For Combat Search and Rescue, the AW101 can be equipped with window or door mounted guns, defensive aids suite and air-to-air refueling equipment. Photo: AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland plans to compete for the U.S. Air Force’s planned replacement of HH-60G Pave hawk combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter with over 100 ‘off-the-shelf’ platform. The European group is offering a version of the AW101 designated HH-71. Two years ago the company teamed with Lockheed Martin to offer the U.S. Air Force a similar search and rescue helicopter (CSAR-X program). Then they lost to the much heavier HH-47 Chinook, proposed by Boeing. Last month Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky announced their intention to offer the Air Force a modified version of the latest Black Hawk UH-60M tailored for CSAR missions.

A view from the cockpit of an AW-101. Photo: AgustaWestland

R. Scott Rettig, chief executive officer of AgustaWestland North America believes the HH-71, “has modern, stealthy capabilities are balanced out with the confidence of a mature, proven platform, as the full CSAR program requirements are developed.” Among the HH-71s’ attributes that could benefit its CSAR role are low acoustic signature, all-weather capability and effectiveness in austere environments such as sand and snow. The aircraft includes three engines providing aircrews the assurance that the mission can be safely completed, even under hostile or irregular warfare conditions. The spacious cabin space is wide enough to transport 35 seated troops or 16 stretchers for medical evacuations and room for on-board treatment – a significant capacity increase over the legacy platform. More than 155 AW101 helicopters were delivered to date, accumulating over 200,000 flight hours, some have been flying combat and support missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. For Combat Search and Rescue, the AW101 can be equipped with window or door mounted guns, defensive aids suite and air-to-air refueling equipment.

Other likely competitors for the US$1.7 billion program are the European NH Industries NH-90 or Eurocopter EC-725 Super Cougar, both proposed by EADS North America present a different possibility that could rely on one of the aircraft or a mix of both types. Boeing is also offering a mix of CH-47 Chinook and V-22 Tilt Rotor aircraft.

M-346 from Alenia Aermacchi, positioned as the successor of the European Alpha Jet, is currently competing for the Polish and Israeli Air Force advanced trainer programs. Photo: Alenia Aermacchi

One of the most modern Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Trainer in production today, the M-346 from Alenia Aermacchi is gathering momentum to become the leading trainer preparing future combat pilot to fly the latest generation fighters. On the way, it will have to fight tough opponents, from the BAE Systems’ Hawk – being the market leader in the past 35 years, and still going strong with the latest AJT version, and Korean T-50 Golden Eagle, eagerly promoted by Korea and U.S. based Lockheed Martin, still awaiting the international breakthrough.

The M-346 cockpit is designed as a moder glass cockpit, and helmet mounted display (left). The avionics represented in the cockpit employ embedded 'virtual avionics' realistically representing advanced systems including radar, targeting systems, electronic warfare and other avionics, without the need to carry such expensive systems on board, or simulate a training combat-like environment in the real world. Yet the pilot can practice using these systems as part of regular flight training, based on input provided on board or from other aircraft or participants, networked training environments. Photos: Alenia Aermacchi

While offering high performance and good flying qualities that closely match modern single-seat fighters, M-346 is offering high safety standards and reduced acquisition and operating costs of a twin-seat trainer. The aircraft can also carry weapons and stores, supporting advanced training and secondary operational missions as a light attack aircraft. The structural design includes nine hard-points, and has provisions to install and integrate special equipment.

Sofar the M-346 was selected by three countries – Italy, UAE and Singapore. The Italian Air Force has also selected the aircraft for its Integrated Training System (ITS), comprising 15 aircraft. In the United Arab Emirates the M-346 will provide the core of their new training air fleet, training pilots to fly the F-16 Block 60 fighter. The UAE intend to buy 48 aircraft, 20 to be configured with secondary light attack capability. Singapore has also selected this model for their Fighter Wings Course (FWC) requirement. The new trainers will replace the current fleet of two-seat A-4 Skyhawk advanced trainers, training Singaporean pilots to fly the RSAF F-16 Block 52 fighters.

In a joint initiative promoting the aircraft within the European community, EADS Defence and Security (DS) and Finmeccanica have teamed to propose the M-346 for the Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) program, replacing the 40 year old Alpha Jet still in service with nine European air forces. M-346 is offered by this multi-national team as the ‘All European’ trainer, meeting the requirements of the AEJPT nations and the European Defense Agency (EDA) in terms of capabilities, flexibility, training effectiveness, interoperability, geographic allocation and industrial work share. The team intends to involve all other European firms from AEJPT member countries in the training service and base operating activities.

Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 Golden Eagle is one of two finalists selected for the Israel Air Force future trainer program. The aircraft will be procured by the IAF and supported under a multi-year maintenance package to be shared by IAI and ELbit Systems. Photo: Defense-Update

Another opportunity for the M-346 is the Israel Air Force, seeking to replace upgraded single-seat operational trainers such as the A-4 Skyhawk and Block 10+ F-16A Falcon. The two finalists considered by the Israel Air Force are the M-346 and the K-50 proposed by a Korean Aerospace (KAI) and Lockheed Martin. Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems have also reached an agreement supporting the platform selected by the IAF with full training and logistical package. Both companies are already providing such services supporting lead-in trainers, advanced trainers and simulator farms operated by the IAF.

The latest prospect is Poland – which published this week an international tender for the delivery of the Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) – as part of an Integrated Aviation Personnel Training System, to include 16 jet trains, training and logistical support. Poland expects the bids by October 4th, 2010. Potential bidders expected to submit offers are Italian Alenia Aermacchi of the Finmeccanica group, the company brought its latest trainer, the M-346 to MSPO, Poland’s annual defense exhibition.  Finmeccanica has set its eyes on the Polish opportunity for several years, with the M-346 participating in evaluations in Poland and Polish airshows and events since 2006.

Both M-346, Hawk AJT and T-50 are expected to compete for the world’s largest opportunity for jet trainers – the USAF trainer replacement competition (T-X). BAE Systems has already announced its plans to compete, the likely opponent is Lockheed Martin, teamed with KAI on the T-50. As for Finmeccanica, the Italian group is expected to team with a U.S. group to effectively compete with these two giants. Among the candidates are L-3 which already participates with Alenia on the C-27 program.

Related posts:

BAE Systems to Offer the Hawk Advanced Jet
Trainer for the USAF Jet Trainer Replacement Program (T-X)

BAE Systems announced Sept. 8 that it will pursue the U.S. Air Force's Advanced Pilot Training Family of Systems with its most advanced fast jet training system, the proven Hawk Advanced Jet Training System. (Photo: BAE Systems)

BAE Systems plans to offer the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training Family of Systems. Part of the US Air Force Advanced Pilot Training (APT) Family of Systems (commonly called the T-X system) APT aims to provide the training system for the next generation of operational pilots. It is expected to replace the aging T-38 trainers by 2017. BAE Systems intends to be the prime contractor for the program, based on its U.S. business unit. “We will pursue strategic partners in the U.S. to provide best value to the U.S. Air Force while investing in the U.S. industrial base” said Larry Prior, Executive Vice President of Service Sectors, BAE Systems.


Since the current Hawk AJT meets the USAF requirements now, BAE Systems is confident it can achieve this goal. Hawk family aircraft are already serving as F-35 lead-in trainer for the U.S. Navy, Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Hawk AJT now entering service with the Royal Air Force has evolved from the Hawk aircraft, of which over 900 aircraft were built and delivered across 18 countries, flying more than 2.5 million flying hours.

Warfare of the future is not just about flying the aircraft, but about understanding, processing and reacting correctly to the quantity of information available in the cockpit. To introduce the pilot to these advanced cockpit environment, the latest configuration of the Hawk integrates live jet training with a high-fidelity virtual environment to support the development of pilots. The system also includes advanced aircraft avionics, a fully integrated training environment, instructor debrief features and other capabilities enabling pilots to train effectively in a synthetic environment and allows them to train in the same way they fight, including multi-engagement scenarios, complex combat situations, intercepts, data-link operations and the use of synthetic sensors.

Related posts:

New Opportunities Mature for Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Advanced Trainer

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Aircraft. Photo: USAF

An MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft operating under the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio crashed yesterday in the Mojave desert area, north of El Mirage Airfield, in Southern California. The aircraft flew on a daylight test mission. It took off from the Gray Butte Airfield located about 5 miles east of El Mirage. Both airfields are about midway between Palmdale and Victorville and are about 15 miles south of Edwards AFB.  The cause of the accident will be investigated by an Air Force investigation board.

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Aircraft. Photo: USAF

An MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft operating under the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio crashed yesterday in the Mojave desert area, north of El Mirage Airfield, in Southern California. The aircraft flew on a daylight test mission. It took off from the Gray Butte Airfield located about 5 miles east of El Mirage. Both airfields are about midway between Palmdale and Victorville and are about 15 miles south of Edwards AFB.  The cause of the accident will be investigated by an Air Force investigation board.

An HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over the desert terrain of southern Nevada during a training mission. The 66th Rescue Squadron's primary mission is the recovery of downed pilots and is one of only five active duty rescue squadrons in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert W. Valenca)

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) are joining forces to compete to replace the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of 112 Combat Search and Rescue HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The agreement positions Sikorsky as prime contractor, with Lockheed Martin as the major subsystems supplier.

The team will offer an advanced version of Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter for the Air Force’s HH-60 Personnel Recovery Recapitalization program (HH-60 Recap) calling for replacement of existing helicopters with an equal number of new platforms, requiring minimum airframe modification or mission systems development. The initial operational capability is expected in fiscal year 2015, as the first four helicopters are declared mission ready.

Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin have already teamed on two Navy S-60 programs – the SH-6B and MH-60R/S, systems deployed on the later could be implemented in this USAF program. In April 2010, the companies announced a teaming agreement to compete jointly for the U.S. Navy’s revived VXX Presidential Helicopter program. The companies will share facilities, experience and engineering talent for both opportunities.

An HH-60G Pave Hawk, assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., fires off flares while demonstrating evasive maneuvers during a firepower demonstration held at the Nevada Test and Training Range. (USAF photo by Airman First Class Brian Ybarbo)

An HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flies over the desert terrain of southern Nevada during a training mission. The 66th Rescue Squadron's primary mission is the recovery of downed pilots and is one of only five active duty rescue squadrons in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert W. Valenca)

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) are joining forces to compete to replace the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of 112 Combat Search and Rescue HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The agreement positions Sikorsky as prime contractor, with Lockheed Martin as the major subsystems supplier.

The team will offer an advanced version of Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter for the Air Force’s HH-60 Personnel Recovery Recapitalization program (HH-60 Recap) calling for replacement of existing helicopters with an equal number of new platforms, requiring minimum airframe modification or mission systems development. The initial operational capability is expected in fiscal year 2015, as the first four helicopters are declared mission ready.

Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin have already teamed on two Navy S-60 programs – the SH-6B and MH-60R/S, systems deployed on the later could be implemented in this USAF program. In April 2010, the companies announced a teaming agreement to compete jointly for the U.S. Navy’s revived VXX Presidential Helicopter program. The companies will share facilities, experience and engineering talent for both opportunities.

An HH-60G Pave Hawk, assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., fires off flares while demonstrating evasive maneuvers during a firepower demonstration held at the Nevada Test and Training Range. (USAF photo by Airman First Class Brian Ybarbo)

This Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image showing an extinct volcano crater in Southern California, was taken by the new MP-RTIP radar operating in SAR mode. The sensor being integrated into the Global Hawk will be able to pick moving targets simultaneously to the SAR operation. Photo: USAF Electronic Systems Center

Work on the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) is progressing, with the sensor and first software baseline delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for integration on a Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. Forthcoming flight testing conducted up to this point has been performed in Mojave, Calif., on a scaled composites test bed aircraft, known as “Proteus.” A total of 259 test flights were completed, with 1,062 hours of radar “on” time.

MP-RTIP capability was operationally demonstrated for the Army during a recent ground exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, where the MP-RTIP sensor was flown to demonstrate its unique capabilities in an operationally relevant environment. “Several members of the Operations Group at the NTC were pretty happy with what they saw” said Col. Jim Shaw, MP-RTIP program director.

Shaw said the systems tests confirmed ground moving target indicator (GMTI) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) dedicated modes, where each of the modes operated separately and serially. The tests on the Global Hawk will employ the two modes concurrently and simultaneously. The Proteus will continue test flying the MP-RTIP on nine flights, assessing improved performance of concurrent radar modes. Colonel Shaw said that operating the radar in this concurrent (SAR+GMTI) has been a technical challenge, since operation of the two modes in most SAR/GMTI radars has sofar been limited to serial operation. Providing the two modes simultaneously ensure that warfighters can collect SAR data without interrupting GMTI tracks. Northrop Grumman is also developing maritime surveillance and maritime imaging modes for the MP-RTIP radar.

After the concurrent mode testing is completed, the MP-RTIP team at the Electronic Systems Center (ESC) will move into a support role, as the Global Hawk Program Office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, will have the lead as the new sensor is integrated into the RQ-4B Block 40 aircraft. 16 new Global Hawk aircraft scheduled for delivery beginning in 2011 will be equipped with the new radar. These aircraft are scheduled for fielding in Grand Forks air force base in North Dakota.

Read more on the RQ-4B, its planned production model blocks and sensors on Defense-Update.com

Proteus operating as MP-RTIP RQ-4 Surrogate platform

The U.S. Air Force has deployed the 30th and last MC-12 ISR Aircraft to Afghanistan in July 2010. Photo: US Air Force

The 30th MC-12 Liberty was recently deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility completing the initial deployment plan, an Air Force official announced July 9. MC-12 Liberty ISR aircraft are currently operating with three units in SOuthwest Asia: the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron operating from Kandahar, Afghanistan and the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron stationed in Bagram, Afghanistan and the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron in Balad air base, Iraq.

Lieutenant General David A. Deptula, deputy chief of staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at Headquarters Air Force. US Air Force photo.

According to Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, the deputy chief of staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at Headquarters Air Force, the aircraft has had a positive impact in theater. He added that the MC-12s assisted in the capture of hundreds of insurgents, and the discovery of weapons caches and improvised explosive devices. The MC-12 fleet has flown more than 5,000 combat sorties and taken more than 22,000 hours of full-motion video and more than 40,000 images to date. ”This project is an unqualified success, and the model for how we should develop and deliver quick-reaction ISR capabilities,” General Deptula said.

“The MC-12W is the fastest weapons system delivered from concept to combat since the P-51 Mustang in World War II” said “We mobilized a significant industry base and every resource at our disposal, and delivered the first Federal Aviation Administration-certified aircraft in six months and three weeks, It began flying combat sorties in less than eight months.”

In April 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates established a Department of Defense-wide ISR Task Force to identify and recommend solutions for increased ISR in the CENTCOM AOR. Secretary Gates tasked Air Force officials July 1, 2008, to acquire 37 “C-12″ class aircraft to augment unmanned systems. It was less than eight months from funding approval to the delivery of the first aircraft in theater. The entire operational fleet of 30 aircraft was deployed in only 13 months.

Lt. Gen Craig Koziol, DOD ISR Task Force director. Photo: USAF

“The entire Project Liberty team worked seamlessly to get this airborne ISR capability to the AOR as quickly as possible,” said Lt. Gen Craig Koziol, the DOD ISR Task Force director. “From concept to all the sensor integration efforts required to get this platform deployed, the team demonstrated superb focus to get this quick reaction, airborne ISR capability fielded to support (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom).”

The aircraft are military versions of the Hawker Beechcraft Super King Air 350 and Super King 350ER. They are equipped with an electro-optical infrared sensor, and other sensors as the mission requires. The EO/IR sensor also includes a laser illuminator and designator in a single sensor package. A fully operational system consists of a modified aircraft with sensors, a ground exploitation cell, line-of-sight and satellite communications data-links, and a robust voice communications suite. The MC-12 capability supports all aspects of the Air Force Irregular Warfare mission — counter insurgency, foreign internal defense and building partnership capacity — and is capable of worldwide operations.

With the Air Force MC-12 program winding down, the U.S. Army is gearing up to replace its Guardrail aircraft with C-12 based platforms, equipped to carry out a wider range of missions, beyond the traditional electronic surveillance performed by the Guardrail.