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(55 deg) has reduced noise characteristics. While the Mi-28 is
not intended for use as a transport, it does have a small passenger
compartment capable of carrying three people, the planned
purpose being to enable rescue of downed helicopter crews.
Heavy Lift
Helicopters (15)
Mil Mi-26 Halo
The Mil Mi-26 (NATO reporting name Halo) is a Russian
heavy transport helicopter in service both in civilian and military
roles. It is the largest and most powerful helicopter ever to have
gone into production. The Mi-26 was designed as a heavy-
lift helicopter whose primary purpose was to move military
equipment such as 13 metric ton (29,000 lb) amphibious armored
personnel carriers, as well as mobile ballistic missiles to remote
locations after delivery by military transport aircraft. While it is
only slightly heavier than the Mil Mi-6, it can lift up to 20 metric
tons (44,000 lb). The Mi-26 is the second largest and heaviest
helicopter ever constructed, following the experimental Mi-12,
and is in service with the IAF.
Vying for the Indian Sun
Helicopter types in the final run
Attack Helicopters (22)
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow
The Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter developed
by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), the AH-64D Longbow
Apache being a remanufactured and upgraded version of the
AH-64A Apache attack helicopter. It is ftted with the Longbow
millimetre-wave Fire Control Radar (FCR) target acquisition
system and the fre-and-forget Longbow Hellfre air-to-ground
missile. It has updated T700-GE-701C engines and a fully-
integrated cockpit. In addition, the aircraft incorporates improved
survivability, communications, and navigation capabilities,
while most existing
capabilities of the
AH-64A Apache
a r e r e t a i n e d .
Lockheed Martin
has developed a new
targeting and night
vision system called
Arrowhead for the
Ap a c h e , u s i n g
second-generation
long-wave infrared
s e n s o r s w i t h
improved range and
resolution.
The Apache is
equipped with two
turboshaft engines,
each providing 1,265 kW. The American AH-64D has General
Electric T700-GE-701 engines and the UK Apache fitted
with RTM322 engines from Rolls-Royce/ Turbomeca. With
a climb rate of 889m/min, the maximum and cruise speeds of
the helicopter are 279km/h 260km/h respectively, ferry range
and service ceiling of the helicopter are 1,900km and 6,400m
respectively, with endurance being 3 hours 9 minutes. The
helicopter weighs around 5,165kg, while the maximum take-off
weight is 10,433kg.
Mil Mi-28 Havoc
The Mil Mi-28 (NATO reporting name Havoc) is the Russian
all-weather day-night military tandem seating anti-armour
dedicated attack helicopter with no intended secondary transport
capability, better optimised than the Mil Mi-24 for the anti-
tank role. It carries a single gun in an undernose barbette, plus
external loads carried on pylons beneath stub wings. The Mi-28
has two heavily armoured cockpits, a nose ftted with electronic
equipment, and a narrow-X tail rotor, powered by two 2,200 hp
Isotov TV-3-117VM (t/n 014) gas turbines. The X-type tail rotor
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VAYU
Boeing CH-47F Chinook
The CH-47F Improved Cargo Helicopter (ICH) is a
re-manufactured version of the CH-47D Chinook cargo helicopter
with new 4,868-horsepower Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines,
enabling it to reach speeds greater than 175 mph and transport
payloads weighing more than 21,000 lbs. By October 2005,
Boeing started production for the new CH-47F Chinook heavy-
transport helicopter as part of the U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter
modernisation programme. A new airframe has been constructed
utilising advanced manufacturing techniques which reduce
operating and support costs while improving structural integrity
of the aircraft and extending the overall useful life of each
Chinook. Structural improvements include air transportability
modifications, which reduce time necessary to prepare the
aircraft for cargo transport and advanced corrosion protection.
In addition, the implementation of lean manufacturing processes
on the factory foor and use of employee involvement teams
have reduced manufacturing costs and improved production
effciency. This confguration with the Armys Common Aviation
Architecture System cockpit makes the Chinook fully compliant
with digital battlefeld requirements. The CH-47F remains in
frontline service in Afghanistan.
effective mission system. In its attack confguration, the AS 550
C3 Fennec can be equipped with a gun pod or rockets.
Kamov Ka-226 Sergei
The Kamov Ka-226 Sergei is a small, twin-engined utility
helicopter. The Ka-226 unusually features an interchangeable
mission module, rather than a conventional cabin, allowing
various accommodation or equipment confgurations. The Ka-
226 entered service in 2002. The design is a refnement of the
proven Ka-26, featuring interchangeable mission modules. The
aircraft is ftted with a new rotor system, increased visibility
nose, and new passenger cabin design. The Ka-226 also features
a new transmission system and is made largely from composite
materials. The aircraft is ftted with trademark Kamov coaxial
rotors, of advanced composite design, making the Ka-226 highly
maneouverable and eliminating the need for a tail rotor. It is
powered by two Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20R (SR) turbo-shafts
of 335 kW (450 hp) each.
Light Observation
Helicopters (197)
Eurocopter AS 550 C3 Fennec
The Fennec, military version of the Ecureuil, offers adapted
solutions to a wide variety of missions. The single-engined
versions are equipped with a Turbomeca Arriel 2B turbo-shaft
engine, which provides improved high-altitude and high-
temperature performances and excellent tactical fight capacities.
This new turbine engine, with Full Authority Digital Engine
Control, provides a power increase of approximately 125 shp,
and also offers the advantages of more modern technology. The
multi-function capabilities of the Fennec mean that it can adapt
to all sorts of missions, both day and night. The AS550 C3
offers the most modern design complying with more and more
demanding battlefelds and missions and is already operational
from the highest altitudes (6000 m/19,685 ft) to the hottest and
sandy environments (+ 50C/122F), to perform the widest range
of missions. The simple design, reliability of equipment, low fuel
consumption and light maintenance makes the AS550 C3 a cost
Shipborne
ASW helicopters (60)
Sikorsky S-70B Sea Hawk
The S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter is manufactured by Sikorsky
Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut, and is a development of the
UH60A Black Hawk US Army Helicopter. The Seahawk is
equipped with two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft
engines developing 3,400shp. The Seahawk can travel up to
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IV/2010
100nm from the host ship and remain on station for several hours.
The helicopter carries out all-weather surveillance, search and
rescue, missile targeting, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare
and strike-warfare. The Seahawk is fown by a crew of four: the
pilot, co-pilot and the sensor and weapons systems operators.
The Seahawks navigation suite includes the AN/APS-124 search
radar supplied by Raytheon (formerly Texas Instruments), AN/
ARN-118(V) Tacan supplied by Rockwell Collins, AN/APN-127
Doppler radar from Teledyne Ryan, AN/ARA-50 UHF direction
fnding system from Rockwell Collins and the AN/APR-194 (V)
radar altimeter from Honeywell.
The helicopter is equipped with a Sikorsky sonobuoy launcher
on port side of the cabin, an ARR-84 receiver, an UYS-1 acoustic
processing unit and an ARN-146 on top position indicator that
indicates the position over a submerged submarine. The towed
magnetic anomaly detector is the AN/ASQ-81 (V)2 supplied by
Raytheon. The helicopter carries two Mk46 torpedoes or Mk50
ALT advanced lightweight torpedoes from Honeywell. The
Seahawks anti-ship missile is the AGM-119B Penguin from
Kongsberg of Norway, and also carries the Hellfre air-to-surface
missile to engage fast attack craft and small, armed ships. Target
acquisition is carried out using the AAS-44 thermal imaging unit
with a laser designator.
NH Industries NH90
The NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military
helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The two initial
versions are the NH90 NFH (NATO Fregate Helicopter) for
autonomous anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship roles, and the
NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) for assault transport,
rescue, electronic warfare and VIP transport duties). The NH90
Naval Fregate Helicopter variant is primarily designed for
autonomous Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti Surface
Warfare (ASuW) missions. Comprehensive mission equipment
packages allow a wide range of additional missions to be
performed including Search and Rescue (SAR), maritime patrol,
vertical replenishment, troop transport, medical evacuation and
amphibious support roles. The helicopter is designed for day and
night operations in adverse weather conditions from the decks of
ships. In framework of the NH90 programme, AgustaWestland
is responsible for production of the main transmission, tail drive
shafts, hydraulic system, automatic fight control system, rear
ramp, rear fuselage, the T700/6E1 engine solution installation
and on-board computers. AgustaWestland is also responsible
for overall integration of the NH90 naval mission system for all
NFH variants.
Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin MH-60R
The MH-60R multi mission helicopter (Romeo) has been
designed to replace existing SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters in
the US Navy. The helicopter is equipped for a range of missions
including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare
(ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), naval gunfire support
(NGFS), surveillance, communications relay, logistics support,
personnel transfer and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). For
vertical replenishment missions the helicopter is ftted with a
2,721.55kg (6,000lb) cargo hook. Lockheed Martin, Owego,
is the mission systems integrator. The helicopter operates from
various warships and is suitable for intense littoral warfare
operations, for handling numerous contacts in confned spaces and
for open-water operations. The MH-60 helicopter is ftted with
dual controls and accommodates the pilot and co-pilot / tactical
mission offcer. The MH-60R helicopter shares the same MH-60
multi-function digital glass cockpit as the MH-60S helicopter.
For anti-surface warfare missions, the helicopter can be equipped
with a range of weapons on the four weapons stations, including
Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfre anti-surface missiles. For
anti-submarine warfare, the MH-60R can carry up to three ATK
Mk50 or Mk46 active / passive lightweight torpedoes. For self-
defence, a pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun is ftted. For
anti-submarine warfare missions the helicopter is equipped with
a sonobuoy launcher and a Raytheon AN/AQS-22 advanced
airborne low-frequency (ALFS) dipping sonar. The helicopter
is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft
engines rated at 1,342 kW.