Rotary wings for a new millennium: new-generation helicopters will feature varying degrees of low observable technology while the latest structural materials make possible significant advances in weight, aircrew workload reduction and fatigue life. This article is aimed at highlighting the latest inputs in today's helicopter technology and providing a foretaste of things to come.

Armada International › Vol. 26 Nbr. 3, June 2002

Author: Braybrook, Roy

Position:: Technology

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Technology

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Rotary wings for a new millennium: new-generation helicopters will feature varying degrees of low observable technology while the latest structural materials make possible significant advances in weight, aircrew workload reduction and fatigue life. This article is aimed at highlighting the latest inputs in today's helicopter technology and providing a foretaste of things to come.

Starting this review with international projects, the AgustaWestland Lynx family is produced in both land- and ship-based forms. Over 400 Lynxes have been sold to 14 operators around the world. The latest naval variant is the Super Lynx Series 300 with LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, a full glass cockpit and digital core avionics. The Super Lynx Series 300 has recently been ordered by Oman (16 aircraft), Malaysia (6) and Thailand (2). At time of writing a contract for up to eight aircraft was being finalised with South Africa.

Future Lynx: Early this year the British Ministry of Defence announced that the Future Lynx would form the basis for the British Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter (Bluh). This is expected to use a rebuilt Lynx AH7/9 airframe (probably with wheels rather than skids), LHTEC CTS800-4N engines and a modern avionics suite developed by AgustaWestland in co-operation with Thales, Smiths Industries and BAE Systems. LHTEC is a 50:50 partnership between Rolls-Royce and Honeywell. The Army Air Corps (AAC) will need 60 to 70 aircraft, and the Royal Navy (RN) may take 60 similar airframes to fulfil its Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft requirement to replace its Lynx HAS3/HMA8 fleet around 2015.

Bell/Agusta AB139: This utility machine is being developed by an international team of risk-sharing partners, including Pratt & Whitney Canada, Honeywell, GKN Westland, PZL-Swidnik, Liebherr and Kawasaki. The military AB139 is a six-tonne aircraft des...

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