New Medium Helicopter

[Skyrocket21]

I haven't seen anything about the latest procurement to replace the Puma, Bell 212, Dauphin and Bell 412 (which is really cool modern Huey) possibly Gazelle.

The contenders are: Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Medium_Helicopte...

Airbus Helicopters H175M
Bell 525 Relentless
Leonardo AW149 (The most likely one, being assembled in Yeovil.
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk
AceHawk Aerospace ML-70

Slightly different role but these have peaked my interest recently the new tilt rotor developments:

The Americans are moving forward in a more advanced direction with these two:

Bell V-280 Valor, which is a smaller faster Osprey: obviously too big for a medium helicopter I think our carriers could do with this or the Osprey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_V-280_Valor

AgustaWestland AW609: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW609

And another out there design which probably won't fit into anything because it's so tall:
SB1 Defiant it's just been tested at 235 mph, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky%E2%80%93Boe...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4jn_nnKMcY

Which one would you choose?

[rallye101]

No brainer, Airwolf every time...2470kph!!

[Oilchange]

Interesting new tiltrotor stuff, thought the V22 was so expensive it would scare off others from attempting it, clearly I was wrong.

Suspect the decision will be political, so the AW149 will be it I think

[Madness60]

Best would be the Airbus H175, can basically have the same cockpit, avionics and autopilot as the training aircraft

It will be the A149, oh...another WasteofSpace/Leonardo product....hurrah

[Jimbo.]

That SB-1 is the AH-56 concept all over again, albeit with the tail rotor of the AH-56 replaced by twin rotors.

As for what to go for for a combat helicopter, surely it’d have to be the Blackhawk? One of the most combat-proven things out there.

[The Road Crew]

My guess is it'll be the 149, Westlands built with a few behind the scenes deals going on to make it happen.

It should be whatever the Americas are buying.
We aren't a big enough customer to do things properly alone, the economy of scale/development savings going in with the USA would be beneficial.

Ala P8, Rivet Joint, CH47 etc interoperability is the key. We don't to war without the USA... If we've the same kit we can beg/borrow/steal from them.

[Daveb257]

H175M was near here this week, it’s very quiet was the most noticeable point (and the crap weather)

[hidetheelephants]

All that money to develop a capability we had 60 years ago.

[Skyrocket21]

The Road Crew said:

My guess is it'll be the 149, Westlands built with a few behind the scenes deals going on to make it happen.

It should be whatever the Americas are buying.
We aren't a big enough customer to do things properly alone, the economy of scale/development savings going in with the USA would be beneficial.

Ala P8, Rivet Joint, CH47 etc interoperability is the key. We don't to war without the USA... If we've the same kit we can beg/borrow/steal from them.

This is one of the American proposals to replace the Blackhawk, the Defiant, which looking at it, is far too big to fit in a ship hanger, minus a carrier:




And that tiltrotor:


We could just buy some Blackhawks on the cheap, afterall they got our Harriers.

[Skyrocket21]

Daveb257 said:

H175M was near here this week, it’s very quiet was the most noticeable point (and the crap weather)

I like that, looks a bit Airwolfy

[aeropilot]

Madness60 said:

Best would be the Airbus H175, can basically have the same cockpit, avionics and autopilot as the training aircraft

It will be the A149, oh...another WasteofSpace/Leonardo product....hurrah

It would be logical to go the Airbus route for the commonality with the EC135 you mention......but Govt don't do logical.
So, most likely the 149, given the Coastguard already operate the AW189 in the SAR role.

[Shar2]

Daveb257 said:

H175M was near here this week, it’s very quiet was the most noticeable point (and the crap weather)

That looks like a Lynx which has eaten too many pies.