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AW-101 for VVIP Transportation
Following a two-year round of competitive evaluations, the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland Helicopters will soon ink a contract with India’s Ministry of Defence to supply 12 medium-lift VVIP transportation helicopters for re-equipping the helicopter element of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) VIP transport squadron. The AW-101 (photo 1) was selected in preference to the Eurocopter EC-725 and Sikorsky S-92 and contractual negotiations for procuring 12 AW-101s worth US$300 million are likely to be concluded over the next nine months, with deliveries beginning 20 months later. Of the 12 AW-101s, eight will be configured as VVIP transports, with the remaining four being optimised for usage by the Special Protection Group’s (SPG) two newly raised formations: Counter-Sniper Group and Counter-Assault Group. The AW-101 variant selected for the IAF will be equipped with a secure and integrated SATCOMS communications suite; an integrated defensive aids sub-system (comprising radar/laser warning receivers, chaff/flare dispensers, electronic jammer and a directional infra-red countermeasures system) for which BAE Systems, EADS Defence Electronics, RAFAEL Armament Authority and Israel Aerospace Industries are the competing vendors; five British Experimental Rotor Programme (BERP) IV composite main rotor blades (enabling the AW101 to attain a maximum cruise speed of 150 Knots); three Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engines each rated at 2,527shp; a node-mounted colour weather radar and chin-mounted FLIR turret; and a new integrated cockpit display system with six 10-inch x 8-inch AMLCD displays (photo 2). Each engine will be fed from a dedicated 1,074-litre under-floor self-sealing fuel tank (total of three) using dual booster pumps and a cross-feed system. The fourth tank will act as a reservoir supply to top up the main tanks during flight. The 750nm (1,300km) range can also be extended by carrying an additional internal tank or by the Hover In Flight Refuelling (HIFR) capability. The air crew will able to select pressure refuel, defuel, jettison and buddy-to-buddy refuelling. Engine inlet particle separator systems will be used to provide protection when operating in sandy environments. The AW101 will also be equipped with twin MIL-STD-1553B multiplex digital data buses, which will link the helicopter management, avionics, mission and health & usage monitoring systems. The Smiths Industries-built OMI SEP-20 automatic flight control system (coupled with a ground proximity warning system) will provide auto-stabilisation and four-axis auto-pilot operation. The navigation system will include a GPS/inertial navigation system, instrument landing system, VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR), tactical air navigation (TACAN) and automatic direction finding. Dual flight controls will be provided for the pilot and co-pilot, but the AW101 is capable of being flown by a single pilot. A Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system display and digital map generator are equipment options, as is Selex Communications’ LOAM Laser Obstacle Avoidance and Monitoring system. The defensive avionics suite could include radar warning receivers, laser warning receivers, missile approach warning system, chaff/flare countermeasures dispensers, and a directed infra-red countermeasures turret. DRS Technologies will supply the flight control computers. Internally, the AW101 will be able to accommodate 27 seated or 45 standing passengers (photo 3). The cabin will also have room for a medical team and 18 stretchers, or for palleted internal loads. The fuselage will have a volume of 31.91 cubic metres and the cargo compartment will be 6.5 metres in length, 2.3 metres wide and 1.83 metres high. The rear ramp, measuring 1.95 metres x 2.25 metres, will take a 3,050kg load like a 4 x 4 armoured all-terrain vehicle. The heavy-duty cabin floor and ramp will be equipped with flush tie-down points, a roller conveyer for palleted freight and a cargo winch for non self-loading freight. Twin underslung load hooks will be capable of carrying external loads up to 4,536kg. A rescue hoist and a hover trim controller will be fitted at the cargo door. AgustaWestland has also scored significant commercial successes in India in the recent past by supplying its AW-139 medium-twin helicopters for the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. Two more state governments are currently negotiating the purchase of up to six AW-139s.-- Prasun K. Sengupta
Following a two-year round of competitive evaluations, the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland Helicopters will soon ink a contract with India’s Ministry of Defence to supply 12 medium-lift VVIP transportation helicopters for re-equipping the helicopter element of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) VIP transport squadron. The AW-101 (photo 1) was selected in preference to the Eurocopter EC-725 and Sikorsky S-92 and contractual negotiations for procuring 12 AW-101s worth US$300 million are likely to be concluded over the next nine months, with deliveries beginning 20 months later. Of the 12 AW-101s, eight will be configured as VVIP transports, with the remaining four being optimised for usage by the Special Protection Group’s (SPG) two newly raised formations: Counter-Sniper Group and Counter-Assault Group. The AW-101 variant selected for the IAF will be equipped with a secure and integrated SATCOMS communications suite; an integrated defensive aids sub-system (comprising radar/laser warning receivers, chaff/flare dispensers, electronic jammer and a directional infra-red countermeasures system) for which BAE Systems, EADS Defence Electronics, RAFAEL Armament Authority and Israel Aerospace Industries are the competing vendors; five British Experimental Rotor Programme (BERP) IV composite main rotor blades (enabling the AW101 to attain a maximum cruise speed of 150 Knots); three Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engines each rated at 2,527shp; a node-mounted colour weather radar and chin-mounted FLIR turret; and a new integrated cockpit display system with six 10-inch x 8-inch AMLCD displays (photo 2). Each engine will be fed from a dedicated 1,074-litre under-floor self-sealing fuel tank (total of three) using dual booster pumps and a cross-feed system. The fourth tank will act as a reservoir supply to top up the main tanks during flight. The 750nm (1,300km) range can also be extended by carrying an additional internal tank or by the Hover In Flight Refuelling (HIFR) capability. The air crew will able to select pressure refuel, defuel, jettison and buddy-to-buddy refuelling. Engine inlet particle separator systems will be used to provide protection when operating in sandy environments. The AW101 will also be equipped with twin MIL-STD-1553B multiplex digital data buses, which will link the helicopter management, avionics, mission and health & usage monitoring systems. The Smiths Industries-built OMI SEP-20 automatic flight control system (coupled with a ground proximity warning system) will provide auto-stabilisation and four-axis auto-pilot operation. The navigation system will include a GPS/inertial navigation system, instrument landing system, VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR), tactical air navigation (TACAN) and automatic direction finding. Dual flight controls will be provided for the pilot and co-pilot, but the AW101 is capable of being flown by a single pilot. A Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system display and digital map generator are equipment options, as is Selex Communications’ LOAM Laser Obstacle Avoidance and Monitoring system. The defensive avionics suite could include radar warning receivers, laser warning receivers, missile approach warning system, chaff/flare countermeasures dispensers, and a directed infra-red countermeasures turret. DRS Technologies will supply the flight control computers. Internally, the AW101 will be able to accommodate 27 seated or 45 standing passengers (photo 3). The cabin will also have room for a medical team and 18 stretchers, or for palleted internal loads. The fuselage will have a volume of 31.91 cubic metres and the cargo compartment will be 6.5 metres in length, 2.3 metres wide and 1.83 metres high. The rear ramp, measuring 1.95 metres x 2.25 metres, will take a 3,050kg load like a 4 x 4 armoured all-terrain vehicle. The heavy-duty cabin floor and ramp will be equipped with flush tie-down points, a roller conveyer for palleted freight and a cargo winch for non self-loading freight. Twin underslung load hooks will be capable of carrying external loads up to 4,536kg. A rescue hoist and a hover trim controller will be fitted at the cargo door. AgustaWestland has also scored significant commercial successes in India in the recent past by supplying its AW-139 medium-twin helicopters for the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. Two more state governments are currently negotiating the purchase of up to six AW-139s.-- Prasun K. Sengupta
5 comments:
if i have some stinger or igla m or some rpgs i will first shoot these motherfucker bassterds politicians
Even if you tried, you would most likely fail since these AW-101s will come equipped with MAWS & DIRCMs.
can those MAWS & DIRCMs. stand up against stingters? Or perhaps machine gun fire? Like the Mamagun (B-5-1) in CS?
The MAWS and DIRCMs will stand up against Singers, Mistrals, FN-6, Igla-S and any other MANPADS. As for machine gun-fire, the helicopter will be ballistically strenghtened to withstand multiple hits from 12.7mm rounds.
but if u fire multiple stingers against a helo equipped with MAWS
etc u can still defeat MAWS
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