This has come up before ina variety of related topics but I though for clarity's sake it deserved a thread of its own.
Given the White papers commitment to purchasing 9 LUHs and 4-5 M/Ls
and the general board consensus on operating these classes exclusively is there any room in future air corp procurement decisions for smaller medium lift helicopters such as the H-60, IAR-330 (Original Puma) and AB139 ?
The obvious attractions of these aircraft are cost, the brand new AB139 has an estimated base unit cost (flyaway) of $6m as opposed to the minimum $12m for something in the Cougar or S-92 class.
However there are clear limitations on the 6tonne types being used in the roles envisaged for the IAC.
Range is one, the H-60 has a maximum endurance of 2hrs and 6mins compared to the EC725s 4hrs 17mins.
The as yet buyerless AB139 military has a respectable 3.9hr endurance, but seats a mere 15 troops in CEMO compared to 29 in the EC725/Cougar or 22 in the S-92.
In the AB139s favour however it is new technology and the EC725 did lose several procurement competitions against the likes of the EH101 on the basis of being old technology, purchase of a newer aircraft (whether AB139 or S/H-92) would certainly offer protection against obsolescence.
I'm curious to hea whether anyone sees the 6tonne M/L as a potential replacement for either the larger M/L or the LUH or is it simply a luxury beyond a small concentrated air arm?
Given the White papers commitment to purchasing 9 LUHs and 4-5 M/Ls
and the general board consensus on operating these classes exclusively is there any room in future air corp procurement decisions for smaller medium lift helicopters such as the H-60, IAR-330 (Original Puma) and AB139 ?
The obvious attractions of these aircraft are cost, the brand new AB139 has an estimated base unit cost (flyaway) of $6m as opposed to the minimum $12m for something in the Cougar or S-92 class.
However there are clear limitations on the 6tonne types being used in the roles envisaged for the IAC.
Range is one, the H-60 has a maximum endurance of 2hrs and 6mins compared to the EC725s 4hrs 17mins.
The as yet buyerless AB139 military has a respectable 3.9hr endurance, but seats a mere 15 troops in CEMO compared to 29 in the EC725/Cougar or 22 in the S-92.
In the AB139s favour however it is new technology and the EC725 did lose several procurement competitions against the likes of the EH101 on the basis of being old technology, purchase of a newer aircraft (whether AB139 or S/H-92) would certainly offer protection against obsolescence.
I'm curious to hea whether anyone sees the 6tonne M/L as a potential replacement for either the larger M/L or the LUH or is it simply a luxury beyond a small concentrated air arm?
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