DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Indian Navy To Procure New Multi Role Helicopters

DTN News - INDIA DEFENSE NEWS: Indian Navy To Procure New Multi Role Helicopters

**Indian Navy has narrowed down to two contenders, Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk and NHI NH90 for purchase of 16 new Naval Multi Role Helicopters (NMRH) for anti-submarine, anti-surface and Special Commando operations roles.

-The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.

-The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The first prototype had its maiden flight in December 1995. It has been ordered by 16 nations, and deliveries began in 2006.

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 21, 2011: Augmenting its fleet of multi role helicopters, the Navy is looking to procure more such choppers for carrying out anti-submarine warfare and Special Forces' operations.

In a Request for Information (RFI) issued recently, the Navy has said it intends to procure new Naval Multi Role Helicopters (NMRH) for anti-submarine, anti-surface and Special Commando operations roles.

Interestingly, the Navy has shown its intent to procure these choppers at a time when it is already planning to start the trials for buying 16 MRHs from the two contenders Sikorsky S-70B and European NH-90 next month under a separate tender.

Navy officials told PTI that the earlier tender process will continue and the trials would be carried out as per the original schedule.

In its requirement for the next batch of helicopters, the navy stated that the basic chopper for performing all the specified roles should be same with common airframe, engines, avionics and it should be capable of changing roles with ease.

"The NMRH should be of contemporary design with modern, reliable and fuel efficient engines and fully integrated advanced avionics and weapons suite employing the latest concepts for detection, identification, classification of surface and subsurface targets along with the ability to detect air targets," it said in the RFI document.

The Navy also wants the chopper to have the air to air refuelling capability for enhanced endurance and reach.

The vendors taking part in the contract will also be required to invest back at least 30 per cent of the worth of the contract as offsets into the Indian defence, civilian aerospace or the homeland security sectors.

Possible contenders for the deal include NH-90, Sikorsky and Lockheed martin's MH-60 Romeo, which was not selected for the early tender as it was being offered through the Foreign Military Sales route.

The navy at present relies on its fleet of Sea King helicopters which were inducted in tow different phases in the 80s.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DTN Defense News

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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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DTN News: NH-90 Helicopter Still Too Heavy For Dutch Frigates

DTN News: NH-90 Helicopter Still Too Heavy For Dutch Frigates *Source: ANP Dutch Press Agency (NSI News Source Info) THE HAGUE - June 13, 2009: State Secretary of Defence Jack de Vries on Wednesday had “bad news” for the House of Commons, he said. The NH-90 helicopter ordered by the Ministry of Defence is still heavier than planned. The NH90 program is handled by NH Industries while production shares of the 3 Partner Companies involved are 32.00% for AgustaWestland – Italy, 62.50% for Eurocopter – France and Germany, and 5.50% for Fokker Aerospace - The Netherlands. The NH90 was intended to being developed in two variants: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), the program had some technical and funds problems at the end of the 90s, but a large production order was launched on July 2000 by the partner countries. The main serial production NH90 are born from 3 assembly lines of the NHIndustries Partner Companies community: Cascina Costa in Italy for AgustaWestland, Marignane in France and Donauwörth in Germany for Eurocopter although the Finnish and Australian contracts establish that theirs airframes w would be assembled locally. By 2005, the NH90 logbook shows a total of 357 firm orders, 86 options and 45+ selected NH90, by 13 countries and for 17 Armed Forces. [Program prime contractor] NH Industries had announced to measures to reduce the helicopter’s weight, but these have not had the desired result. The weight of the aircraft has been a problem for years. This is important because the additional weight makes them too heavy to land on the Dutch navy frigates for which they are intended. The Netherlands decided in 1991 to participate in the NH-90 program, and ordered twenty [of the NFH-90 naval variant] which should have replaced the current Lynx ship-borne helicopters beginning in 2007. However, because of the recurring weight issue, that date has been moved back several times. The latest date for their initial delivery has now been pushed back to 2011, de Vries said. It is not possible to rule out further delays, nor to say what extra costs will arise from the delays, he added.

Norway Picks BAE Torpedoes For NH90.

Norway Picks BAE Torpedoes For NH90.

(NSI News Source Info) February 27, 2009: The Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation at Idex announced selecting selected BAE Systems Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo to meet the requirements of its Norwegian Antisubmarine Torpedo (NAT) programme.

The organisation struck a deal a £99 million (Dh528 million) with BAE Systems to acquire the weapons system.

According to the announcement, Sting Ray Mod 1 will arm the new Fridtjof Nansen class frigates and will be integrated with the new NH90 Anti Submarine Warfare helicopter and the Orion P3-C Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Commenting on the deal, Rory Fisher, Managing Director of BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies, said: "I am delighted that Norway has decided to select Sting Ray Mod 1, which is widely recognised as one of the world's most sophisticated lightweight torpedo weapon systems.

"We can set about delivering our commitments in programme delivery and ensure we become the dependable partner of choice for our Norwegian customer." BAE Systems campaign manager for Sting Ray Mod 1, Bob Moran, acknowledged the support provided by UK customer partners, including Torpedoes integrated project team within the Ministry of Defence Procurement Agency and the UK Defence Storage and Distribution Agency.

The Sting Ray Mod 1 system is in production for the UK Ministry of Defence at BAE Systems facilities.

Moran said: "The Norway order will extend Sting Ray Mod 1 production until the end of 2012 and help safeguard up to 50 manufacturing and engineering jobs at BAE Systems over that time."

French Order 22 NH90 Utility Choppers / France Has Ordered 22 NH90 Helicopters For Defense Forces

French Order 22 NH90 Utility Choppers / France Has Ordered 22 NH90 Helicopters For Defense Forces

(NSI News Source Info) Paris - January 9, 2009: The Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (dga) procurement office ordered in December a batch of 22 NH90 utility helicopters, worth nearly 600 million euros ($824 million), from the NH Industries consortium, the Defense Ministry and Eurocopter said Jan. 8 in separate statements. The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military, fly-by-wire helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The NH90, which can be flown by a single pilot, is designed to operate by night and day and in poor weather. It has been ordered by several nations and entered service from 2007. The DGA signed the contract Dec. 23, but Defense Minister Hervé Morin announced Jan. 8 the new order for the tactical transport helicopter (TTH) version of the NH90 in a meeting with the French Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee, the ministry statement said. The latest contract, on top of an initial buy of 12 NH90s, brings the total to 34 NH90 TTH aircraft for the French Army's aviation wing, the ministry said. In 2000, the DGA bought 27 of the more complex NFH navalized versions for the French Navy, bringing the total of NH90s bought by France to 61, Eurocopter said. The NH90 land and naval versions are at least a couple of years late because of technical problems and the difficulties of building 23 versions of the same aircraft. First delivery of the French NH90 TTH is scheduled in 2011, the company said. NH Industries is a consortium composed of Eurocopter (62.5 percent), AgustaWestland (32 percent) and Stork Fokker (5.5 percent). Orders for the NH90 total 529 units, including the latest French buy. So far, 25 NH90s have been delivered and another 50 are under construction, the company said.