Nouveaux hélicoptères lourds

Moscou négocie la livraison d'hélicoptères Mi-26T à l'OTAN (PDG de Mil)


Mi-26T

Associée au projet de mise au point d'un hélicoptère lourd répondant aux exigences de l'OTAN, la Russie a proposé à l'Alliance l'hélicoptère le plus grand du monde, le Mi-26T (code OTAN: Halo), a annoncé aux journalistes Mikhaïl Korotkevitch, PDG de l'Usine d'hélicoptères Mil de Moscou.

"La conception d'un hélicoptère puissant est souvent évoquée par l'OTAN, et les pays membres de l'Alliance manifestent un vif intérêt pour nos hélicoptères lourds", a-t-il déclaré.

Oeuvre du bureau d'études Mil, le Mi-26T fait actuellement l'objet d'une modernisation.

Selon M.Korotkevitch, cet hélicoptère répond à 100% aux exigences formulées par l'Alliance atlantique.

"Les tests effectués ont montré que le Mi-26T satisfait à toutes les exigences émises envers le transport des cargaisons de l'OTAN. Il ne fait aucun doute que l'avenir appartiendra à cet aéronef et à son fournisseur, l'usine d'hélicoptères de Rostov-sur-le Don.

Hélicoptère polyvalent à large fuselage, le Mi-26T est destiné au transport de matériel de guerre et d'autres cargaisons de dimensions importantes. Il est également utilisé pour les travaux de construction, l'installation de pylônes haute tension, l'assemblage d'équipements de forage et la lutte contre les incendies.

China to focus attention on heavy-lift helicopters

China's Aviation Industry has announced its intention to develop its own heavy-lift helicopter.
At a press conference on March 11, Hang Zhang Biao, director of Industrial Science and Technology Committee of March 11 told reporters, "We must have our own heavy-lift helicopters.
"Heavy-lift helicopters are important for nation-building and promoting national economic development, they not be replaced with other means of transport role."
He pointed out that China's complex terrain, and having faced some of the world's worst natural disasters as well as public health, social security and other types of emergencies, that heavy-lift helicopters have played an important role.
Zhang Biao, cited the example of the Mil Mi-26s whose outstanding performance working on relief operations in the aftermath of the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 attracted worldwide attention. Zhang Biao said such a programme would deliver political, economic benefits and 'safeguard our national security' and improve the air rescue system. It would also boost the opportunities for research and international cooperation.
He called for increased state investment in heavy-lift helicopters as soon as possible to start the development project, and urged the state to support heavy-lift helicopter development, like it is doing with the development of heavy-lift fixed wing aircraft.
Russia and China have already signed a joint venture agreement to develop new advanced heavy civil helicopters, but Zhang Biao says China needs to make breakthroughs in key technologies on its own.
A new Chinese heavy-lift helicopter would be used to tackle forest and urban fires, flying passengers and transporting freight, as well as counter terrorism and emergency rescue. At present the United States and Russia already have their own heavy-lift helicopters, Europe is developing its own heavy-lift helicopters.
In order to meet our national needs, to enhance China's comprehensive national strength, is imperative to develop heavy-lift helicopters.
China's helicopter industry after nearly 60 years of development, has successfully developed a 13-ton, four-ton, and two-ton helicopters, and is currently developing a seven-ton and one-ton helicopter.

ILA: Eurocopter reveals Chinook-style heavy transport helicopter design

Eurocopter's proposed future Heavy Transport Helicopter (HTH) design has changed dramatically, thanks to the company's fresh co-operation with US manufacturer Boeing.

On show in model form at Eurocopter's stand in the Heli Centre (hall 1, stand 130), the HTH now shows more than a passing resemblance to Boeing's iconic CH-47 Chinook, but with a massive 33t maximum take-off weight.

The aircraft's tandem four-bladed main rotors have a span of 19.5m (64ft) and the helicopter would be capable of carrying up to 56 troops in addition to its three-person crew, Eurocopter says. The concept has a proposed 167kt (310km/h) top speed, and would cruise at around 148kt to an altitude of around 23,000ft.

Eurocopter says the concept has a projected range of 300km (162nm) with its maximum 13t payload, with this increasing to 1,000km at 8t. In-flight refuelling would stretch its range to up to 5,000km, it adds.

Acting on behalf of the French and German governments, the European Defence Agency (EDA) has previously identified a requirement for a new transport helicopter capable of lifting 13t of equipment and supplies.

The HTH design has now moved beyond the concept stage, although no formal acquisition programme has been established by potential buyers. And Eurocopter’s relationship with Boeing marks a departure from the USA’s initial reluctance to work with European industry when the system was first touted in 2004.

“What is quite logical is that two global players are sitting together and sharing their strengths and knowledge,” says Hans Weber, Eurocopter’s vice-president of the HTH programme. “We have a logical structure of workshare driven by competencies, and not by politics. What you see is the outcome so far.”

Weber says “the pre-design is very mature, and meets the requirements set by the NATO staff targets.” The companies have been exchanging proposed solutions with the organisation for the last one to two years, and “so far we’ve got very positive feedback,” he adds.

The intention is for Boeing and Eurocopter to each perform 50% of a future project, using off-the-shelf technologies wherever possible. “This helicopter should not be used as a technology platform, but use state of the art technologies which already exist,” Weber says. “This makes it cheaper, and easier.”

For example, several candidate engines already exist which could power the design, he notes.

The EDA hosted a half-day aerial capabilities seminar at the show on Tuesday, with discussion topics having included industrial collaboration, air transport and unmanned air vehicles. "Europe's military aerospace industry is unlikely to be sustained without transformational action and new ways of business," the agency says.

Boeing and Eurocopter displayed at the ILA Berlin Air Show a tandem-rotor concept for a future transport helicopter. The concept closely resembles an enlarged CH-47 Chinook." title="Boeing and Eurocopter displayed at the ILA Berlin Air Show a tandem-rotor concept for a future transport helicopter. The concept closely resembles an enlarged CH-47 Chinook." Boeing and Eurocopter displayed at the ILA Berlin Air Show a tandem-rotor concept for a future transport helicopter. The concept closely resembles an enlarged CH-47 Chinook. Boeing and Eurocopter have agreed to cooperate on a future transport helicopter (FTH) and at the ILA Berlin Air Show both companies displayed a tandem-rotor concept that resembles an enlarged CH-47 Chinook. The fuselage would be 66 feet long and 12 feet wide, enabling the internal carriage of armored vehicles. Both France and Germany have requirements for a next-generation heavy-lift helicopter, and a NATO staff target is being developed. The German Army operates a large fleet of CH-53G heavy-lift helicopters, and Eurocopter previously explored cooperation with Sikorsky, which is designing the CH-53K model to replace the U.S. Marine Corps' CH-53D/E fleet. But although it is a complete redesign, the CH-53K cabin is only 12 inches wider than that of the predecessor CH-53s. Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling said that there is a transatlantic consensus that a FTH should not carry underslung loads in a threat environment. However, the U.S. Marine Corps is quite happy with the emerging, triple-engine CH-53K, according to requirements officer Major Jeff Davis, who briefed journalists on the program at Berlin. The first of the all-new GE38-1B engines is doing well in ground tests; the first flight is scheduled for fiscal year 2013. Initial operating capability with four machines would follow five years later. “We're watching the European FTH requirement,” he added. A Sikorsky spokesman told AIN that his company had offered Germany three options for the FTH, based on the CH-53K. “The German preference seems to fluctuate between an off-the-shelf solution and an all-new design,” he added.

Eurocopter is showing a fuselage segment for a proposed Future Transport Helicopter (FTH), which it believes could meet the requirements of military users and civilian agencies responding to humanitarian disasters.

"We have finalised our preliminary design based on NATO staff targets, which we hope will soon become requirements," says Hans Weber, Eurocopter vice-president of heavy transport helicopters.

Driven by the French and German armies, the targets call for the ability to carry "as much internal cargo as possible", says German army aviation commander Brig Reinhard Wolski. The proposed aircraft has a planned 33t maximum take-off weight, including 15t in the cargo hold, or an under-slung load of 18t. Existing engine candidates include General Electric's GE38, in development for the US Marine Corps' future Sikorsky CH-53K, and the Rolls-Royce AE 1107, which powers the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor.

Manufactured from composite material, the cabin section on display weighs only 60kg (132lb), with the four crashworthy seats and cargo floor section also installed as part of the display increasing this to only 120kg.

Weber says Eurocopter believes the aircraft should use off-the-shelf technology where possible and be certificated to civil standards first, before later receiving its military-specific systems. This would follow the example of the civilian EC145, adapted for US Army use as the UH-72 Lakota.

Eurocopter and Boeing previously signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on the FTH initiative. "It has been beneficial for both sides," says Mark Ballew, director of rotorcraft business development for Boeing Mobility. However, he adds that it will come down to whether there is a product and a market which justifies the investment.