Paris Air Show 2015: Bell anticipates Eastern European interest in UH-1Y and AH-1Z helos

[Zarvan]

Bell Helicopter expects a strong showing from both its AH-1Z (foreground) and UH-1Y (background) helicopters in upcoming Eastern European competitions.
Bell Helicopter sees Eastern Europe as a prime market for its series of H-1 utility and attack helicopters as the region looks to replace its Warsaw Pact-era inventories, a company official told IHS Jane's on 15 June.

Speaking at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Richard Harris, director international military marketing development, said that Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic all have requirements that could be satisfied by either Bell's UH-1Y Venom utility helicopter or its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter, or by both.

"We see Eastern Europe as our nearest potential sale [after Pakistan, which has already requested the AH-1Z]. These countries are operating former Soviet-era helicopters that will need retiring. Both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z would suit this market, especially given that they are simple to operate and maintain, and their life-cycle costs are 30% lower than any of the competition," he said.

In terms of the regional market, Hungary needs to replace its fleet of seven Russian-built Mil Mi-24 'Hind' assault helicopters that reached the end of the service lives in 2012, as well as its 27 (including 18 in storage) Mil- Mi-8 'Hip' transport helicopters. Poland, which has already selected the Airbus Helicopters H225M for its transport requirement, needs to replace 25 ageing Mi-24s also. Romania has no stated requirement, but does field locally-manufactured IAR-Brasov SA 330 Puma helicopters in both the utility and attack roles, which could be candidates for a UH-1Y/AH-1Z-replacement programme. Finally, the Czech Republic intends to retire its 17 Mi-24 attack helicopters, with a tender for a replacement expected before the end of 2015. It is also looking to offload its W3A Sokol utility helicopters in the near term and its Mi-17Shs 'Hip' helicopters when the budget allows.

According to Harris, the fact that both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters are beginning to show their operational utility with the US Marine Corps (USMC) stands them in good stead for any upcoming procurement competitions. "We're just starting to get the good news out there. Although our US competitors might be better known, they are over 20-years old now. [Our offerings] have a higher level of technology; are more cost effective; are easier and cheaper to operate, support, and sustain; and are far more durable," he explained.

That both platforms were designed for use by the USMC in the littoral environment means that both have been fully 'marinised', to the extent that the airframes, electronics, engines, and other systems are effectively immune to corrosion, Harris noted. "I've had marines tell me that they can dip these helicopters into the ocean, lift them out and spray them down, and they'll start right up," he said.

Developed from the outset as naval helicopters, both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z have been designed to be easy to work on with limited tooling and personnel available. "The UH-1Y and AH-1Z are built with long life-cycle components, with some of them requiring inspection only every 5,000 hours. This compares to 200 hours for some of our competitors," Harris told IHS Jane's .

Perhaps the strongest selling point of the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, however, is the 84% parts and systems commonality that both aircraft share (composite rotor blades, crashworthy seats, hydraulic components, fuel-system components, integrated avionics, more powerful General Electric T700-GE-401/C engines and gearboxes), which translates into a smaller and cheaper logistical footprint, as well as superior interoperability. To drive down costs further, Harris said Bell Helicopters is considering "a package deal" for the Eastern European nations, whereby they could pool their maintenance requirements and associated expenses.

While the UH-1Y is traditionally seen as a utility platform and the AH-1Z as an attack platform, Harris noted that the former also has a pretty potent strike capability in its own right. Able to carry 70 mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) rockets and door-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns, the UH-1Y lacks only the chin-mounted 20 mm Gatling gun, the AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air, and the AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided missile anti-tank capability of the AH-Z.

"The AH-1Z really comes into its own in shooting tanks. If I've got the threat of tanks rolling across my borders then that's the platform to do the job, but [in other respects] the UH-1Y has the equivalent firepower and precision," Harris said. Indeed, in this respect, the combination of a troop carrying and a gunship capability makes the UH-1Y analogous to the Mi-24 'Hind' that many of these Eastern European nations are looking to replace.

Beyond Eastern Europe, Harris noted that the expected sale of 15 AH-1Z helicopters to Pakistan should be concluded in the coming weeks. He also highlighted US Air Force interest in the UH-1Y as a replacement for the UH-1Ns that are currently performing the nuclear protection mission. "We've been told that the UH-1Y is number one on their list," he said, but noted that the budget situation in the United States is not conducive to such a procurement at this time.

The UH-1Y ad AH-1Z have been developed by Bell Helicopter and its industry partners - Northrop Grumman, L-3, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, FLIR, Thales and BF Goodrich - to replace the AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1N 'Huey' in USMC service, respectively.

According to the USMC, the UH-1Y provides a 76% gross weight increase over the UH-1N it is replacing; a 90% increase in its maximum internal fuel load; a 68% increase in the 'useful' load it can carry; and a 43% increase in its maximum cruise speed. The UH-1Y achieved its initial operating capability in August 2008 and undertook its first operational deployment in mid-2009.

Figures released by the USMC give the AH-1Z a 25% gross weight improvement over the AH-1W; a 32% increase in internal fuel capacity; a 32% increase in its 'useful' load; and a 5% improvement in terms of cruise speed. Its mission radius is increased by 140%, from 58 to 139 n miles. The AH-1Z achieved its initial operating capability in March 2011, and undertook its first operational deployment towards the end of that year.

The USMC has a programme of record for a total of 349 H-1 helicopters, made up of 160 AH-1Zs (of which about 50 have been delivered) and 189 UH-1Ys (nearly 100 of which have been handed over to date).

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Paris Air Show 2015: Bell anticipates Eastern European interest in UH-1Y and AH-1Z helos - IHS Jane's 360

 

[saadee]

Are we getting these or what? Why huey is always with Ah1z in every pic and video? I guess U.S is trying to push the sale of Huey's along with viper. It is more like mi 24 can carry troops but in Ah1z's case, you have to buy the huey for shifting the troops.