http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/83474
英國皇家海軍組建首支“灰背隼”HM2中隊
2013-08-01
[據英國《飛行國際》網站2013年7月24日報導]英國皇家海軍組建了其首支使用阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭“灰背隼”HM2構型直升機的航空中隊。
基地在康沃爾郡Culdrose皇家海軍航空站的第824訓練中隊已經接收了5架“灰背隼”HM2。作為價值11.5億美元的灰背隼能力維持項目(MCSP)的一部分,洛克希德•馬丁公司主導為這批HM2構型機換裝了全新的任務系統和航電元件。8月還將有3架反潛型加入該中隊。9月,第820中隊將開始接收HM2構型機。
820中隊骨幹飛行員的地面換裝訓練已於7月中旬開始,並將其最後一架HM1構型機移交給阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭Yeovil工廠進行改裝。
除了座艙和任務系統介面進行了改進外,新增的模組性也使“灰背隼”能在兩個半小時內轉換為醫療後撤或部隊運輸等其他任務構型。此外,還在艙門處安裝了一挺用於自衛的M3M機槍。從現在到2014年年底,將進行一批軟體升級工作,諸如雷達聲學和任務元件等系統將隨之調整。
將有總共30架“灰背隼”接受MCSP增強改進,比最初計畫減少了8架,阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭Yeovil工廠已接收22架。目前還沒有對減少的8架直升機的後續處理做出決定,但短期內可能被封存,並作為備份使用。
HM2構型機的交付工作將持續到2014年年底,最後批4架機將接受附加的防護元件升級,便於在波斯灣部署使用。
“灰背隼”HM2構型機初始作戰能力和完全作戰能力計畫於2014年第一季度末和年底實現。
迄今為止,機組對新構型的反應非常好。該型機的首次上艦計畫今年11月在皇家海軍Argus號輔助船上完成,隨後將在2014年隨一艘23型護衛艦進行作戰部署。(中國航空工業發展研究中心 褚世永)
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-royal-navy-stands-up-first-merlin-hm2-squadron-388657/
PICTURES: Royal Navy stands up first Merlin HM2 squadron
PrintBy: Dominic Perry London 12:20 24 Jul 2013 Source:
The UK Royal Navy has stood up its first air squadron to operate AgustaWestland Merlin helicopters enhanced to the HM2 standard under a £750 million ($1.15 billion) upgrade programme.
Based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, training unit 824 Sqn has so far received five of the modified aircraft. These have been equipped with a new mission system and avionics suite in an effort headed by Lockheed Martin as part of the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP).
A further three helicopters configured for the anti-submarine warfare role will join the squadron in August. A first frontline unit, 820 Sqn, will then begin taking receipt of its Merlin HM2s in September.
Ground-based conversion training for the initial cadre of 820 Sqn pilots commenced in mid-July, with the last of their HM1s having already departed to receive the upgrades at AgustaWestland's Yeovil site in Somerset.
Speaking at a 23 July ceremony to mark the milestone at Culdrose, Cdre Andy Lison, representing the UK Defence Equipment & Support procurement agency, said the Merlin had now "come of age".
"It offers the force commander capability, flexibility and the all-important military edge," he says.
Alongside the improvements to the cockpit and mission system interface, increased modularity means the helicopter can be converted in about 2h 30min to other roles, such as casualty evacuation or troop transport. It also gains a door-mounted .50cal M3M machine gun for self-protection.
"It's now such a highly flexible aircraft that it gives the force commander a Swiss Army knife to do whatever they want with on any given day," says Jeff Streznetcky, managing director helicopter programmes for Lockheed Martin UK, which has led the upgrade project.
In all, 30 Merlins will receive the enhancements under the MCSP effort, a reduction of eight aircraft over the initial project proposal. No decision has been taken on the future of the surplus helicopters, but in the short term they are likely to be stored and used for spare components, says Lison.
Deliveries of the HM2 helicopters will continue until the end of 2014, with the final four aircraft to receive additional defensive suite upgrades to enable deployment in the Persian Gulf, says Lison.
Between now and the end of 2014, a number of software releases of "increasing maturity" will be rolled out, as systems such as the radar acoustics and mission suite are fine-tuned, he adds.
Initial operational capability is envisaged for the end of the first quarter of 2014, with full operational capability expected to be declared by the end of the same year.
So far, reaction from the crews to the new standard has been positive. Lt Cdr Tony Morris, one of 824 Sqn's qualified flight instructors for the variant, says: "The Mk1 feels a bit like a prototype cockpit, you certainly see the age of it when you get into the new aircraft."
An initial shipborne embarkation in UK waters aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Argus is planned for November, to be followed by active deployment on a Type 23 frigate in 2014.
AgustaWestland has so far received 22 of the 30 helicopters at Yeovil.
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