Eurocopter Seeks U.S. Partners for Projects

[chefjavier]

By pierre tran
Published: 20 Jan 13:11 EST (18:11 GMT)
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Paris - Eurocopter is looking for American partners on a proposed European heavy-lift helicopter and its bid for the U.S. Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), CEO Lutz Bertling said Jan. 20.

The European helicopter maker, an EADS subsidiary, is in early talks with Boeing and Sikorsky as potential partners for a Future Transport Helicopter, he told a New Year's press conference here.
Related Topics

Europe (http://www.defensenews.com/channel.php?c=EUR&s=TOP)
Americas (http://www.defensenews.com/channel.php?c=AME&s=TOP)
Air Warfare (http://www.defensenews.com/channel.php?c=AIR&s=TOP)

France and Germany support the large helicopter project, which is one of the top priorities of the European Defence Agency's head, Alexander Weis, Bertling said.
"There is some trans-Atlantic work to be done," he said, with the possibility of common standardization between American and European programs. Eurocopter is in contact with American original equipment manufacturers, excluding Bell, to explore the potential for a "joint business opportunity," he said.
The talks were at a preliminary stage, consisting of design discussions, and were being held with Boeing and Sikorsky, said Philippe Harache, Eurocopter executive vice president for customer relations.
Eurocopter also is looking for an American partner to supply military mission systems for the new tender for the ARH program, Bertling said. Eurocopter would supply the airframe to EADS North America, which would act as the prime contractor.
Eurocopter has responded to the U.S. government's request for industry views with the single-engine EC145 and a double-engined aircraft for the ARH competition. A twin-engined product better matched the requirement, Bertling said. There were, however, logistical benefits of choosing the EC145,which has been delivered to the U.S. Army under the LUH 72 program and is under evaluation by the U.S. Navy, he said.
In India, Eurocopter is bidding for a requirement for 197 Army attack helicopters and a reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. Eurocopter won the tender for 197 units in 2007, but the government reset the competition after an appeal from Bell. The European company also hopes to sell its NH90 to meet the Indian Navy's need for shipborne helicopters.
In Japan, Eurocopter is campaigning to sell about 100 NH90s to the Army, Navy and Air Force, Harache said. A recent order of EC135s by the Navy marked the first buy of non-American helicopters by the Japanese armed forces, he said.
The NH90 program is "margin- and cash-positive," Bertling said. The program is on a fixed and firm contract, and the first deliveries must absorb cost overruns incurred by the lateness of the aircraft, he said. That meant profitability on the NH90 was lower than predicted, he said. No extra provisions were taken on the NH90 in 2008.
Eurocopter flew an unpiloted, fully autonomous EC155 last year as part of a classified UAV project for the French Ministry of Defense, Bertling said.
The company is preparing to support the French Army's deployment of the Tiger combat helicopter in Afghanistan in the second quarter of the year, Bertling said.
Eurocopter increased its 2008 operating profit over the previous year's 211 million euros ($279.8 million). Bertling declined to give the amount but said he was "satisfied" by the increase.
Annual sales rose 7.5 percent to 4.5 billion euros from 4.17 billion in 2007, and deliveries rose 20 percent to 588 units from 488. New orders fell to 4.9 billion euros after the record 6.6 billion booked in the previous year. The order backlog was worth 14 billion euros, or 1,550 units, with 71 percent signed with military or government clients, reducing the risk of cancellations, he said.
Some 18 percent of the backlog, however, faces cancellations in view of the economic crisis. Among the leading indicators the company tracks is the second-hand luxury yacht market for market intelligence on sales of VIP helicopters. Sales of VIP aircraft make up about 20 percent to 25 percent of orders, Harache said.
Eurocopter expects to sell about 450 helicopters this year. That figure includes the 22 and 50 NH90s ordered in December, respectively, by France and Brazil, worth 380 million and 1.8 billion euros, Bertling said.
The company will manage cash carefully, with a view to selectively helping customers finance their purchases. Eurocopter will boost research and development spending by 20 percent this year, despite the economic climate, Bertling said.

[Hispeed1]

Too bad the big Army killed the RAH-66 Comanche.

[Try&die]

Too bad the big Army killed the RAH-66 Comanche.

Yep, that one was a hell of a copter.

[Vandervahn]

...
Eurocopter has responded to the U.S. government's request for industry views with the single-engine EC145 and a double-engined aircraft for the ARH competition. ...

The EC145 is also twin-engined. Every Eurocopter product with the ECxx5 suffix has twin engines.

[chefjavier]

Yep, that one was a hell of a copter.
Over price!!!!!!!:-(:-(:-(

[Shadowstorm]

Too bad the big Army killed the RAH-66 Comanche.


Yep, that one was a hell of a copter.
X3....Totally agree.

[chefjavier]

X3....Totally agree.
How could you agree an awesome helicopter but there's no data to approved it work 100%?:roll:

[Bulletproof]

US should accept the deal only if they buy a couple of F-35 :D

[Shadowstorm]

How could you agree an awesome helicopter but there's no data to approved it work 100%?:roll:
The RAH-66 Comanche would've work and could have done it's job well if it wasn't killed off budgetary and political issues. Tell you truth, if the Army knew this was going to happen they should've of went with the Bell OH-58X which was improved variant of the OH-58D with stealth features, but it never went beyond the prototype stage. Here's a picture of the OH-58X.
http://www.kiowapilots.com/gallery/data/518/609OH-58X.JPG

[chefjavier]

That's true of the OH-58 but I don't understand what the army is looking for.....

[Shadowstorm]

Well the US Army originally want was to replace the Vietnam War era helicopters like AH-1, UH-1, and OH-58A/B/C and supplement the AH-64 and the UH-60 with a next-generation attack and reconnaissance helicopter which was the LHX along with a new transport helicopter which was know as the LHX-U, but was later dropped in the late 1980's.

[domokun]

US should accept the deal only if they buy a couple of F-35 :D

Well they already have European customers for F-35. European countries co own EADS through government owned defense sector firms, that are on other hand partially owned by EADS. That arrangement is too complicated to understand while not using LSD. I believe European defense companies with lead of EADS reach next level of corporate evolution, firm that owns and governs itself. p-)

[helomech]

Eurocopter should work on their customer support and spare parts availability before branching out into new ventures with the US;fix what you have before looking for the next big cash cow

[yasotay]

Over price!!!!!!!:-(:-(:-(

Over weight

Over stealthed

Over maintenance required

Over hyped

If they had left half the stealth crap off and gone with a more simplified sensor/processor package it would have been one fine combat helicopter.

[Shadowstorm]

Over weight

Over stealthed

Over maintenance required

Over hyped

If they had left half the stealth crap off and gone with a more simplified sensor/processor package it would have been one fine combat helicopter.
Man, some that stuff you mention had nothing to do with Comanche being canceled. Even though it had a few weight issues, but it wasn't major like some people make out to be. Also a few months before it was canceled the Army placed a order for 200 more and were looking to order more and at the same time Boeing and Sikorsky was proposing a dedicated attack variant to replace the older Apache's like the AH-64A/B's. However, the reason why it was canceled because of funding of two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq along with political and financal issues which caused it's downfall.

[yasotay]

Man, some that stuff you mention had nothing to do with Comanche being canceled. Even though it had a few weight issues, but it wasn't major like some people make out to be. Also a few months before it was canceled the Army placed a order for 200 more and were looking to order more and at the same time Boeing and Sikorsky was proposing a dedicated attack variant to replace the older Apache's like the AH-64A/B's. However, the reason why it was canceled because of funding of two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq along with political and financal issues which caused it's downfall.

Sadly what I mentioned had a lot to do with its downfall. But your comment does remind me of one that I did forget:

Over missioned - designed to hide from massed ADA of the mechanized formations.

You are correct that the two wars and finacial issues were prime drivers. My points were just nails in the coffin. It was the correct decision for GEN Cody to make as the politics was that the money, $400B total, was used to make the rest of Army Aviation well; UH-72, C-27J, UH-60M, CH-47F, ARH (maybe) avionics upgrades and most important new Aircraft Survivability Equipment.

I am somewhat familiar with the program. I spent the later part of my career working directly with the Army aviators assigned to the program, until it was canceled.

[Sand Man]

I am somewhat familiar with the program. I spent the later part of my career working directly with the Army aviators assigned to the program, until it was canceled.

Did you ever get the chance to fly it?

[Shadowstorm]

Sadly what I mentioned had a lot to do with its downfall. But your comment does remind me of one that I did forget:

Over missioned - designed to hide from massed ADA of the mechanized formations.

You are correct that the two wars and finacial issues were prime drivers. My points were just nails in the coffin. It was the correct decision for GEN Cody to make as the politics was that the money, $400B total, was used to make the rest of Army Aviation well; UH-72, C-27J, UH-60M, CH-47F, ARH (maybe) avionics upgrades and most important new Aircraft Survivability Equipment.

I am somewhat familiar with the program. I spent the later part of my career working directly with the Army aviators assigned to the program, until it was canceled.
Thanks for the information yasotay and I hope I wasn't mean too you ether.

[yasotay]

Did you ever get the chance to fly it?

Unfortunately I was not an important enough person to actually get to fly it. You had to be a General Officer or someone with their hands on the money (go figure). I did however get to see it fly numerous times and the last job I had in the Army I had control of one of the Comanche simulators which I got to fly a few times, so I guess I got as close as one could get. The hardest thing for old fart aviators like me to get used to was the six axis controller and the fact there were no anti-torque pedals to put your feet on. All of the yaw control (left and right turning) was in the side stick controller. There was also a small power control capability (up and down) so that you could fly the helicopter with one hand. This was not always necessary either because the helo could be told to fly a route at certain altitudes in the pre-mission planning and then you could let it fly itself. I watched many a mission where neither aviator touched the controls a lot, mostly pushing buttons to work the mission equipment. That did not sit well with this old stick and throttle aviator. The mission equipment was very impressive though with more lines of code that the F-22 (at that time). I'm sure the processors are antiquated already. It was very agile at lower altitudes, but would have had a limited weapon load in the high/hot environments we have to operate in today. I was sad to see all that work end up as nothing more than a $2B mueseum piece.

Shadowstorm - I took no offense at all. You have not lived until you have been fired by a General about twice a week. Of course he still expects you to get the work done. :D

[muttbutt]

Eurocopter flew an unpiloted, fully autonomous EC155 last year as part of a classified UAV project for the French Ministry of Defense, Bertling said.An EC155 Dauphin is a sizable helo to turn into a UAV.
http://www.premieraviation.ie/images/site/photo_gallery/hd_ec155_image.jpg

[domokun]

An EC155 Dauphin is a sizable helo to turn into a UAV.


If you cut cabin out of that it could be very agile, may be able to carry formidable weapons load too.

Personally I'd probably use EC135 or EC145 as basis for UAV. Could be bit slower but lighter platforms.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

EADS North America selects Lockheed Martin as Mission Equipment Package integrator for new Armed Scout Helicopter

EADS North America’s Armed Scout 645 is a highly-capable, cost-effective solution
to meet the U.S. Army’s armed scout helicopter mission

ARLINGTON, Va. and NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 4, 2009

EADS North America announced today it has assembled a world-class industry team comprised of Lockheed Martin and American Eurocopter that will offer a new armed scout helicopter solution to the U.S. Army — the Armed Scout 645. The announcement was made today at the Army Aviation Association of America’s 2009 Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn., where a full-scale helicopter is on display.

The Armed Scout 645 is based on the highly successful Eurocopter EC145 commercial airframe that is the platform for the Army’s UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The Armed Scout 645 will be produced at American Eurocopter’s Columbus, Miss., facility where UH-72A Lakotas are currently manufactured.

“EADS North America is pleased to welcome Lockheed Martin to our industry team. Lockheed Martin is a leader in defense and brings extensive knowledge of rotary-wing system integration to the Armed Scout 645 industry team,” said EADS North America Chief Operating Officer David R. Oliver, Jr. “We’re confident that our team has a low-risk technical path to meet or exceed the performance requirements the Army outlined in the Sources Sought document. Our highly-capable and best-value solution will meet the Army’s armed scout capability gap, and has the flexibility to respond to the customer’s evolving mission scenarios in both current and future conflicts.”

Lockheed Martin has a 25–year legacy of unmatched expertise in Army aviation mission equipment components and subsystems integration, as well as worldwide logistics support to the Armed Forces. This experience includes Army attack helicopter programs, including the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (Arrowhead®) system, LONGBOW Fire Control Radar, Video from UAS for Interoperability Teaming – Level 2 (VUIT-2) and HELLFIRE missiles.

“EADS is recognized as a world-class provider of rotary-wing platforms for both military and commercial use, and Lockheed Martin is proud to join them on the Armed Scout 645 industry team,” said Tom Simmons, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control vice president of Fire Control programs. “As we have successfully demonstrated on other combat-proven rotary- and fixed-wing programs, we are committed to providing superior, best-value solutions. We have the expertise necessary to integrate the mission equipment package on this platform with the lowest risk possible.”

EADS North America’s Armed Scout 645 will provide powerful twin-engine performance and survivability, particularly in the demanding high/hot operating environments called for by today’s Army requirements. “Today’s warfighters need the most capable aircraft that ensures success the first time, every time. EADS North America is committed to leading an industry team that will meet the armed scout mission requirements for our warfighters,” added Oliver.

The Armed Scout 645’s modern design and modular weapons systems architecture ensures low lifecycle costs, maintainability and maximum operational reliability, resulting in high operational readiness rates to meet changing Army mission requirements over time. Its small footprint allows transportation by C-17 aircraft with minimum reconfiguration upon arrival in the operating area. The helicopter’s large, unobstructed main cabin is easily reconfigurable for maximum mission flexibility.

EADS North America, as the prime contractor, has delivered 67 UH-72A Lakotas to the Army and Army National Guard since November 2006, with all aircraft supplied on or ahead of schedule and within budget. The UH-72A is recognized as one of the most rapid aircraft introductions in Army aviation history. The growing fleet in Army service has passed the 10,000 flight-hour milestone, demonstrating mission performance and reliability in operations throughout the United States. To date, 128 Lakotas have been ordered by the Army, with plans to acquire a total of 345 UH-72As by 2016.

For more information about the Armed Scout 645, visit www.armedscout.com.

For more information about the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter, visit the program website at www.UH-72A.com.

Link (http://www.armedscout.com/news-press-rel-2009/05-04-09-EADS-North-America_selects_Lockheed_Martin.asp)

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2892/helicopterscoutusarmy.jpg

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

Lakota proves worth as airborne platform

By Chuck Cannon
Fort Polk Guardian
Posted Apr 17, 2009 @ 11:02 AM


Five Fort Polk Soldiers made history April 8 when they became the first on post to jump from a Lakota Light Utility Aircraft.

The Lakota LUH 72A is a commercial, off-the-shelf aircraft that is replacing the Army’s aging OH-58 and UH-1 helicopters, said Maj. Kevin McHugh, executive officer for the 5th Aviation Battalion (Provisional).

“The Lakota was originally designed for use by Homeland Security,” McHugh said. “It’s leaps and bounds beyond what we currently have.”

McHugh said the Lakota is user-friendly.

“It’s fuel efficient and has a low noise signature,” he said. “And now we know Soldiers can parachute from them.”

The high altitude, low open jump was the third successful jump from a Lakota. The first took place at the Army’s testing center at Yuma Proving Grounds. Soldiers with the flight detachment at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y, made the second jump in March.

“This was the first parachute drop from a Lakota at the Joint Readiness Training Center,” McHugh said. “It marks a new era for us. We’ve done a lot of firsts and the rest of the Army has followed suit. Other units routinely call us to see what we did and how we did it.”

CW2 Jacob Schexnayder piloted the jump aircraft. He said important data was compiled during the jump.

“We had no problem at all with the load or with the way the aircraft handled when the Soldiers exited,” he said. “It (Lakota) performed perfectly. This is more than a typical military aircraft. It can do a lot of things a strictly military aircraft can’t do.”

Schexnayder said the Lakota has a range of about 350 miles.

“That’s almost 100 more than UH60s,” he said. “It will pay off in medevac operations.”
McHugh said overall, the first jump from a Lakota on Fort Polk was a success.

“All jumpers landed safely,” he said. “We look forward to follow-on iterations with the Lakota’s now proven capabilities at JRTC.”

Link (http://www.fortpolkguardian.com/archive/x50620392/Lakota-proves-worth-as-airborne-platform)


http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3175/g1a90abc963fe09086a1477.jpg

A Fort Polk Soldier jumps from a Lakota LUH 72A helicopter during high altitude, low open airborne operations April 8 while another Soldier prepares to jump. The event marked the first time a Lakota was used in airborne operations on Fort Polk and just the third time Army wide.

[little icebear]

Quiet an old Platform for a new US-Army chopper. But looks good.

[Vandervahn]

It may not be fresh from the drawing boards, but its still less than 10 years old and was, in any case, a revolutionary redesign, not the semi-evolution Bell was capable of for the last 50 years with the Bell 204 and 206 helicopters.

And again, EADS is putting unheard of stress on the US defense establishment with their recent policy of proactively developing defense products with their own money. Then again, combining the UH-145 and lessons learnt from the EC 635 was only the next logical step.

[-Max2-]

Quiet an old Platform for a new US-Army chopper. But looks good.

Not as old as the Bell ARH-70 or the Boeing AH-6X. Those helicopters are upgraded versions of 60's designs...

[marktigger]

Eurocopter shouldn't waste their time the American market is closed to compition the experience of Airbus and Agusta-westland demonstrates this. The US govt doesn't beleive in fair compition and uses it power to force US products onto foreign nations. What Eurocopter should do is pick off a company in the US to get a foot in the door like Bae has. Hopefully they and other European companies will succeed in getting rid of their US rivals.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

Eurocopter shouldn't waste their time the American market is closed to compition the experience of Airbus and Agusta-westland demonstrates this. The US govt doesn't beleive in fair compition and uses it power to force US products onto foreign nations. What Eurocopter should do is pick off a company in the US to get a foot in the door like Bae has. Hopefully they and other European companies will succeed in getting rid of their US rivals.

Uninformed and nonsensical post; try reading 4 and 5 posts ahead of yours.