http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/75004
日本陸自新多用途直升機設想圖
2012-04-16

[據日本《朝雲新聞》2012年4月5日報導]川崎重工表示得到防衛省的授權，將承擔日本陸自新多用途直升機（UHX）改裝任務。

UHX是技術研究本部2011年開始研發的UH1多用途直升機的替代機型，用於裝備師、旅團的飛行隊和其他直升機對，將成為陸自“機動防衛能力”的主力裝備。

防衛省投入UHX總經費為279億日元（約3.5億美元），將於2015年之前開始試製，2017年開始技術與實用性驗證，之後開始量產裝備陸上自衛隊。

UHX將在川崎重工研發的OH1偵察直升機基礎上進行改造，充分利用OH1的技術和製造基礎，降低研發的技術風險，同時實現較低的全壽命週期費用。

據技術研究本部透露UHX重5噸，最高時速140節（約時速260公里）以上，作戰半徑230公里以上，用於各種作戰任務、災害救援和國際維和行動等。

發動機將國產，將克服UH1難以進行長距離海上飛行的弱點，使UHX在島嶼防禦等離島作戰中發揮核心作用。（薑廷昀 責編戴）

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74933
工業界在美國陸軍未來旋翼機需求上產生分歧
2012-04-11

【據英國《飛行國際》網站2012年4月5日報導】工業界的領袖們在美國陸軍應該為未來旋翼機（FVL）專案提出何種需求上出現了分歧。美陸軍計畫將該機列為其2030年裝備現代化工作的核心。
    在田納西州納什威爾舉辦的美國陸軍航空協會論壇上，EADS北美公司首席執行官肖恩•歐克逸夫等人傾向於能滿足80%需求的解決方案（80%解決方案），而貝爾公司總裁約翰•加里森和西科斯基軍用飛機總裁米克•瑪尤瑞爾等人則支持傾轉旋翼機或高速複合式直升機等更新的概念。
    加里森稱一型第二代傾轉旋翼機將是FVL理想的候選機型，貝爾公司已經與波音一道向聯合多用途（JMR）專案提交了一個傾轉旋翼機方案。加里森表示常規構型直升機的技術發展已經到達極限，但傾轉旋翼機技術則相對較新，具備進一步成長的空間。他還詳細的描述了下一代傾轉旋翼機的特徵。
    瑪尤瑞爾稱當前對於美國國防部和陸軍來說，最重要的任務是定義FVL需求，但西科斯基已經準備了一些基於X2複合式直升機技術的方案。他展示了美國陸軍和海軍能使用的不同尺寸的雙旋翼帶推進器FVL方案。
    同時，波音公司的裏尼•卡瑞特稱波音正在考慮多種不同的概念來滿足美國陸軍速度更快和航程更大的需求。該公司除了和貝爾傾轉旋翼機聯合團隊外，還單獨向JMR提交了一份概念方案。
    但EADS的歐克逸夫則認為美國陸軍和國防部傾向于延長現有機隊的壽命，以期在替代機上實現巨大的技術跨越。如果該平臺不得不延遲或被取消，現有機隊需要進一步延壽。專案推遲和延壽所帶來的費用通常與採購80%解決方案機型相等或更多。而如果美國陸軍對降低了的需求感到滿意的話，這一過渡的80%解決方案將成為一個固定的解決方案。
    同時，美國陸軍航空工程理事會理事威廉•路易斯表示美國政府擁有自己的工程師團隊，正在探索FVL的不同概念，新FVL概念的速度和航程需求意味著新機型極可能具有遠高於現有旋翼機的光滑外形，設計師在安裝感測器和武器時必須考慮阻力問題。
    目前，只有美國陸軍向FVL進行了投資，但路易斯希望海軍方面也能及時提供支援。美國海軍沒有整個的需求規劃，只是想根據使用需要在現有機型上增加新能力。海軍部還要解決陸戰隊和海軍需求不同的問題。美國空軍也正在融入該計畫。（中國航空工業發展研究中心  褚世永）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/industry-officials-divided-over-us-army-future-vertical-lift-requirements-370479/
Industry officials divided over US Army future vertical lift requirements
PrintBy:   Dave Majumdar Nashville 07:07 5 Apr 2012  Source:  
Top industry officials are divided over what requirements the US Army should set for its nascent future vertical lift (FVL) programme. The service intends for the aircraft to become the centrepiece of its modernization efforts in the 2030s.

While some like Bell president John Garrison and Sikorsky's military aircraft president Mick Maurer are championing newer concepts like the tilt-rotor or high-speed compound helicopter respectively, others like EADS North America CEO Sean O'Keefe are calling for an 80% solution. The executives spoke at an Army Aviation Association of America forum in Nashville, Tennessee.

Garrison says that a second-generation tilt-rotor would be the ideal candidate for a new FVL aircraft. The company has teamed with Boeing to offer such a concept under the joint multi-role (JMR) programme, which has now been rebadged as FVL.

Garrison says that the conventional helicopter has reached the maximum extent of its technological development, but tilt-rotors are comparatively new and thus there is room for further growth. He prominently displayed a rendition of what such a machine might look like.

Maurer says that the most important task for the army and US Department of Defense at large is to define the requirements for the FVL. But the company already has some ideas based on its X-2 compound helicopter technology, he says. He showed off a chart with various size classes for a dual-rotor, pusher-propeller FVL type aircraft that might be used by the army and US Navy.

Meanwhile, Boeing's Leanne Caret says that the company--which is offering a JMR concept by itself in addition to the Bell-Boeing tilt-rotor team-is looking at various different concepts to try meet the army's need for greater speed and increased range.

But Sean O'Keefe of EADS, says that the army and DoD tend to plan for massive leap-ahead efforts while stretching the existing fleet to the breaking point. When that platform is inevitably late or cancelled, the existing aircraft need to be further extended. The cost of those delays and service life extensions are often equivalent to or greater than buying an interim solution that offers an "80% solution". Indeed, if the army could be satisfied with toned down requirements, that interim 80% solution could be a permanent solution.

At the same time, William Lewis, director of US Army Aviation Engineering Directorate, says that the government has it own team of engineers exploring various concepts for FVL. He says the speed and range requirements for the new FVL concepts mean that designers can not hang sensors and weapons onto the next-generation aircraft without taking into account drag-the new aircraft are likely to be far more aerodynamically slick than existing rotorcraft.

Right now, only the army has invested any cash into the FVL, but Lewis says he expects the US naval services to do so in time. The USN is not drawing up a whole new set of requirements, but adding new features to the existing ones to make the aircraft suitable for their needs, he says. Part of the problem for the Department of the Navy is the disparate needs of the US Marines and USN.

The US Air Force is also involved in the project.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74910
陸軍公佈“黑鷹”直升機數位化升級計畫
2012-04-10
[據英國《飛行國際》網站2012年4月5日報導]美國陸軍計畫為其現有的UH-60L“黑鷹”直升機在機身翻新的同時加裝新的數位化航電系統。

美軍通用直升機專案經理ThomasTodd上校將其稱為“L型數位化”航電升級包。

陸軍在2013財年預算中為L型數位化升級包專案劃撥了資金，以啟動專案競標。此外，2013財年中還將做出下一步的篩選決定，選擇和集成過程將進行3年。最終產品預計於2016財年開始在陸軍現有的760架UH-60L上安裝。

Todd稱，陸軍目前正在進行產業方面的研究，以瞭解工業界能提供哪些產品。該專案的一個主要目標是將L型“黑鷹”的作戰能力盡可能提高到接近M型的水準。

陸軍計畫用近期開始的未來垂直提升器（FVL）專案的成果來替換現有的UH-60L。

同時，UH-60M升級型（UH-60Mu）的研發工作也已完成，該機在M型基礎上加入了電傳飛控系統。陸軍表示，不會為已服役的機隊升級電傳飛控系統，但會繼續研究該技術以應用到FVL專案中。

陸軍目前已授出了第二份UH-60M多年期採購合同，其UH-60M的年產量為60架。該合同將在未來5年內保證UH-60M的生產。

軍方目前擁有約800架老式的UH-60A，這批“黑鷹”有可能加裝L型數位化包以出售給其他國家。

陸軍最終的目標是機隊全部升級為UH-60M和升級型UH-60L。（中國航空工業發展研究中心 李昊）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-reveals-digital-black-hawk-goal-370436/
US Army reveals digital Black Hawk goal
PrintBy:   Dave Majumdar Nashville 05:00 5 Apr 2012  Source:  
The US Army plans to add new digital avionics to its fleet of older Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawks as well as refurbishing those airframes, a senior service official says.

As the older machines are refurbished to give them added service life, the army will use some of the down-time to install parts of its "L-digitisation" avionics modernisation package to those aircraft, says Col Thomas Todd, the service's project manager for utility helicopters.

"We'd be able to take advantage of the time down for those aircraft and not only get them 10 more years of useful life but also give the unit capability they didn't have before," he says.

The army has a budget for the L-digitisation programme in fiscal year 2013 to start a competition for that work. It will also make a downselect decision during the fiscal year, Todd says, with the process of selecting and integrating the package to take three years. Production is expected to start in FY2016 to upgrade 760 UH-60Ls that are in service with the army, he adds.

The army is working on trade studies "to see what industry has to offer," Todd says. One of the primary objectives of the programme will be to make the L model upgrade resemble the new UH-60M aircraft as closely as possible during operational use.

The army plans to replace the L-model fleet with its nascent future vertical lift (FVL) programme as soon as possible.

"We will not make the L-digital a new Mike-model," Todd says. "It will not have a 20-year life."

Meanwhile, the army has finished developing an upgrade for its latest UH-60Ms that includes a fly-by-wire control system. But while the service will field some of that new technology to the operational fleet, it will not field the fly-by-wire system, Todd says. Instead, it will continue to mature that technology for the FVL programme.

The army has entered into another multi-year contract for the UH-60M, with a production rate of 60 aircraft per year. That contract should continue for another five years.

The service also has about 800 older A-model Black Hawks in its inventory, and as it begins to shrink, those aircraft could potentially be upgraded with the L-digital package and sold to other countries, Todd says.

Eventually, the army will only fly upgraded versions of the UH-60L and M-model helicopters as part of its Black Hawk fleet.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74903
印度海軍計畫授出多功能直升機大單
2012-04-10
    [據印度報業托拉斯2011年4月8日報導] 印度海軍計畫授出世界上最大筆的海軍多功能直升機( (NMRH) 訂單，購買超過75架多功能直升機以滿足其廣闊海域的需求，預計金額高達40億美元。歐洲NH-90直升機和美國西科斯基S-70直升機目前正在爭奪印度海軍一筆16架多功能直升機的訂單。

    海軍最近已經要求全球直升機製造商向其提供海軍多功能直升機詳細資料，並計畫很快發佈徵求建議書。印度海軍計畫採購新型多功能直升機用於反潛戰、反水面戰和特種部隊行動。印度海軍目前的主力機種是上世界80年代分兩批次引進的“海王”直升機。印度海軍此次直升機採購主要是為了擴大直升機群規模，以在從亞丁灣到麻六甲的廣大海域上維護印度的利益。

   印度陸軍和空軍已發佈的直升機採購招標涉及197架通用直升機，但其涉及金額卻遠不及此次海軍招標，因為海軍直升機需要配備複雜的機械和武器系統。（中國船舶工業綜合技術經濟研究院 程之年）

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74784
西科斯基向海軍提交新的CH-53K專案計畫
2012-03-30
[據英國《飛行國際》網站2012年3月26日報導]CH-53K專案經理稱，美國海上航空系統指揮部（NAVIAR）正在評估西科斯基公司最新提交的關於4架量產型CH-53K製造的計畫。
    NAVAIR在3月底收到了西科斯基公司提交的計畫書，評估完成後可能會授出採購合同，但沒有確定具體時間。
    這4架機將採用與生產型完全相同的構型，用於使用評估及研製試驗。
    根據目前的計畫，CH-53K將於2019年投入使用，比之前的計畫晚了一年，海軍陸戰隊希望能採購200架該機。專案啟動時，軍方計畫的採購數量僅為156架，預定于2015年形成初始作戰能力，但海軍陸戰隊將項目推後了3年，於2007年啟動，並將採購數量提高到227架。
    在CK-53K服役前，海軍陸戰隊將繼續使用其現有CH-53E直升機，但計畫於2012年底退役掉現有的所有CH-53D。
    近期CK-53K專案進展十分順利，一位海軍陸戰隊高層官員稱該專案為一個“很好的新聞故事”。
    儘管該機採用了CH-53這一系列的編號，但實際上可以看做是一個全新設計的型號，並引入了一系列全新的技術。該機採用了電傳飛控系統、全新的發動機、複合材料槳葉和全新的駕駛艙，其主減速器則被稱為是一件“藝術品”，全部的設計工作都是在CATIA-5電腦輔助設計軟體環境下完成的。海軍陸戰隊認為，若項目的後續進展仍然順利，在2014年就能完成CH-53K的首飛。
    但是，地面試驗機上的集成系統測試必須在收費前完成，目前用於地面試驗的原型機還沒有製造完成，預計試驗將於2013年開始進行。
    地面試驗機上將裝備絕大部分的子系統，包括駕駛艙、液壓系統、旋翼頭和複合材料槳葉。
目前很多子系統已開始試驗，為在地面試驗機上的安裝做準備。其7500shp（5600千萬）的GE38-1B發動機已完成了超過1100小時的試驗。
    西科斯基公司還建造了一個靜態的試驗機身，用於測試機身的結構載荷分佈。
    西科斯基公司目前正在建造2架飛行測試機，用於解決研製過程中的問題。
    當飛行試驗驗證了該機的適航性後，海軍陸戰隊將在4架預生產型機上開始使用試驗，並承擔一部分研製試驗。
    軍方要求CH-53K能夠在1830米壓力高度、35℃環境下具備12300千克的有效載荷，並能夠在該載荷下具備204千米以上的航程。此外，還需進行評估，以證明CH-53K能夠完全融入陸戰隊的作戰體系中。只有這些試驗全部完成後，陸戰隊才有可能批准CH-53K的低速預生產。（中國航空工業發展研究中心 李昊）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sikorsky-tables-new-ch-53k-proposal-369923/
Sikorsky tables new CH-53K proposal
PrintBy:   Dave Majumdar Washington DC 11:00 26 Mar 2012  Source:  
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is evaluating a proposal from Sikorsky to build four production-representative CH-53K Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters, says the US Marine Corps' programme manager.

"We're looking at the proposal now," says Col Robert Pridgen.

NAVAIR received the proposal at the beginning of March, he says. A contract award is expected some time after this has been evaluated, although Pridgen says: "I don't want to nail down a date."

The four pre-production aircraft will be "fleet-representative" and be used for operational evaluations, as well to finish developmental testing.

The CH-53K is now scheduled to become operational in 2019 - one year later than previously slated - and the Marines hope to buy about 200 of the three-engined type.

When the programme first started, the service only wanted to buy 156 aircraft, Pridgen says. Initial operational capability was then set for late 2015, but the USMC upped the order and stretched the programme out by three years in August 2007. Production numbers were to have reached as many as 227, before they were trimmed back to 200.

The USMC will continue to operate the legacy three-engined CH-53E until the new "Kilo" model replaces it, but plans to retire its remaining twin-engined CH-53Ds at the end of 2012.

Development of the CH-53K is moving ahead smoothly, Pridgen says. One senior Marine official singled out the programme as a "good news story".

Despite the CH-53 designation, the K-model helicopter is a clean-sheet design incorporating all-new technology, Pridgen says. It has a fly-by-wire control system and new engines, as well as a split-torque transmission described by Pridgen as a "work of art", composite rotor-blades and a new cabin, all designed using CATIA-5 computer-aided design software.

If all continues to go smoothly, "we'll go flying [in] 2014", Pridgen says.

However, that first flight will be preceded by the start of integration testing on a ground test vehicle that is currently under construction at Sikorsky's facilities in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"That's going to occur in 2013," Pridgen says.

The ground test vehicle will have most of the subsystems of a flyable aircraft, including the cockpit, hydraulics, rotor-head and composite blades.

"It will truly be integration for us to understand what the aircraft looks like dynamically," Pridgen says.

A number of subsystems are already being tested in preparation for installation in the ground test airframe. The CH-53K's 7,500shp (5,600kW) General Electric GE38-1B turboshaft engine design has already accumulated over 1,100h in test and Pridgen says: "We've been testing components for some time now."

Sikorsky has also built a static test airframe, which is being used to determine how the helicopter handles the structural loads that will be imposed on it in flight. That testing is underway at the company's facility in Connecticut.

Only after the new helicopter satisfactorily completes those tests will the aircraft be cleared for flight, Pridgen says.

Two flight test vehicles that will be used for developmental purposes are currently in production in West Palm Beach.

Once basic flight tests prove that the helicopter is airworthy, the Marines intend to start operational testing on the four pre-production aircraft, in conjunction with finishing developmental tests.

"With that data I will do something called operational test 1B," Pridgen says. "And that's where we bring Marines in."

The USMC's VMX-22 operational test squadron will verify the service's requirement to lift 12,300kg (27,000lb) at a 6,000ft (1,830m) pressure altitude on a 35˚C (95˚F) day, roughly three times the lift capacity of the CH-53E. The helicopter is also required to carry that load over a distance of 110nm (204km).

The unit will also make sure the aircraft is suitable for fleet use and integrate it into the USMC's order of battle. Only after these tests have taken place will the Marines approve low-rate initial production, which Pridgen expects to occur in 2015.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74610
義大利空軍接收首架HH-139A搜救直升機
2012-03-20
【英國《飛行國際》網站2012年3月12日報導】義大利空軍已經接收了其向阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭訂購的10架AW139搜救直升機中的第一架，並將該型機編號為HH-139A。
    隨著這架直升機於3月8日進入Cervia空軍基地的第15聯隊，該型機正式開始替換義大利空軍執行搜救任務的AB212和HH-3F直升機。阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭方面稱剩餘的HH-139A將在年底交付給空軍。Cervia基地、Gioia del Colle基地和Trapani-Birgi基地將分別接收4架、3架和3架。
    HH-139A專案最初是作為阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭AW149開發的一個臨時解決方案，但在2010年年底正式轉變為一個完全採購項目，價值2.2億歐元。其中包括人員培訓、5年的後勤支持，以及每架機每年300飛行小時的支援服務。
    阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭還就將按照另外一個合同向義大利空軍交付若干架滿足戰鬥搜救需求的AW101直升機。（中國航空工業發展研究中心 褚世永）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-italian-air-force-fields-first-search-and-rescue-hh-139a-369373/
PICTURES: Italian air force fields first search and rescue HH-139A
PrintBy:   Luca Peruzzi  12:45 12 Mar 2012  Source:  
The Italian air force has fielded its first of 10 AW139 search and rescue (SAR) helicopters, with the AgustaWestland type to be referred to as the HH-139A in national service.

Placed into use with the 15th Wing at Cervia air base on 8 March, the new type is a replacement for the air force's SAR-roled Agusta-Bell AB212 and Agusta/Sikorsky HH-3F helicopters.

"The remaining HH-139As will be delivered to the air force by the end of this year," AgustaWestland says. Four will be stationed at Cervia, with Gioia del Colle and Trapani-Birgi air bases also to receive three each.

Initially planned as an interim solution pending the availability of AgustaWestland's developmental AW149, the HH-139A deal was converted in late 2010 to an outright purchase worth €220 million ($288 million). This also includes the provision of personnel training and a five-year package of logistics and support services based on a projected 300 flying hours to be logged by each helicopter per year.

AgustaWestland also has a separate contract to deliver several AW101s adapted to meet the Italian air force's combat SAR requirements.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74609
美國參議員批評國防部為阿富汗政府軍採購米-17直升機
2012-03-20
[據英國《飛行國際》網站2012年3月15日報導]美國一些參議員聯名向美國國防部長Leon Panetta上訴，要求抵制俄羅斯的國有武器出口公司Rosoboronexport。

參議員們稱，他們認為採購俄制的米-17裝備新成立的阿富汗政府軍意味著美國在當前的敘利亞衝突中與俄羅斯站在同一陣線上。這封信所署的日期是3月12日。

信中稱：“（美國的）納稅人不應該被置於間接地為屠殺敘利亞平民的行為提供支援的地位上。因此，我們敦促你（指國防部長）動用所有的影響來對俄羅斯和獨聯體國家施加壓力，以使其停止為阿薩德政權提供武器，如停止與Rosoboronexport所有的業務往來，這是國防部長的職權範圍之內的事。”

美國陸軍目前計畫以3.75億美元的價格從俄羅斯採購21架米-17直升機，用於裝備給阿富汗政府軍。這批直升機將於2016年完成交付，合同中還包括另外5.5億美元直升機的優先選擇權。

參議員們還稱，他們在這件事上已經失敗，因為國防部已經決定為阿富汗採購俄制直升機，而不是美國的產品，但他們鼓勵Panetta尋找其他的裝備來源。

值得注意的是，聯名的代表中很多參議員所代表的州都擁有直升機製造商或發動機製造商的工廠。（中國航空工業發展研究中心 李昊）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-senators-criticise-mi-17-acquisition-369546/
US senators criticise Mi-17 acquisition
PrintBy:   Dave Majumdar Washington DC 01:10 15 Mar 2012  Source:  
A bipartisan group of US senators has sent a letter to US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta calling for a boycott of Russian state-owned arms export company Rosoboronexport.

The senators voiced their concern that buying armaments such as Russian-built Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters to supply the nascent Afghan military signals US complicity in the ongoing conflict in Syria. Their letter was dated 12 March.

"[US] taxpayers should not be put in a position where they are indirectly subsidising the mass murder of Syrian civilians," the letter reads. "As such, we urge you to use all available leverage to pressure Russia and Russian entities to end their support of the Assad regime, and that includes ending all [Department of Defense] business dealings with Rosoboronexport, which is within your authority as Secretary of Defense."

The US Army is buying 21 Mi-17s from Russia for $375 million, with the aircraft to be supplied to Afghanistan by 2016. The contract also includes options worth a further $550 million, the letter adds.

The senators also voiced their frustration that the Department of Defense has chosen to supply Afghanistan with Russian-built helicopters rather than US-built machines, and encouraged Panetta to look for alternative sources.

Many of the senators represent states in which major US helicopter contractors and engine-makers have manufacturing facilities.

The letter was signed by senators John Cornyn of Texas, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania.

It was also signed by senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Jon Kyl of Arizona, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, James Risch of Idaho, Marco Rubio of Florida, David Vitter of Louisiana, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74583
菲律賓皇家空軍採購的W-3A“獵鷹”直升機開始正式服役
2012-03-19
[英國《飛行國際》網站2012年3月12日報導]菲律賓空軍採購的首架W-3A“獵鷹”直升機正式開始服役。該機由波蘭PZL Swidnik公司製造，菲律賓空軍於2010年簽訂合同採購了8架W-3A直升機，用於兵員運輸和其他一些任務，目前已完成了首批4架的交付。

據阿古斯塔•韋斯特蘭公司稱，這批W-3A全部能夠裝備夜視鏡系統。PZL Swidnik公司于2009年被阿•韋公司收購。

W-3A能夠搭載11名士兵或外掛2.1噸貨物，並能夠在兩邊艙門安裝M60D輕機槍。

這次交付的首批4架直升機於今年2月底由一架An-124從波蘭運至菲律賓。（中國航空工業發展研究中心  李昊 責編戴）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/philippine-air-force-formally-inducts-four-w-3a-sokols-369352/
Philippine air force formally inducts four W-3A Sokols
PrintBy:   Greg Waldron Singapore 07:28 12 Mar 2012  Source:  
The Philippine air force has inducted its first four PZL Swidnik W-3A Sokol utility helicopters, which will be used to transport troops and for other roles. The aircraft were officially handed over during a ceremony at Clark air base, said PZL Swidnik in a statement.

The four aircraft are the first instalment of an order for eight Sokols that was placed in 2010.

The cockpits of the Philippine air force's Sokols are compatible with night vision goggles, said AgustaWestland. PZL Swidnik is a unit of AgustaWestland.

The six-tonne helicopters can carry 11 troops internally or lift up to 2,100kg (4,630lb) using an external cargo hook. They can also be armed with a M60D light machine gun on each side of the cabin.

In late February, the four helicopters were flown from Poland to the Philippines aboard a chartered Antonov An-124.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74417
英國“支奴幹”直升機升級改型即將形成初始作戰能力
2012-03-08
[據英國《飛行國際》2012年3月2日報導]英國為46架CH-47“支奴幹”進行現代化升級的“尤利烏斯”項目在過去幾個月中進展順利，計畫將於3月達到初始作戰能力狀態。
        該項目已於去年12月向漢普郡Odiham空軍基地交付了2架升級後的“支奴幹”HC4，由皇家空軍進行預驗收檢查。第三架機將用於機組成員地面訓練。
         HC4的飛行試驗在國防部位於爾特郡的Boscombe Down試驗中心進行，除前三架機外還包括了另外3架直升機，而漢普郡Gosport基地將也獲得3架機進行升級和飛行試驗。項目的第十架機也即將向軍方交付。
        “尤利烏斯”專案由波音、QinetiQ和泰萊斯公司承擔，對皇家空軍現有的老式HC2/2A型“支奴幹”進行升級，升級項目包括為駕駛艙換裝數位化顯示器，並將為所有“支奴幹”直升機換裝功率更大的霍尼韋爾T55-714發動機。
        其升級全顯示駕駛艙的工作還涉及到8架HC3型，這批飛機由於升級的駕駛艙設備沒有通過認證而被皇家空軍拒絕接收。
        英國國防部負責防務設備、保障和技術的政務次長Peter Luff稱，“支奴幹”升級型2011年的試驗取得巨大成功，但也暴露出一些技術問題。其表示，國防部和工業界已經制定了解決這些問題的計畫，該機在未來不久就能夠開始交付並投入使用。
        一位工業界人士稱，HC4將于3月形成初始作戰能力，並將於4月正式獲得軍方的認證。
        一台HC4的模擬器已經交付給位於牛津郡的Benson皇家空軍基地的中型支援直升機機組人員CAE訓練基地。
         英國皇家空軍已向波音公司採購了14架新型“支奴幹”HC6，合同總價10億英鎊（16億美元），交付工作將於2015年開始。（中國航空工業發展研究中心  李昊）

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uks-chinook-upgrade-nears-operational-milestone-369044/
UK's Chinook upgrade nears operational milestone
PrintBy:   Craig Hoyle London 12:18 2 Mar 2012  Source:  
The UK's Project "Julius" to modernise up to 46 Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters has made steady progress during the past several months, with initial operational capability likely to be declared in March.

Two upgraded Chinook HC4s were delivered to Odiham air base in Hampshire last December, to support pre-acceptance checks by the Royal Air Force. A third is being used to support ground crew training at the site, said an industry source.

Flight-test activities involving another three HC4s are being conducted at the Ministry of Defence's Boscombe Down test centre in Wiltshire, while three others are undergoing modification or flight testing in Gosport, Hampshire. The programme's tenth aircraft is also due to arrive in Gosport "imminently", the source said.

Project Julius - a modernisation programme for the RAF's legacy Chinook HC2/2As involving Boeing, Qinetiq and Thales - includes replacing analogue cockpit instruments with digital displays and the fleet-wide use of more powerful Honeywell T55-714 engines.

The glass cockpit work is also being performed as a so-called "reversion" measure on the RAF's eight Chinook HC3s, which had been prevented from entering service because of certification issues.

Speaking on 1 March, Peter Luff, UK minister for defence equipment, support and technology, described flight-test activities with the upgraded aircraft in 2011 as "largely successful", but confirmed "some technical issues were identified".

"The Ministry of Defence and industry have an established plan to resolve these issues and deliver the aircraft to service shortly," said Luff. "Once introduced into service, their use and deployment will be determined by prevailing military needs and priorities."

An industry source said this month's approval of initial operational capability will be swiftly followed by formal release to service approval for the HC4 in April.

An upgraded Chinook HC4 simulator is already available at the CAE-run Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.

The RAF's operational fleet of upgraded Chinooks will also be expanded from 2015, with Boeing under a £1 billion ($1.6 billion) contract to deliver 14 new aircraft in a so-called HC6 configuration.

http://www.dsti.net/Information/News/74217
俄羅斯國防部計畫採購45架輕型直升機
2012-02-27
[據俄新社網站2012年2月21日報導]俄羅斯國防部計畫在2012年採購15架單發和30架雙發輕型多用途直升機，為此聯邦預算將撥款66億盧布。國防部的聲明已經公佈在國家採購資訊港上。

俄羅斯國防部官方代表弗拉基米爾•德里克上校1月份曾宣佈，俄羅斯空軍將在2020年前購買大約30架卡-226新型多用途直升機用於各種運輸，卡-226的用途是為國防部運送人員，郵件和重量輕但尺寸大的貨物。

按照草案，電子形式的公開拍賣將在3月19日舉行。供貨地點是特維爾州托爾若克市62632-D部隊。交貨時間2012年11月25日。

有關國家合同最高價格依據的文件附錄表明，由HeliProm-SPb有限責任公司供應的單發直升機每架價值1•107億盧布，雙發直升機每架的價格為1•6485億盧布。採購這批直升機是2012年和2013-2014年計畫期間國防採購所規定的。

按照技術要求，直升機將用於機要通信和郵政通信，部隊管理保障，貨物運輸，4人以內的國防部人員公務運輸。

單發直升機的最大時速應不低於每小時280千米，爬升速度每秒9-12米，飛行距離600千米以上。第一次維修前直升機的發動機壽命至少4000飛行小時。

雙發直升機的最大時速至少為每小時270千米，爬升速度每秒7-9米，飛行距離700千米以上。第一次維修前的發動機壽命至少2500飛行小時。

供應商需提供2年和自直升機交付之時起飛行1000小時的保修。直升機應得到自擔保期滿後20年內使用所需的零配件和耗材的保障。

去年12月末，托爾若克飛行中心已經接收17架新直升機，其中包括米-28N、米-35、米8MTV-5和卡-52。裝備這些直升機能夠增加空軍作戰部隊軍隊航空兵飛行人員改訓新技術裝備的強度。將來，托爾若克飛行中心的機隊將被更新。攻擊直升機的主力將由米-28N、米-35、卡-50和卡-52組成。飛行中心和作戰部隊的飛行人員將在新直升機上培訓。此外，計畫用米-35直升機培訓教員和外國專家。（中國航空工業發展研究中心  王新宇）