VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 JAN/FEB 2018 A SHEPHARD MEDIA PUBLICATION Hot spots Orders and deliveries in Asia-Pacific SIZE MATTERS THE NUMBERS GAME CSAR CONSIDERED EO/IR sensors Modernisation programmes Survival teaming WWW.DEFENCEHELICOPTER.COM DH-01-18_OFC.indd 1 1/25/2018 4:10:52 PM Shepard Media Full Page Ad_1.21.2016.pdf 1 1/21/2016 4:58:31 PM OVER 50 YEARS OF SCOUT ATTACK DOMINANCE The MD 530F, an evolution of the iconic OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter, is the latest addition to MD Helicopters’ fleet of purpose built scout attack helicopters. The armed MD 530F is world-renowned as a proven aircraft and performs exceptionally well in hot and high conditions. The MD 530F enables combat commanders to effectively control the battlespace to accomplish the most demanding of mission requirements. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K MADE IN AMERICA | MDHELICOPTERS.COM DH-01-18_IFC_MD Helicopters.indd 2 25/01/2018 13:47:10 CONTENTS Editor Helen Haxell [email protected] 3 EDITORIAL COMMENT FEATURE Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2597 No more! 19 MAKING PROGRESS Asia-Pacific Editor EO/IR sensors for military helicopters have Gordon Arthur [email protected] 4 NEWS advanced in various ways in recent years, as North America Editor Ashley Roque [email protected] • Russia and India dominate helicopter orders manufacturers look to strike the optimum • First Apaches touch down in Indonesia balance between capability, size and weight. Staff Reporter Tim Martin • Japan’s V-22 Osprey deliveries rescheduled Contributors • Bell 412EPs bound for Argentina FEATURE Patrick Allen, Erwan de Cherisey, Rob Coppinger, • AH-64E Apache set for record production rates Gerrard Cowan, David Daverio, Peter Donaldson, 24 STAYING THE COURSE Jim Dorschner, Mauro Finati, Scott R Gourley, • Keeping it cool for Future Vertical Lift The rotary-wing armament market has seen Michal Jarocki, Neelam Mathews, Alexander Mladenov, David Oliver, Paolo Rollino, its guided weapon capability gap filled by the Richard Scott, Barry D Smith, Beth Stevenson, FEATURE integration of semi-active laser seekers onto Alan Warnes, Jim Winchester 8 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST conventional unguided projectiles. Development Production and Circulation Manager David Hurst For personnel who find themselves in hostile of such munitions has been undertaken by Senior Production Editor territory in dire need of aid, CSAR is their only multiple major OEMs, but which have the Georgina Smith lifeline. Militaries globally are recognising the potential for long-term success? Sub-editor significance of these services and are making Elaine Effard bold strides in equipping themselves for such FEATURE Digital Development Manager eventualities. 31 PLAYING THE NUMBERS GAME Adam Wakeling While India and the US lead the world in terms Graphic Designer Kam Bains FEATURE of helicopter numbers in service, they are by no Commercial Manager 12 RICH PICKINGS means alone in focusing on acquisition and Anthony Wilkinson OEMs have long had their sights on the replacement programmes. Militaries globally [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2575 Southeast Asian market, where militaries are are ramping up projects that will see a diverse Head of Advertising Sales looking both to modernise existing fleets and range of requirements fulfilled. Kevin Bethell [email protected] replace ageing squadrons, and the last two Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2587 years have certainly given cause for much FEATURE VP Business Development Mike Wild optimism. 36 SLOW BUT SURE Editor-in-Chief Although plagued by delays, the Russian Naval Richard Thomas Aviation helicopter fleet continues to undergo VP Content significant capability expansion through Tony Skinner technology upgrades and new platforms being Managing Director Darren Lake introduced into service. Chairman Nick Prest TAIL SPIN Subscriptions 40 SHOW OF POWER Annual rates start at £90 As the CH-47F Chinook Block II upgrade Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2592 Email: [email protected] programme continues, Randy Rotte, director Web: shop.shephardmedia.com of business development for cargo helicopter Defence Helicopter is published six times per programmes at Boeing, spoke to DH about year by The Shephard Press Ltd, Saville Mews, 30 Saville Road, London, W4 5HG, UK. the company’s current engine demonstration Subscription rates start at £90. PCM CitySprint is acting as mailing agent. Articles and information partnership with General Electric and the contained in this publication are the copyright Page 8 US Army. of the Shephard Press Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. Front cover: A Leonardo Helicopters AW109E Power of the Philippine Navy takes off. Interestingly, the Philippines opted for a Print by Buxton Press, Derbyshire, UK commercial-based variant instead of the military-spec AW109LUH. (Photo: Gordon Arthur) © The Shephard Press Ltd, 2018. ISSN 1741-6043 The Shephard Press Ltd SUBSCRIPTIONS Saville Mews, 30 Saville Road, London, W4 5HG, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 3179 2570 8 industry-specific magazines (print and digital) 14 definitive data sets/handbooks (print and digital) The Professional Publishers Association Member Shephard Plus online – in-depth news, analysis and intelligence To subscribe to our print and online services visit www.shephardmedia.com WWW.DEFENCEHELICOPTER.COM VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 DEFENCE HELICOPTER WWW.DEFENCEHELICOPTER.COM 1 DH-01-18_p01_Contents.indd 1 25/01/2018 10:54:16 DH-01-18_p02_Eurosatory.inddLWI-05-17_p07_Eurosatory.indd 2 7 9/20/201725/01/2018 2:21:11 09:11:12 PM COMMENT Helen Haxell, Editor No more! The Trump administration announced on Rotorcraft repercussions? 4 January that in an effort to tackle Islamic It has been widely reported that defence In the next issue terrorist organisations in the Pakistan- aid covers the sale of hardware, training Afghanistan region, the US would be and services, and coalition support funds, • US Army programmes suspending hundreds of millions of dollars but whether this encompasses helicopters • Guns of security aid to Pakistan. in the midst of delivery is yet to be seen. • DVE This move is intentionally provoking Pakistan became the first export Islamabad to more actively enforce some customer for the Bell Helicopter AH-1Z • Contractor logistics/operations sort of challenge against the Taliban and Viper attack aircraft in 2015. The contract Haqqani networks. was a big win for the manufacturer, as it More widely, this could also be seen marked the first FMS of the AH-1 in 20 arsenal of 41 A/A49E-7(V4) gun turrets for as a statement of intent to withdraw US years. The US approved the sale of 15 their respective fleets. Contractor General troops completely from the ongoing conflict Vipers, of which 12 have been requested Dynamics was awarded the work by the US in Afghanistan, despite the end of combat to date, with final deliveries expected to DoD on 7 December, with the total cost of initiated in 2014. occur later this year. $9 million to be split between USN aircraft While this is solely a defence move, Pakistan has been heavily using its procurement funds (FY2016 and 2017) and is not related to humanitarian aid, older AH-1F Cobras in its campaign and FMS monies. the $900 million freeze in security against these groups in the lawless tribal assistance is likely to infringe on deals that belts throughout the country, so these Indefinite industry impact are in the making or even potential FMS. new attack helicopters are needed. The This aid freeze could be construed as Will Washington’s incentive to curb government was looking to completely counterintuitive by Washington, because militants’ sanctuaries in the country see replace its legacy Cobra fleet by 2020. a Viper could be utilised in combat against Pakistan isolated, or could it in fact mean However, with this freeze notice, could terrorist groups – if the freeze does affect further US military support in meeting that timeline be affected? the programme. Trump’s demands in tackling these The Pakistan Army was expected to take Is the US inadvertently tying Pakistan’s groups? receipt of the first three aircraft in 2017, hands? Or in a shrewd move, could it be On 1 January, the US President tweeted: but it remains unclear whether they were increasing the potential of more US ‘The US has foolishly given Pakistan more delivered. The Vipers are being worked on military products being exported to the than $33 billion dollars in aid over the last at the OEM’s facility in Amarillo, Texas. country to tackle insurgents? 15 years, and they have given us nothing In the summer of 2017, Bell said at It is clearly going to be interesting but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders the Paris Air Show that it had not been to see the impact of this multi-million- as fools. They give safe haven to the decided whether delivery of the remaining dollar defence aid freeze and what it terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with nine aircraft will be in batches of three or means for the helicopter industry. While little help. No more!’ more, but the company expected to deliver in the short term, this could impact It is unclear exactly what will be directly the final machine 18 months on from July deliveries and timelines, it could result in impacted by this move in the defence last year. the prospective procurement of more US industry explicitly, but there are bound In addition, Islamabad, alongside the goods to aid the fight against such groups to be exceptions and consequences. USMC, was last year poised to procure an in the long term. ■ WWW.DEFENCEHELICOPTER.COM VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 DEFENCE HELICOPTER 3 DH-01-18_p03_Comment.indd 3 25/01/2018 10:11:07 NEWS Russia and India dominate helicopter orders Two nations that have dominated military place, but 22 new helicopters will be helicopter headlines recently are Russia delivered to the recent standard.