Airbus confirms H145M bid in key Australian military rotary wing campaign

Brisbane, Airbus Australia Pacific Managing Director Andrew Mathewson confirmed that Airbus has recently responded to the Commonwealth of Australia’s request for information for a four-tonne class, rapidly deployable, multi-role helicopter for Australian Special Forces.

“The Airbus H145M helicopter is the military version of the H145 – the most advanced member of Airbus’ multi-purpose twin-engine category. It is based on a commercial off-theshelf platform with military-specific modifications and is an operationally proven, affordable and low-risk option for Australia,” said Andrew Mathewson.

“The H145M programme and systems are based on around five million hours of flying experience with the H145 family of aircraft which has over 1,300 units in service today.

The Airbus Australia Pacific response included selected industry partners and the provision of training, maintenance, logistics and engineering activities. A comprehensive transfer of technology and skills will make Airbus Australia Pacific a regional centre able to proactively support Australian operational needs, and export this knowledge back into the wider H145M community,” he added.

Mathewson said that other strengths of the Airbus H145M included:

• - Excellent access and cabin space
• Compact footprint for maximum agility
• - Excellent hot and high flight performance
• - Airbus Helionix cockpit which reduces pilot workload and allows greater situational awareness
• - Full multi-role capability allowing support to missions including aerial assault, aerial fire support, attack, ISTAR, CASEVAC and general utility tasks
• - High availability; reliable and robust systems; a small logistic footprint; proven by operations in similar configuration, roles and environment
• - High rotor clearance and shrouded Fenestron for operations close to obstacles
  

“Airbus stands ready to respond to the next stage in the tender process,” Mathewson added.

Luxembourg Defence orders two H145Ms

H145M, ©Anthony Pecci/Airbus Helicopters

Donauwörth, The Government of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg has ordered two H145M multipurpose helicopters for defence and security missions. Together with the helicopters, Airbus will also provide a training and support package to its customer. The helicopters will be delivered before the end of 2019 and will enter into service beginning of 2020.

With a maximum take-off weight of 3.7 tonnes, the H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks, including troop and passenger transport, surveillance, air rescue, reconnaissance and medical evacuation. The helicopters will be equipped with a hoist, a fast roping system, a high-performance camera, a search light, advanced communication systems and will have provisions to install a light armour protection kit. The latest technologies to allow the helicopter to operate in adverse weather conditions and during nighttime are incorporated in the design. The helicopters will be operated and serviced at Luxembourg Findel Airport.

The H145M is a tried-and-tested light twin-engine helicopter that was first delivered in 2015 to the German Armed Forces and has since been ordered by Hungary, Thailand and the Republic of Serbia. Mission readiness of the H145Ms already in service is above 95 percent.

Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145M is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a highperformance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145M the quietest helicopter in its class.

Airbus is showcasing an array of innovative products for modern defence and security solutions at Eurosatory

Mock-ups of helicopters, drones and the latest in intelligence networks on show

Paris, Airbus Helicopters and Airbus Defence and Space will be showcasing an array of products, destined to providing defence and security solutions worldwide with their most innovative solutions, at their booth C158 in Hall 5A at Eurosatory this year.

Airbus Helicopters’ display includes a scale mock-up of the H160M that was selected in the frame of the French Joint Light Helicopter program (HIL) that aims at replacing six types of helicopters in service in the three French armies. A new generation aircraft, the H160 will enter into service in the French Armed Forces, giving them a modern and high performing helicopter that has a low logistical footprint and that will be operational for the next 30 years. A scale mock-up of the H145M, alongside an HForce demonstrator, will also be on show. The H145M equipped with HForce recently performed ballistic and laser guided rocket testing ahead of delivery to launch customer Serbia later this year. The aircraft also recently demonstrated the highest level of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities further enhancing its operational capabilities.

Also on display, the VSR700 is Airbus Helicopters’ rotary wing unmanned aerial system designed to fulfil the demanding requirements of global navies. With the best coverage of any VUAS it can operate from small corvettes to major warships in the most demanding conditions.

Last but not least, Airbus Helicopters’ display is equipped with dedicated corners on its Fleet Availability Management, Material Management, and Hcare Services.

A scale mock-up of the Airbus Zephyr will be on show. Running exclusively on solar power and flying above the weather and above conventional air traffic, the Airbus Zephyr systems fill a capability gap and are complimentary to satellites, UAVs and manned aircraft providing affordable, persistent, local satellite-like services.

Full scale mock-ups of the Survey Copter mini tactical drones, DVF 2000 VT/ ALIACA and the DVF 2000 ER will be presented. The DVF 2000 VT / ALIACA provides a 360° panoramic coverage thanks to the positioning of its vertical turret, and can perform intelligence missions from 10 to 50 km range. The DVF 2000 VT / Aliaca in its previous version has been deployed by Special Forces worldwide and is perfectly adapted for maritime missions using a dedicated net landing solution. With its thermal propulsion with electronic fuel injection, the DVF 2000 ER is a high endurance versatile system allowing 8 hours missions over a 50 kilometers range.

Airbus will be presenting its solutions for land and satellite communication networks that are already in use by the most modern armed forces worldwide. For the first time at Eurosatory, Airbus will perform demonstrations of its Hybrid Networks solution. This new generation of intelligent network solutions enables the aggregation of all of the infrastructure or tactical networks regardless of whether they are land, mobile or satellite based.

Airbus Defence and Space will also showcase the ‘Holographic Tactical Sandbox’, a highly innovative tool designed to facilitate mission preparation by providing a 3D holographic map viewable in an augmented reality helmet. Integrated into the chain of command, this tool provides an accurate 3D representation of the battlefield using information supplied by Airbus’ Fortion® TacticalC2 application. Operators can view and create information, which is then shared with higher decision-making levels of command.

Furthermore, Airbus Defence and Space will exhibit its geospatial intelligence centre which allows its customers to manage the whole intelligence process from the collection and visualisation to the utilisation and distribution of information on one single intuitive and secure platform. This center provides its customers with the full capability and infrastructure to securely and effectively coordinate large-scale and complex defence missions with a large number of operators.

H145M lanzó con éxito cohetes guiados por láser de 70 mm durante su campaña de disparo en Suecia

Donauwörth, la  mejora de las capacidades para el H145M continúan. En las primeras semanas de diciembre de 2017, Airbus Helicopters demostró la capacidad de disparar cohetes guiados por láser (FZ275 LGR de Thales) con su nueva plataforma H145M en el campo de pruebas Älvdalen, del Centro de pruebas de la Administración de materiales de defensa sueco . En un entorno difícil y desafiante, el sistema funcionó a la perfección.

El sistema electro-óptico (MX-15D) de L3 Wescam, con láser incorporado, permite un margen de desviación inferior a un metro en todos los cohetes disparados a una distancia de hasta 4,5 km. Este cohete aire-tierra guiado por láser de 70 mm mejora las capacidades de interacción del H145M. Cumple con las necesidades de precisión de ataque de las fuerzas armadas en todo el mundo al reducir el riesgo de daños colaterales, especialmente durante las operaciones de combate asimétricas.

"Los cohetes guiados por láser de Thales funcionaron increíblemente bien, teniendo en cuenta las condiciones climáticas que experimentaron durante las pruebas, que fueron lejos de ser ideales y además con mucha humedad en el aire", palabras de Raymond Laporte, piloto de pruebas de Airbus Helicópteros.

Tras el éxito de las pruebas de disparo balístico, celebradas en Hungría en octubre de 2017, la consecución de este nuevo objetivo con cohetes guiados por láser es una continuación de la estrategia de desarrollo HForce de Airbus Helicópteros para impulsar la capacidad de la misión H145M.

La calificación final del sistema balístico HForce en el H145M está programada para finales de este año 2018, mientras que los cohetes guiados por láser están planeados para finales de 2019.

Airbus Helicopters signs largest HCare Smart contracts in Latin America for two H225M fleets

Santiago, Chile, Both the Brazilian Armed Forces and the Mexican Air Force have placed their trust in Airbus Helicopters’ HCare Smart by the hour maintenance programs for a total contract value of more than 125 million euros.

The contract with the Brazilian Armed Forces covers the entirety of the 50 H225Ms currently on order, of which 30 have already been delivered, for the Brazilian Army, Navy and Air force. The aircraft belong to the H-XBR program, signed in 2008 with the Ministry of Defense to provide 50 H225M for the three Armed Forces. The contract with Mexico includes comprehensive support for the 11 H225M aircraft in operation by the Air Force.

Both contracts are fully customized for each customer to cover material support for all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. They will deliver enhanced aircraft availability through highly responsive material support backed on strong commitments.

“Fleet availability and control of maintenance cost is particularly key for Military customers and I thank the Brazilian and Mexican Armed forces for their renewed confidence”, said Mesrob Karalekian, Senior Vice-President for Latin America at Airbus Helicopters. “Offering innovative and quality support solutions to our customers is a priority for Airbus Helicopters and we are very confident that HCare Smart PBH is the most adapted and cost-effective service package today”.

The HCare Material Management program ensures predictability and management of spare parts and Repair & Overhaul services for a higher fleet availability and budget control. It facilitates customer management and planning and streamlines logistical and administrative flow.

Through the HCare service offer, Airbus Helicopters keeps businesses on track and rotorcraft in the skies by offering tailor-made and competitive service solutions to the customers' doorstep. With solutions covering material management, helicopter maintenance, technical support, training and flight ops, and connected services, HCare ensures that each flight is a success and performed with the highest levels of safety. With HCare, the customer can also count on a dedicated team of technicians ready to provide instant response services 24/7, 365 days a year.