[P44]

Vídeo publicado por Steven Soler, Program Manager da 🇺🇸Arista Aviation Services mostra o 2º UH-60A ex-#A8CA84? (ex-N666AA) (29802)


https://twitter.com/IntelPortugal/status/1721181955759153628

[Charlie Jaguar]

São cada vez mais os rumores que indicam que poderemos vir a adquirir várias células MRH-90 Taipan ex-Exército Australiano para a UALE, umas para uso operacional, outras como fonte de sobressalentes. Todavia, as mesmas fontes apontam que a FAP continua a querer contar com alguns Black/Pave Hawk para a missão Combat SAR, libertando os EH-101 para SAR de longo alcance e transporte aéreo táctico pesado.

Assim, e num cenário para já hipotético, os "helicópteros de apoio, proteção e evacuação" seriam esta versão australiana do NH90 para a UALE, possivelmente complementada por alguns helicópteros "de escolta e reconhecimento armado" em segunda-mão vindos dos Estados Unidos. Fala-se de uma vasta gama de aparelhos, do Kiowa Warrior ao AH-1W/Z, do MD530F Cayuse Warrior/Warrior Plus até uma versão mais armada e musculada do Black Hawk.

Apesar dos bons indícios, veremos o que, o quê ou quanto disto tudo se virá a materializar. E como quando a esmola é muita o pobre desconfia, "I'll take this with a grain of salt."

[wyldething]

São cada vez mais os rumores que indicam que poderemos vir a adquirir várias células MRH-90 Taipan ex-Exército Australiano para a UALE, umas para uso operacional, outras como fonte de sobressalentes.

A concretizar-se, é capaz de ser a maior estupidez de todos os tempos 
Gastam-se 120M e cancela-se o programa, sem vir nenhum helicóptero.
Acaba por revelar-se uma bênção disfarçada, dado os problemas que assolam as frotas NH90 por todo o mundo e evita-se, por um acaso do destino, um erro maior.
Depois de ter evitado o erro, volta-se atrás para poder cometer esse mesmo erro.
Surreal. 

PS: Parece que a única frota que tem os utilizadores satisfeitos é a espanhola. Em conversa recente com um hermano, este atribuía o facto à versão espanhola ter uma motorização diferente (GE CT7-8E) das restantes frotas, mas não me parece ser apenas isso, tendo em conta as queixas dos restantes usuários. A concretizar-se a aquisição, seria bom descobrir o "segredo" do sucesso da frota espanhola.

[Charlie Jaguar]

Nem de propósito, a edição de Novembro da Flight International debruça-se sobre o programa NH90, e muito concretamente o caso do MRH-90 Taipan. E acrescenta que o consórcio construtor, a NHI, pretende ficar com os aparelhos que forem abatidos, de modo a torná-los em doadores de peças. Amanhã se possível colocarei aqui o resto da reportagem.

[Drecas]

Perguntei a um conhecido australiano sobre os MRH-90

Disse-me que estava tudo focado e a trabalhar nos UH-60M e se uma venda acontecer (sem qualquer referência a Portugal) deve acontecer em meados de 2024

[luis simoes]

Bom dia
Como tudo isso carece ainda de ser confirmado por parte do Governo, nao me parece que pelo que ouvi da Ministra da Defesa ser esse o desígnio na LPM o que se sabe é que haverá compra dos tais helis de evacuação ou apoio para a FAP e que o mesmo ja existia, segundo consta serao helis medio porte e Novos, e que os mesmos partilhem cinergias com os demais existentes neste Ramo, ou sykorski ou Leonardo, quanto ao NH90 para a UALE  acredito seja uma das solucoes mas nao a unica...apos a compra dos Blackhawks e existir nos meandros alguns movimentos para a compra do mesmo mas uma versao Armada, penso que seria o mais acertado, mas nao esquecamos que a Leonardo tem um bom trunfo na manga e tal como a Polonia Portugal poderá seguir lhe o exemplo...Aw149M...vamos ver o que vai daqui sair...2024 será um ano incerto com eleicoes pelo meio so espero que nao venha a interferir com a LPM.

[Charlie Jaguar]

Perguntei a um conhecido australiano sobre os MRH-90

Disse-me que estava tudo focado e a trabalhar nos UH-60M e se uma venda acontecer (sem qualquer referência a Portugal) deve acontecer em meados de 2024

Sim, o Exército Australiano inclusivamente já recebeu vários UH-60M. É um programa que está a ir de vento em popa porque eles querem livrar-se rapidamente do NH90.

Entregaram os primeiros aparelhos a 30 de Julho, e salvo erro neste momento já vão em 4.




A edição deste mês da revista Flight International debruça-se então sobre o NH90, nomeadamente os problemas na Austrália e não só, o fabricante desejar as células abatidas para funcionarem como fonte de peças sobressalentes, as lições que se devem tirar de tudo isto, e o que o futuro reserva para este helicóptero de fabrico europeu.

Problems escalate for NH90 as Australia opts to retire fleet
Canberra permanently withdraws its troubled transport helicopters from use after fatal Taipan crash, as NH Industries looks to buy unwanted assets for spare parts use

Dominic Perry - London

NH Industries (NHI) could buy Norway’s unwanted fleet of NH90 helicopters to part out for spares, in a deal similar to that already presented to Australia, as the consortium seeks to address critical spares shortages. Having cancelled its contract for 14 NFH naval-variant aircraft in 2022 and grounded its fleet, Oslo is locked in a dispute with NHI as it seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. NHI president Axel Aloccio says it remains in “open dialogue with Norway”, as it seeks “an amicable solution to our dispute”. This “might include a buy-back of their aircraft and [spares] inventory”, he says, adding that “it is something we are ready to propose”.

Negotiations are already under way with Australia to acquire its 45-strong fleet of grounded MRH90 Taipans – the local designation for the NH90 – which have an average age of only 10 years. Australia had been planning to withdraw the type from service in December 2024, but grounded its fleet on the back of a fatal accident in late July, when an MRH90 crashed into the sea during an exercise, killing all four crew. Another example had ditched in the sea in March 2023, with its crew rescued and the helicopter recovered.


Shifting focus

On 29 September, Canberra announced that its Taipans would not resume operations, stating: “The government remains focused on the introduction into service of the new fleet of [Sikorsky] UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.” The first three of 40 UH-60Ms have already arrived in Australia, and commenced flying in September, its Department of Defence (DoD) says. The announcement “does not presuppose or any way suggest the outcome of the investigations into the tragic incident”, the DoD notes. “We want to make clear that we believe that this decision is not linked to any particular safety concern regarding the NH90,” Aloccio says. “We have not identified any technical issue or any malfunction, or alarm or alert,” he says, referring to NHI’s analysis of cockpit-voice and flight-data recorders. “We do not identify any particular technical issue, which is why NHI has not released any protective measures for the rest of the fleet”, he says. NHI will continue to support the investigation.

Aloccio says it is “disappointed” by the decision, but that “we are optimistic that we can converge with them on an agreement”. “We are anxious to get our hands on those parts and put them back into the NH90 system,” he says. The aircraft would be dismantled locally by Queensland-headquartered Airbus Australia Pacific, yielding “high-value parts” on NHI’s Priority Items List (PIL) – components that are in short supply or have the longest turnaround times for repair. Aloccio describes the PIL as an “evolving” list of 50-70 items – including main and tail rotor gearboxes, plus radios and radars – around half of which could be sourced from the Australian helicopters. Dealing with the PIL is part of a three-pronged approach to tackling the time and cost of NH90 maintenance: a long-standing complaint from most operators. It has seen NHI engage with a core group of 20 suppliers – including shareholders Airbus and Leonardo – to implement a “massive recovery plan”.

Individual plans have been put in place at each supplier with the goal of doubling production or repair capacity, and halving the time spent on each item. “On some of those items we have turnaround [times] that are absolutely not satisfactory: more than one year. We need to come back to turnaround times which are around four to six months,” he says. “That is basically the target and what is expected by customers, and we will be there by the end of next year.” By the end of August, NHI had recorded a 16% improvement over the previous year, and is due to hit 20% by year-end. While this is behind its 2023 target of a 30% improvement, Aloccio says he is “encouraged”. “It shows what we are doing is paying off. We will accelerate further next year to reach the target.”

He also hopes that operators will sign up to a “standard exchange” system, where a part from one helicopter can be swapped within 48h for one from a global pool of reconditioned items. Customers have previously been reluctant to agree to such a scheme, preferring to use only parts that have been installed on their own aircraft. Discussions are ongoing, and Aloccio is hopeful of gaining sign-off in the first half of 2024. “Most, if not all, are supportive – we are now just waiting for them to answer in writing.” He notes that the agreement of all customers is not required to launch the service: “If we only have eight or 10 nations out of 14 it doesn’t matter, we will go anyway.” Over the past year, NHI has invested €230 million ($242 million) in spare parts, with those components to arrive from the end of 2024. “Once those are in our inventory, we can sell them to customers or use them to feed the standard exchange service as well.”


Increased inventory

Gaining access to parts stripped from the Australian or Norwegian airframes would allow this pool to be expanded more quickly. Although NHI could pin the parts shortages on the lingering aftereffects of Covid-19 on the aerospace supply chain, Aloccio thinks it should shoulder some of the blame: having “underestimated” the growth of the fleet and flight hours, “together with our supply chain we have not properly sized ourselves against the increasing fleet”. Other steps being taken to reduce the maintenance burden include extending inspection intervals from 600h to 900h, and increasing the time before overhaul (TBO) for the main gearbox from 1,200h to 1,800h. Currently being tested by Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France, a new artificial intelligence-based tool designed to optimise the maintenance inspection could also be rolled out next year. Aloccio says the results so far are “promising”, suggesting a 20-25% reduction in the time taken for major inspections to be achieved.

NHI also is attempting to build up a network of NH90-qualified technicians that could be made available to customers as required, either to bolster internal teams or help “offload” certain maintenance activities. Such personnel could be sourced from within the NHI consortium partners – Airbus, Leonardo and GKN/Fokker – or from third-party MRO providers like Finland’s Patria and Sabena Engineering in Belgium. But despite Aloccio’s efforts over the last year – he was made president of NHI in September 2022 – average fleet availability continues to hover stubbornly around the 40% mark. However, he points to a lag between “the actions that we take and the first results that we see”. “What has changed significantly… is that all these actions are being implemented and are being recognised by our customers; they see the efforts we are making and see we are doing the right things. “If everyone does their part, things will improve in the next year.” There is more tangible progress, however, on the pace of a retrofit programme to bring early-build NH90s to the latest standard.


Upgraded examples

In 2022, just 11 upgraded examples were handed back to customers, but this year NHI is targeting a total of 23-24; at the end of September, the 12th unit of the year was completed. “2023 is really the year when we are ramping up – it doesn’t mean that everything has been solved, but we are giving back helicopters at a much faster rate,” he says. Meanwhile, Aloccio says NHI also is maintaining a “very open dialogue” with Sweden, which in November 2022 detailed a proposal to phase out its fleet of 18 NH90s by 2035, and buy replacement UH-60s. That strategy still needs parliamentary approval, and Aloccio believes NHI can persuade Stockholm that it would offer better value for money to retain its existing assets. “We are trying to make our view heard on the topic,” he says, while adding that the rotorcraft are “perfectly fine and performing well”, and “super-efficient in terms of the [anti-submarine warfare] mission they perform”.


Block 2 upgrade package may increase NH90’s firepower

Future enhancements to the NH90 transport helicopter could potentially include offering a range of weapons for integration as part of a mid-life upgrade. Although the NFH naval variant carries torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare missions, options on the TTH troop transport have been largely limited to door guns, while Oman has equipped some of its fleet with podded 20mm cannons. “It makes sense to have this type of capability on the TTH,” says NH Industries (NHI) president Axel Aloccio. While no decision has been made, weapons under consideration include rockets and anti-tank missiles, and a modular weapon system like Airbus Helicopters’ HForce product is likely to be offered, he says.

Arming the 11t-class helicopter was one of several options presented to NH90 operators for the first time during a “product development forum” in September. “We have started to discuss and more importantly we have started to present to [customers] the main technology bricks we are working on and that could be integrated onto the NH90 in the framework of a possible Block 2 [upgrade],” Aloccio says. Besides armaments, other so-called “techno bricks” could include those relating to “connectivity and survivability”, or the addition of manned-unmanned teaming capability. “We are working on those things and explaining to our customers that all these bricks will mature in the next five to 10 years and could be integrated on the NH90 in the frame of a Block 2 upgrade,” he says. Underpinning the upgrade plan are two key developments, however. First is an extension to the helicopter’s lifespan, taking it to 50 years from 30 currently. Feasibility studies supporting the lifetime extension (LTE) were completed earlier this year and revealed that no modifications would be required to achieve the longer service life. The results of those studies are due to be formally presented to the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) next year, but operators were informed of the development during the recent forum. “We already presented, in anticipation, the outcome of the lifetime extension study and we confirmed that indeed it was positive and, more importantly, we confirmed to them it was positive without any hardware change on the aircraft,” Aloccio says.

“[The LTE] doesn’t come with a caveat or a pre-requisite: you take the aircraft as they are, and the lifetime can be extended without a particular intervention or retrofit.” A contract from NAHEMA would be required to rubber-stamp the LTE, says Aloccio, although he stresses this would be entirely paperwork-based. The second “foundation” of the Block 2 upgrade will be a “complete review” of the NH90’s avionics architecture, which will adopt an open system approach that Aloccio says “will be much easier to upgrade and easier to interface with”. “We believe that because the airframe is so sound and because it can be extended to 50 years – and also because the size of the aircraft… is really well suited to our customers, there is a really strong baseline on which we can, every 15 or 20 years, upgrade the aircraft,” he says. NHI delivered its 500th NH90 in March 2023, and has around 90 examples still in its backlog. Aloccio sees potential to add another 50-100 units to the orderbook by 2028.

[Pescador]

Aparelho com provas dadas, corrigidos, adaptados ao longo da sua operação. Versões diversas com um mundo de acessórios. Peças abundantes.

Parece diferente do caso dos Merlim e do caso dos NH90.

"Temos" 6. Parece difícil escolher. Mas só parece 

[Subsea7]

https://www.cavok.com.br/boeing-inicia-producao-de-helicopteros-ah-64e-apache-guardian-para-o-marrocos

Entretanto... Em Marrocos !

[Get_It]

Entretanto, na Eslovénia: seis AW-139M.

Minister Marjan Šarec and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto sign an agreement for the purchase of six AW139M multi-role helicopters
(28 de Novembro de 2023)

The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Marjan Šarec, and the Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic, Guido Crosetto, signed an amendment to the Implementing Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia on cooperation in the field of military aviation (hereinafter referred to as the Implementing Agreement), which defines the purchase of additional six Leonardo AW139M multirole helicopters, based on the Government-to-Government model.

On the basis of the amendments and modifications to the Development Programmes Plan 2023-2026 adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on 20 July this year, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has created the basis for the SAF investments as foreseen in the Resolution on the long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) until 2040. This continues the development and modernisation of the SAF in the light of contemporary security challenges, including those in the field of military aviation.

The decision to procure the AW139M multirole helicopters under the Government-to-Government model was taken on the basis of a completed and approved Investment Programme, an expert report on the demonstration of the capabilities of the multirole military helicopters and an economic benefits analysis. The choice to acquire helicopters through the Italian Government is a more economically efficient way for the Contracting Authority compared to purchasing directly from the helicopter manufacturer. It has been established that, in addition to the above-mentioned advantages (economy, cost-effectiveness), the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia has the possibility of long-term cooperation with the Italian Government and of ensuring interoperability in joint NATO projects and EU cooperation programmes. This will increase the operational efficiency of the facility, compared to a direct purchase from the helicopter manufacturer.

The signed amendment to the Implementing Arrangement provides for the purchase of six multi-purpose military helicopters for a total value of EUR 188,334,579 excluding VAT. The amount also includes the cost of certification by the Italian Military Aviation Authority. The annual project management costs of the Italian Ministry of Defence amount to EUR 425,449.

The purchase of six AW139M multi-role helicopters will provide the Slovenian Armed Forces with a state-of-the-art helicopter built to the latest safety standards. It will be used to support the operations of SAF units and the protection and rescue system. The helicopter is very powerful, fast and spacious, with room for up to 15 passengers. All helicopters will have the possibility to mount a MEDEVAC/HNMP module, which will be custom-made to fit the instruments and equipment of our medical teams. The AW139M helicopter is well suited to search and rescue (SAR) tasks, which for us also include mountain rescue. At the same time, it is also useful for firefighting, capable of dropping up to 2000 litres at a time.

The exact delivery dynamics of the AW139M helicopters will be coordinated early next year.

Fonte: https://www.gov.si/en/news/2023-11-28-minister-marjan-sarec-and-italian-defence-minister-guido-crosetto-sign-an-agreement-for-the-purchase-of-six-aw139m-multi-role-helicopters/ via alert5

Cumprimentos,

[Charlie Jaguar]

Entretanto, na Eslovénia: seis AW-139M.

Minister Marjan Šarec and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto sign an agreement for the purchase of six AW139M multi-role helicopters
(28 de Novembro de 2023)

The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Marjan Šarec, and the Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic, Guido Crosetto, signed an amendment to the Implementing Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia on cooperation in the field of military aviation (hereinafter referred to as the Implementing Agreement), which defines the purchase of additional six Leonardo AW139M multirole helicopters, based on the Government-to-Government model.

On the basis of the amendments and modifications to the Development Programmes Plan 2023-2026 adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on 20 July this year, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has created the basis for the SAF investments as foreseen in the Resolution on the long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) until 2040. This continues the development and modernisation of the SAF in the light of contemporary security challenges, including those in the field of military aviation.

The decision to procure the AW139M multirole helicopters under the Government-to-Government model was taken on the basis of a completed and approved Investment Programme, an expert report on the demonstration of the capabilities of the multirole military helicopters and an economic benefits analysis. The choice to acquire helicopters through the Italian Government is a more economically efficient way for the Contracting Authority compared to purchasing directly from the helicopter manufacturer. It has been established that, in addition to the above-mentioned advantages (economy, cost-effectiveness), the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia has the possibility of long-term cooperation with the Italian Government and of ensuring interoperability in joint NATO projects and EU cooperation programmes. This will increase the operational efficiency of the facility, compared to a direct purchase from the helicopter manufacturer.

The signed amendment to the Implementing Arrangement provides for the purchase of six multi-purpose military helicopters for a total value of EUR 188,334,579 excluding VAT. The amount also includes the cost of certification by the Italian Military Aviation Authority. The annual project management costs of the Italian Ministry of Defence amount to EUR 425,449.

The purchase of six AW139M multi-role helicopters will provide the Slovenian Armed Forces with a state-of-the-art helicopter built to the latest safety standards. It will be used to support the operations of SAF units and the protection and rescue system. The helicopter is very powerful, fast and spacious, with room for up to 15 passengers. All helicopters will have the possibility to mount a MEDEVAC/HNMP module, which will be custom-made to fit the instruments and equipment of our medical teams. The AW139M helicopter is well suited to search and rescue (SAR) tasks, which for us also include mountain rescue. At the same time, it is also useful for firefighting, capable of dropping up to 2000 litres at a time.

The exact delivery dynamics of the AW139M helicopters will be coordinated early next year.

Fonte: https://www.gov.si/en/news/2023-11-28-minister-marjan-sarec-and-italian-defence-minister-guido-crosetto-sign-an-agreement-for-the-purchase-of-six-aw139m-multi-role-helicopters/ via alert5

Cumprimentos,

Tenho que me convencer que, no fundo, não passas de um gastador e esbanjador. Para quê helicópteros modernos e novos, que custam os olhos da cara e que não são fabricados pela Embraer, se podemos comprar usados quase novinhos em folha, com um historial nada problemático, por pouco mais de 50 milhões? Às vezes não te percebo...

[Pescador]

Depois dos problemas manutenção com os Merlin, e apesar de entretanto virem os Koalas, tudo isto do mesmo fabricante. Mas tendo vindo agora os 6 H60, seria lógico continuar com modelos deste ultimo, tanto para o exército como futuramente a Marinha. Isto porque se têm mostrado fiáveis e, não consta que alguém que os use tenha problemas de manutenção . Aí está uma coisa a ter em conta

[saabGripen]

Alguém confirma isto?

https://twitter.com/Defence360/status/1729640279261483336/photo/1

[luis simoes]

A ser verdade mais boas noticias...
Oxala se confirme.

[Mentat]

Mas tendo vindo agora os 6 H60, seria lógico continuar com modelos deste ultimo, tanto para o exército como futuramente a Marinha. Isto porque se têm mostrado fiáveis e, não consta que alguém que os use tenha problemas de manutenção.

Os meios tendem a dar menos (ou nenhuns) problemas de manutenção quando esta é feita a tempo e horas e de acordo com as instruções do fabricante. Coisa que por cá, infeliz e inaceitavelmente, é rara.