand up to 23 mm rounds. By replacing the engines and the two-bladed rotor system with four composite blades, the Y-model returns the Huey to the utility role for which it was designed.

A 21-inch (530 mm) fuselage extension just forward of the main door was added for more capacity. The UH-1Y features upgraded transmissions and a digital cockpit with flat-panel multifunctional displays. Compared to the UH-1N, the Y-model has an increased payload, almost 50% greater range, a reduction in vibration, and higher cruising speed.^[10][16][17] (Red.)

Sikorsky Proposing Great British Black Hawk

September 19, 2023

 

The New Medium Helicopter requirement will pit the Black Hawk against Airbus’ H175M and Leonardo’s AW149 to replace the UK’s aging Airbus Puma fleet.

Credit: PZL-Mielec

Sikorsky owner Lockheed Martin is making another push to try to get its ubiquitous Black Hawk into the British inventory. In the latest of a catalog of attempts dating back some 40 years, the OEM has formed Team Black Hawk including CAE, Chelton, Curtiss-Wright, GE Aerospace, Inzpire, Martin-Baker...