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Bell Wins $546M Contract for H-1 Helicopter Lot 7 Production

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UNITED STATES - 16 JUNE 2010

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $546,001,600 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the manufacture and delivery of Lot Seven UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps, to include 18 UH-1Y build new aircraft; nine AH-1Z remanufactured aircraft; and two AH-1Z build new aircraft.

Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent), and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.


The Bell AH-1Z Attack Helicopter (U.S. Marine Corps):

Weapons Capability
*AGM-114A, B, and C Hellfire and anti-tank missiles up to 16 total
*AGM-114F Hellfire anti-ship missiles – up to 16 total
*70mm Rockets, 19 or 7 shot pods –up to 76 total
*AIM-9 Sidewinder*
(*A superior supersonic air-to-air missile with infrared target detection for fire and forget capability.)
*LUU-2A/B nighttime illumination flare
*Mk 77 fire bombs
*77 and 100 gallon external auxiliary fuel tanks
*20 mm cannon
(With a higher muzzle velocity and flatter trajectory for better accuracy, it is capable of handling M50-series rounds designed specifically for air-to-air combat)
*MK 76 practice bombs
*BDU-33D/B practice bombs
*MK 106 practice bombs

Survivability & Crashworthiness
Like no other attack helicopter in the world, the AH-1Z survives combat with an advanced countermeasure suite, which includes:

*AVR-2A Laser Warning Receiver
*APR-39A(v) 2 Radar Warning Receiver
*ALE-47 “Smart” Countermeasures Dispenser and
*AAR-47 Missile Warning Device.
...and the latest airframe technologies, such as:

*Energy attenuating crashworthy seats
*Energy-absorbing landing gear
*Self sealing fuel tanks and fuel systems
*Fuel vapor inerting systems
*Mass retention designs to ensure major components stay where they should in the event of a crash, and many other advanced features.

Modern Technology
The AH-1Z is a design for the 21st century. Produced to meet the stringent requirements of the U.S. Marine Corps today – its aircraft design brings together proven AH-1W airframe reliability, a new composite four bladed rotor system and powerful T700-GE-401engines. With virtually identical front and rear cockpits, fully integrated weapons, avionics and communications systems the AH-1Z flies with the most advanced aircraft survivability equipment in the world. The AH-1Z is truly state-of-the-art.

Best Targeting System
Target identification is critical in the complex post-cold war and urban conflict environments. The AH-1Z Target Sight System (TSS) incorporates a third-generation FLIR and currently provides the longest range, lowest jitter and highest weapons' accuracy possible of any helicopter sight in the world. In addition, the completely passive and automatic system scans the battlefield without emitting trackable radar, positively identifying and tracking multiple targets at ranges beyond the maximum range of its weapons system.

Helmet Mounted Sight and Display System
The "Top Owl" Helmet Mounted Sight and Display (HMS/D) system supports improved communication and reduced cockpit workload. Manufactured by THALES Avionics, the TopOwl HMS/D is the most technically advanced helmet available. Upgradeable "in-service" and as additional requirements develop, it combines both avionics function with the aircrew life support and protection into a single unit.

Maintenance
Designed for lower maintenance, with the helicopter mechanic in mind, the AH-1Z is one of the most reliable aircraft made. Maintenance features of the AH-1Z include:

*Fault detection sensors that facilitate “on-condition” maintenance
*Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals
*Better accessibility
*Elimination of certain maintenance tasks
*Less maintenance man hours per flight hour
*Less spares storage requirement
*Modern Cockpit

Identical front and rear cockpits provide the true ability to fly and fight from either cockpit, so there's no need to have separate training programs for front or back seaters.

The Hands on Collective and Stick (HOCAS) side-stick architecture, allows pilot function without removing hands from the collective flight controls. Color displays are large, multifunctional and combined with the moving-map technology. Helmet mounted displays provide all the information required to engage the enemy more quickly and accurately.

H1 Program Commonality
Shared dynamics and nearly identical cockpits vastly reduces the logistical tail, procurement and training costs required to support a large fleet of mixed type aircraft. The AH-1Z and UH-1Y have 84% commonality with identical components.

Just as the AH-1W is being rebuilt and redesigned into the AH-1Z, the US Marine Corps Huey helicopters are being rebuilt and redesigned as well. The traditional reliability of the Huey series now contributes to the outstanding performance, state-of-the-art dynamics and avionics of the H1 Program.

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Venom Attack helicopter which, with the UH-1Y, is modernising the U.S. Marine Corps' inventory of battlefield helicopters


AH-1Z (U.S. Marine Corps)




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The Bell UH-1Y tactical utility helicopter (U.S. Marine Corps):

Features
*125% higher payload than the UH-1N
*Almost 50% more range and maximum cruise speed than the UH-1N
*Sustainable high G loads in tactical or evasive maneuvers.
*Reduced vibration
*Fully integrated, night vision goggle (NVG) compatible “glass” cockpit
*Advanced electronic warfare self protection (EWSP) suite, and ballistically hardened components protect it from a broad range of modern threat weapons.
*A proven crashworthy fuel system to reduce the risk of fire and fully stroking energy attenuating seats to protect crewmembers and passengers from injury, in the event of a crash.
*Survivability & Crashworthiness

Like no other utility helicopter in the world, the UH-1Y survives combat with an advanced countermeasure suite, which includes:

*AVR-2A Laser Warning Receiver
*APR-39A(v) 2 Radar Warning Receiver
*ALE-47 “Smart” Countermeasures Dispenser and
*AAR-47 Missile Warning Device.
...and the latest airframe technologies, such as:

*Energy attenuating crashworthy seats
*Energy-absorbing landing gear
*Self sealing fuel tanks and fuel systems
*Fuel vapor inerting systems
*Mass retention designs to ensure major components stay where they should in the event of a crash, and many other advanced features.

Modern Technology
The UH-1Y is a design for the 21st century. Produced to meet the stringent requirements of the USMC today – its aircraft design brings together proven UH-1N airframe reliability, a new composite four bladed rotor system and powerful T700-GE-401C engines. With fully integrated weapons, avionics and communications systems the UH-1Y flies with the most advanced aircraft survivability equipment in the world. The UH-1Y is truly state-of-the-art.

Navigation Thermal Imaging System (NTIS)
FLIR Systems, Inc., BRITE Star NTIS is used on the nose of the aircraft for targeting and FLIR images that are displayed on selected multifunction displays (MFDs) are available to the pilots.

Helmet Mounted Sight and Display System
The "Top Owl" Helmet Mounted Sight and Display (HMS/D) system supports improved communication and reduced cockpit workload. Manufactured by THALES Avionics, the TopOwl HMS/D is the most technically advanced helmet available. Upgradeable "in-service" and as additional requirements develop, it combines both avionics function with the aircrew life support and protection into a single unit.

Maintainance
Designed for lower maintenance, with the helicopter mechanic in mind, the UH-1Y is one of the most reliable aircraft made. Mantenance features of the UH-1Y include:

*Fault detection sensors that facilitate “on-condition” maintenance
*Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals
*Better accessibility
*Elimination of certain maintenance tasks
*Less maintenance man hours per flight hour
*Less spares storage requirement

H1 Program Commonality
Shared dynamics and nearly identical cockpits vastly reduces the logistical tail, procurement and training costs required to support a large fleet of mixed type aircraft. The UH-1Y and AH-1Z have 84% commonality with identical components.

Just as the UH-1N is being rebuilt and redesigned into the UH-1Y, the US Marine Corps Attack helicopters are being rebuilt and redesigned as well. The traditional reliability of the Huey series now contributes to the outstanding performance, state-of-the-art dynamics and avionics of the H1Upgrade Program.

Supportable Design
Built for expedient maintenance in the field as well as extended periods of trouble-free operation, the UH-1Y offers industry leading reliability at the lowest-through-life cost.

Designed to withstand the harshest, most challenging environmental operation, the aircraft comes “wet assembled” and incorporates aluminum transmission cases to prevent corrosion. With unique semi-automatic main rotor blade folding capability, this helicopter moves and stores easily in confined areas.

The Legacy Lives On
With either new or remanufactured options for the existing fleet owner, the UH-1Y program greets prospective operators with tremendous ownership flexibility. As the aircraft of choice for the U.S. Marine Corps, the four-bladed, twin engine UH-1Y meets the Corps' stringent requirements with its 70% life cycle cost saving against the competition.

The Bell legacy continues in the most modern tactical utility helicopter available...the UH-1Y.

UH-1Y (U.S. Marine Corps)


UH-1Y firing rockets
780px-UH-1Y_Huey.jpg



Source: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
 
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Lockheed Martin Receives $44 Million U.S. Marine Corps Targeting System Production Contract
UNITED STATES - 21 JUNE 2010

ORLANDO, FL, June 21st, 2010 -- The Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $44 million follow-on production contract for the Target Sight System (TSS), the fire control system for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra. The agreement authorizes production of 18 additional units.

“I am confident that TSS is exactly the system our Cobra pilots need to put warheads on target,” said Col. Harry Hewson, U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager - Air 276. “TSS provides the eyes and the combat power Marine pilots need to support other Marines on the battlefield.”

The TSS integrates state-of-the-art sensors, providing Cobra pilots with enhanced capabilities to acquire, track and designate targets. The system provides superior imagery through a highly-stabilized sensor suite specifically tailored to the AH-1Z platform. The suite includes a laser designator, color TV and a third-generation, mid-wave, forward-looking infrared sensor with advanced image processing.

“TSS leverages Lockheed Martin’s decades of sensor design and systems integration experience,” said Joseph Butera, senior program manager of Turreted Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The system allows pilots to see farther, providing a tactical advantage for today’s and tomorrow’s battlefields.”

Lockheed Martin received the initial TSS production contract for 16 units in March 2008 and delivered the first unit in June 2009. The system is produced at facilities in Ocala and Orlando, FL. Delivery of all systems contracted under Lot 6 and 7 low-rate initial production will be completed in 2011. A contract for full-rate production of 226 total units is expected this fall.

Target Sight System (TSS):

TSS is the multi-sensor electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) fire control system (AN/AAQ-30) for the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopter. It is a large-aperture midwave forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, color TV, laser designator/rangefinder (with eyesafe mode), and an on-gimbal inertial measurement unit are integrated into a highly stabilized turret. The turret mounts to the nose of the aircraft via the Lockheed Martin-developed aircraft interface structure. TSS provides the capability to identify and laser-designate targets at maximum weapon range, significantly enhancing platform survivability and lethality.

Features:

- 8.55-inch aperture, midwave staring FLIR with four fields-of-view for maximum image resolution and long-range performance

- Multi-mode (point and scene), multi-target (3 image, 10 inertial), robust tracker with coast-through-obscuration capability

- Gimbal stabilized to <15 microradians

- On-gimbal inertial measurement unit for reduced image blur due to jitter and precise line pointing, target geo-location, and multi-target tracking

- A multi-mode multi-target tracker

- Advanced image processing for optimum gain and level, sharper imagery, and algorithms for enhanced recognition and identification range performance

- High magnification, continuous zoom, color TV with field-of-view matched to the FLIR

- State-of-the-art 640 x 512 InSb, low-noise-equivalent delta temperature, high-modulation transfer function detector with a high-reliability cooler

- Versatile modular architecture for future growth


Target Sight System (TSS) provides long-range electro-optical surveillance, detection, and identification capabilities for the U.S. Marine Corps' AH-1Z Cobra
13887452.jpg



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Source: Lockheed Martin
 
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cobra looking with more deadly venaoum than ever before with these advanncements
 
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New AH-1Z helicopter cockpit simulator ready to train U.S. Marine Corps Cobra pilots
UNITED STATES - 15 JULY 2010

As the Naval Air Systems Command announced yesterday, the first and only AH-1Z full-motion cockpit simulator was declared ready for training May 28 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Naval Aviation Training Systems program office (PMA-205) and the H-1 Upgrades program office (PMA-276) worked closely with prime contractor, Bell Helicopter Textron and their subcontractor, Flight Safety International, to design, build, test and deliver this state-of-the-art full motion cockpit simulator for Marine Corps aviation.

“This AH-1Z cockpit simulator brings a lot of training capability to our warfighters,” said Capt. John Feeney, PMA-205 program manager. “The two-person crew has a greater field of view making it as realistic as possible, it has increased reliability and the actuators that move the cockpit are electrically powered versus the usual hydraulic system making it more environmentally friendly.”

The AH-1Z simulator is located at Camp Pendleton since it is the initial training site for all Marine Corps pilots transitioning from the AH-1W Super Cobra to the new AH-1Z helicopter.

“The Marine Corps uses flight simulators for a lot of training,” said Col. Harry Hewson, H-1 Upgrade program manager. “More than 46 percent of the transition training from the AH-1W to the AH-1Z can be done in this simulator.”

The simulator can train aircrews how to use the mission computers, communications, navigation and weapons systems on the AH-1Z, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile, the Hellfire anti-armor missile, the 2.75 inch rocket pods and the 20 mm cannon, added Hewson.

“Another great feature of the simulator is that it can be electronically linked to the UH-1Y simulator and two other non-motion AH-1Z simulators allowing our aircrews to practice multi-ship formations and to train for combat missions,” said Hewson. “It has databases for many potential worldwide operating areas.”

One of the major differences between the legacy AH-1W Cobra and the new AH-1Z is the Zulu’s glass cockpit, which significantly changes the way the pilot interacts with the aircraft.

“Through this state-of-the-art simulator, which includes the latest technology in visual scene replication, pilots learn how to navigate mission computer page trees in a crawl, walk, run training syllabus, while simultaneously progressing through their normal flying syllabus,” said Maj. Phillip Tucker, Marine Aviation Training Systems Site officer-in-charge at Camp Pendleton. “At a pennies-on-the-dollar cost compared to aircraft flight hours, training in the AH-1Z full motion simulator augments what is conducted in the aircraft and allows pilots to focus on improving their heads down, ‘button pushing’ skills in a simulated environment; so that they can spend more time with their eyes out of the cockpit in the real world.”

PMA-205 manages the procurement, development and fielding of the Navy's Training Systems for aircraft operators and maintainers.
 
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Thats one mean looking Cobra helicopters. These helicopters are so versatile. They've been around since the 1960's and through upgrades and refurbishment, they still pack an awesome punch and are comparable to most modern attack heli's.
 
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Bell Helicopter Continues to Ramp Up H-1 Production
UNITED STATES - 19 JULY 2010

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, continues to ramp up its production of H-1 helicopters after receiving a $546 million contract in June for the manufacture and delivery of Lot 7 of the U.S. Marine Corps H-1 Upgrade program.

The contract includes 18 UH-1Y utility helicopters and 11 AH-1Z attack helicopters. Final assembly of the helicopters will take place at Bell's Military Aircraft Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo, Texas, with deliveries of Lot 7 aircraft to begin in 2011.

In October 2009, Bell began construction of a $31 million, 137,000-square-foot H-1 flight operations hangar and 500,000 square feet of additional ramp space at its Amarillo facility. Expansion is expected to be complete in October 2010.

Bell delivered one AH-1Z and eight UH-1Ys in 2009 and is under contract to deliver six AH-1Zs and 13 UH-1Ys in 2010. The company expects to ramp up to delivering 26 aircraft per year in 2012.

The UH-1Y is currently deployed to Afghanistan, flying with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 (HMLA-369), the "Gunfighters."


Source: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
 
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WOHH HO my company yayyyyyyy :P go Textron, this project has been in discussion here for quite some time, good to see things working out.
 
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Thats one mean looking Cobra helicopters. These helicopters are so versatile. They've been around since the 1960's and through upgrades and refurbishment, they still pack an awesome punch and are comparable to most modern attack heli's.

its all about quality sir, starting from the very first stage, quality is emphasized upon in the North American culture. At Textron we take great care of our customers and quality is most dear to us. Its good to see the fruits of our hardwork starting to pay off now.
 
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UNITED STATES - 2 AUGUST 2010

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 2, 2010) A UH-1Y Huey helicopter takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). This transport helicopter, assigned to Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron (HX) 21, based in Patuxent River, Md., has already been implemented in the fleet and is expected to replace the older UH-1N. The helicopter features a larger engine and two more blades than the Huey's original two, giving it more carrying capabilities. USS Wasp is underway conducting test flight operations and was chosen as the platform to evaluate the limits and capabilities of newer and upgraded models of aircraft.
70095742.jpg



ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 2, 2010) An AH-1Z Cobra helicopter assigned to Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron (HX) 21, based in Patuxent River, Md., approaches the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). This upgraded version of the Cobra is not yet available to the fleet. The helicopter features a larger engine and has two more blades than the Cobra's original two, giving it more power and maneuverability. USS Wasp is conducting test flight operations and was chosen as the platform to evaluate the limits and capabilities of newer models of aircraft.
72472799.jpg



ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 2, 2010) An AH-1Z Cobra helicopter assigned to Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron (HX) 21, based in Patuxent River, Md., lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). This upgraded version of the Cobra is not yet available to the fleet. The helicopter features a larger engine and has two more blades than the Cobra's original two, giving it more power and maneuverability. USS Wasp is conducting test flight operations and was chosen as the platform to evaluate the limits and capabilities of newer models of aircraft.
67986189.jpg



File Photo: U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Length: 257 m.
93145544.jpg
 
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