Helicopters

Bell celebrated the completion of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for the Kingdom of Bahrain on Sep. 30, 2021.

Bell celebrated the completion of the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for the Kingdom of Bahrain on Sep. 30, 2021. The company delivered the first of 12 production aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as part of the 2019 foreign military sales (FMS) contract. Foreign military sales of the AH-1Z bring the advanced, dedicated capabilities of the aircraft directly to international operators and help increase interoperability and amplify the effectiveness of allied forces. The helicopter will be prepared for shipment to Bahrain with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) before being transported to Bahrain in 2022.

“This is an extraordinary achievement by the H-1 Program and brings the Royal Bahraini Air Force a step closer to fielding the advanced capabilities of the AH-1Z,” said Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 vice president and program director, in a company news release. “The men and women of Team Viper, a group of premier suppliers, have done an exceptional job of delivering to the U.S. Government, on time and contract.”

Bell designed the AH-1Z Viper specifically to meet the stringent operational requirements of the US Marine Corps (USMC), which focus on full marinization and a reduced logistical footprint. The aircraft has a fully integrated glass cockpit and the ability to carry a wide variety of munitions.

The composite rotor system further enhances the Viper’s ability to provide close air support to ground forces in any environment, while the fully integrated Target Sight System (TSS) enhances pilots’ capabilities to identify clearly, acquire, track, and engage targets beyond maximum weapon range.

“The Viper will provide significant benefits to the Bahrain Defense Force as they modernize their fleet of attack helicopters,” said Deslatte. “Having a proven state-of-the-art platform will help contribute to the security of Bahrain while improving interoperability with U.S. forces.”

Bell continues to work to deliver aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps, Bahrain, and the Czech Republic. After having delivered the last UH-1Y to the USMC, Bell restarted Venom production last July for the Czech Republic, the first international operator of the helicopter. However, the company has continued to produce and deliver the AH-1Z Viper as part of the USMC H-1 production contract for 349 H-1 aircraft, consisting of 160 UH-1Y and 189 AH-1Z.

The Venom and the Viper are based on the Vietnam-era family of Huey helicopters, the UH-1 Iroquois, and the derivative AH-1 Cobra. The modern variants share 85 percent of their parts, including a common tail boom, engines, rotor system, drivetrain, avionics architecture, software, and controls. The commonality between the aircraft enabled critical component supply chains to remain active during AH-1Z production for the USMC.

Photo by Bell

The US Forest Service said goodbye on Oct. 16, 2021, to their Vietnam War-era AH-1 Firewatch Cobra helicopters as an aerial attack platform.

The US Forest Service said goodbye on Oct. 16, 2021, to their Vietnam War-era AH-1 Firewatch Cobra helicopters.

The Forest Service said in a press release:

‘This past Saturday, the last remaining USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest (Region 5) Firewatch Cobra Program Viet Nam War-era helicopter took its final flight as we transition to a new era of aerial supervision utilizing modern helicopters and implement modern technologies like fixed-wing aircraft to service a larger landscape… Additionally, Region 5 has stood up an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Program to reduce risks and hazards to firefighters both in the air and on the ground.

‘The roles previously served by the two Cobra helicopters will be performed by a combination of three modern platforms: new helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and UAS. There is no reduction in firefighting surveillance or operational capabilities with the transition, local communities and wildland firefighters will be better served by the advancements in modern technology.

‘The two Forest Service-owned AH109 helicopters were repurposed Vietnam War-era, US Army attack helicopters for fire aviation, aerial supervision, and intelligence work. They served the Forest Service for nineteen years and reached their maximum lifespan after flying approximately 7,600 flight hours with the Cobra program.

‘“The Forest Service thanks all the pilots, mechanics, aerial supervisors, and program managers that made the Cobra program a success,” said Robert Baird, Director of Fire and Aviation Management for Region 5. “The next generation of equipment will continue this critical mission of public safety and protection.”’

In 1996, the US Army retired 25 of its Cobra helicopters, which can reach speeds of 160 mph. The US Forest Service eagerly accepted the hand-me-downs and converted the helicopters into Firewatch Cobras refitting them with an arsenal of high-tech gadgets. The Cobras didn’t extinguish fires by themselves. Their main purpose was to relay information to ground crews about the direction and strength of a blaze and to help larger planes make more accurate water or fire-retardant drops.

The Firewatch’s infrared thermal imager could detect the heat of a wildfire even through thick smoke. Its low-light and color cameras could pick up fine-resolution images of the fire, and then its transmission equipment could send those images—in real-time—to firefighting crews up to 30 miles away. Also, the Cobra could direct larger water haulers by providing precise GPS coordinates.

Photo by Akradecki Own work via Wikipedia

After having been surrounded, the Dolphin surfaced to indicate that it was abandoning the mission and moved away from the Algerian coast.

The story of an unusual incident that allegedly took place during the Algerian Radaa 2021 exercise was shared on Sep. 30, 2021, on social media: according to a Tweet by defense journalist Darko Todorovski, an Israeli submarine was chased by the Algerian Navy during the drill, run from Sep. 29 to Sep. 30.

 

Off the coast of Algeria, an Israeli submarine – Dolphin type tried to track a training launch of a cruise missile Club-S from an 🇩🇿 submarine of project 636, but in turn, it was discovered and pursued by 2 submarines of project 636. They forced it to surface and leave the area. pic.twitter.com/IxflWYpkUi

— Darko Todorovski (@DarikMk) September 30, 2021

Radaa 2021 was aimed to demonstrate the capabilities of in-depth attack, or stealth destruction of targets at sea at very long distances. The exercise saw the participation of many Algerian naval units and took place in the presence of the Chief of Staff General Said Chengriha, the commander of the naval forces and the head of the second military region.

According to Menadefense.net, nothing happened during the drill. A very large perimeter had been cleared of commercial traffic to avoid incidents or unwanted attention. ù

Instead, an incident occurred on Sep. 27 during the preparation of the exercise. An Israeli Dolphin class submarine was spotted by passive detection of an Algerian Kilo-class submarine, tracked and forced to surface in international waters and leave the area.

As reported by Menadefense.net, the Israeli sub was aggressively pursued without the use of sonar in order to avoid counter-detection. Two Super Lynx anti-submarine warfare helicopters were launched from BDSL Kalaat Beni Abbas, which was part of the training as a command ship. The two helicopters continued the pursuit, while two Kilo submarines pushed the intruder back to the north.

After having been surrounded, the Dolphin surfaced to indicate that it was abandoning the mission and moved away from the Algerian coast. It surfaced 5 km north of Kalaat Ben Abbès, on the edge of international waters and the Israeli submarine surfaced outside the zone.

We can assume that, if the story is confirmed, the Israeli sub was doing an intelligence mission in order to gather information since it was expected that at least one Algerian submarine would fire one or more Kalibr missiles. In this case, according to Menadefense.net, the Dolphin would have obtained the precious acoustic signature indicating the opening of the missile racks and would have recorded the sound of the firing preparation and firing routine. Valuable information could help predict the actions taken by Algerian crews in the event of a conflict. The mission was also an opportunity to make electronic intelligence and collect data on the transmissions of the Algerian Navy and their encryption.

Based at Haifa, the Israeli Navy (IN) currently operates five modern diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarines. All were designed and constructed by Germany’s Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).

Israel currently possesses five Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines. Three of the five are old Dolphin type vessels. The older Dolphin-class are 57.3 meters long with a 6.8-meter-wide beam and can travel up to 20 knots when submerged. They can remain submerged for 30 days without surfacing. Their weapons systems are capable of firing torpedoes.

The modernized Dolphin II-class vessels instead run on a conventional diesel led-acid battery system. They have an AIP system that allows the vessels to travel extremely quietly and to remain submerged for up to a week without surfacing. Reports dictate that these vessels have a maximum speed of 25 knots and a range of 4,500km. The submarines are equipped with four enlarged 650mm torpedo tubes which lead to much speculation that the Israelis intend to outfit the submarines with nuclear-armed cruise missiles.

Photo by Andrew Morley via FlightGlobal and Ein Dahmer via Wikipedia

VMX-1’s CH-53K detachment quickly examined the environmental conditions and conducted a quick feasibility assessment of support and determined that the King Stallion could conduct the lift.

The CH-53K King Stallion successfully recovered a Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Mount Hogue in the White Mountains of California on Sunday, Sep. 5, 2021, Alert5 reported. The two-day operation was the first official fleet mission for the Marine Corps’ new heavy lift capability, which is amid Initial Operational Test and Evaluation with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Ca.

“VMX-1 received a request for assistance from the Naval Safety Center about an MH-60S Knighthawk that suffered a hard landing near Mt. Hogue, Ca., at an elevation of 12,000’ Mean Sea Level (MSL) in July,” said LtCol Luke Frank, CH-53K Detachment Officer in Charge for VMX-1, in a Navair news release.

The MH-60S Knighthawk was sitting on a high-altitude ridge in very rugged terrain near the California-Nevada line on Jul. 16 following a hard landing. The helicopter was supporting a search and rescue effort for a lost hiker. All four crewmembers survived without injury and were rescued the following day.

According to Frank, both the MH-60S unit and the Naval Safety Center had exhausted all other resources for recovery, including Army National Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps fleet squadrons. “They all lacked the capability to lift the aircraft without an extensive disassembly,” he said.

VMX-1’s CH-53K detachment quickly examined the environmental conditions and conducted a quick feasibility assessment of support and determined that the CH-53K could conduct the lift.

The CH-53K is the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) heavy lift replacement for the CH-53E. The most powerful helicopter in the Department of Defense, the CH-53K, is a new-build helicopter that expands the fleet’s ability to move more material, more rapidly throughout the area of responsibility using proven and mature technologies. In Navy high/hot environments, the CH-53K is capable of lifting almost triple the baseline CH-53E lift capability. It is also designed to have a smaller shipboard footprint, lower operating costs per aircraft, and fewer direct maintenance man-hours per flight hour. The USMC’s procurement objective is 200 helicopters.

“After two weeks of exhaustive planning and assembling a team of more than 25 Marines and sailors from VMX-1 and 1st Landing Support Battalion from Camp Pendleton, Ca. we deployed two CH-53Ks to Bishop, Ca., and got to work,” he said.

The CH-53K was designed to lift nearly 14 tons (27,000 lbs) at a mission radius of 110 (203 km) nautical miles in high and hot environments; a capability that expands the service’s range in supporting joint and coalition forces against potential adversaries.

The MH-60S weighed approximately 15,200 lbs. and was positioned in a tight ravine at nearly 12,000’ MSL and needed to be transported over 23 nautical miles to Bishop, Ca. airport.

“After six months of flight operations with the CH-53K, the detachment had every confidence in the aircraft’s abilities to conduct the mission safely. Our main concern was the environmental factors ground support personnel would have to endure,” said Frank.

Photo by Cpl. Therese Edwards / U.S. Marine Corps

After the Airwolf TV series concluded, the cosmetically modified Bell 222, serial number 47085, was sold and became an ambulance helicopter in Germany.

Aired from Jan. 22, 1984, until Aug. 7, 1987, Airwolf is an American action military drama television series where an enigmatic loner at the behest of a shadowy government organization steals a supersonic military helicopter from its twisted creator and uses it to fight the bad guys around the world.

The flight-capable Airwolf helicopter was a cosmetically modified Bell 222, serial number 47085, sometimes unofficially called a Bell 222A. During the filming of the series, the helicopter was owned by Jetcopters, Inc. of Van Nuys, California.

Whatever happened to the Airwolf helicopter after the show ended?

‘Destroyed in 1992 due to pilot error during a storm — killing three aboard,’ says Ken Miyamoto, Produced screenwriter, former Sony Pictures script reader/story analyst, and former Sony Studios liaison, on his Quora space The Tao of Screenwriting/Movies/TV.

‘The series Airwolf ran from 1984–1987, telling the story of a renegade pilot that goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter as part of a deal with an intelligence agency to look for his missing brother.

‘In the show, the helicopter was a supersonic prototype (that even had an “evil” twin) attack helicopter that could be disguised as a civilian aircraft — a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” That’s why it’s called Airwolf.

‘Here’s the Airwolf insignia patch.’

Miyamoto continues;

‘After the series concluded, the cosmetically modified Bell 222, serial number 47085, was sold and became an ambulance helicopter in Germany.

‘On June 6th, 1992, it crashed on the side of a mountain during a thunderstorm, killing all three crew members.

‘The helicopter had just saved a little girl suffering from heavy burns on a mercy mission from Berlin to the Cologne University Burns Unit in Köln. After delivering her to safety, it was headed back to Berlin when it and the crew encountered unexpected weather. The visibility was reduced to nearly 100 feet due to fog amidst an oncoming thunderstorm.

‘Pilot error caused the helicopter and its crew to impact near a rock quarry close to Halbeswig at 100 MPH. The rotor blades clipped the tops of several trees and then crashed on the mountainside.

‘A local farmer heard the explosion and notified emergency services. It took them over an hour to find the crash site.

‘When it was found, the helicopter was broken in half and the engine was destroyed.’

Miyamoto concludes;

‘A replica of Airwolf was created in the early 2000s and from 2007 to 2015 was displayed in a Tennessee museum until it was sold to a collector.

‘The replica is now on top of a $250 million mansion in Bel Air, California.

‘RIP Airwolf — and its onscreen pilot Jan-Michael Vincent (he passed away in 2019).’

Check out The Tao of Screenwriting for more fun Movie/TV discussions, as well as screenwriting and film industry insights.

Photo by Tennessee Museum of Aviation and Unknown

There are many scenarios in which tube artillery can engage attack helicopters.

Sometimes called helicopter gunships because of their heavy armament, modern attack helicopters have two primary roles: first, to provide direct and accurate close air support for ground troops; and second, the anti-tank role to destroy grouped enemy armor. Attack helicopters are also used as protective escorts for transport helicopters, or to supplement lighter helicopters in the armed reconnaissance roles. In combat, an attack helicopter is projected to destroy targets worth around 17 times its own production cost before being destroyed.

But how do helicopters avoid being shot down?

‘Nap of the earth flying, mostly,’ says Jay Snead, an aviation expert on Quora.

‘The great feature of a helicopter is its ability to hover behind cover. if you can’t see it, you can’t hit it. The Apache Longbow mounts a sensor tower above its rotors so that it can observe without exposing itself to view.

‘They can hide behind a ridge or down in the trees to make themselves an unattractive target for a ground-based missile.

‘To defend itself from other aircraft, its ability to hide close to the ground makes it difficult for a high-flying aircraft to get a radar lock on it. When under attack, it can deploy flares to decoy heat-seeking missiles. It can even carry Sidewinder or Stinger missiles to shoot back.’

Nevertheless, attack helicopters can still be shot down by tube artillery. An anonymous former US Army soldier recalls on Quora;

‘We actually ran a fire mission once that simulated a 155mm engagement of a terrain-masked helicopter known to a forward observer to be hovering below a ridgeline at about 2 km. The known position was relayed to FDC where they had to think about a solution. Then the helo was engaged with a low trajectory HE projo and fuze solution timed to function in an airburst just after the ridge position. The resulting rain of steel would have neatly taken down any helicopter in that location.

‘There are many scenarios in which tube artillery can engage helicopters. Wise helo drivers don’t loiter and put themselves into such positions. Tube artillery is amazingly agile in the right hands.

‘In this scenario, an FO detected the helo long before the opposing forces were even aware of the presence of the artillery. The artillery and helo were not in the line of sight. The helo would have needed external assistance to detect the presence and location of the batteries.

‘You might think you’re safe down there. You’re not.’

Photo by U.S. Army, Pinterest

The SB>1 Defiant helicopter demonstrated mission-relevant cargo capacity by lifting a 5,300-pound Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System training load.

As the video in this post shows, the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant helicopter demonstrated mission-relevant cargo capacity by lifting a 5,300-pound Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System training load during a test flight at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. With Defiant X, the US Army will deliver troops and cargo in future combat at twice the range of the current fleet.

According to a Lockheed Martin news release, the lifting power demonstrated by SB>1 Defiant in this test equates to an Infantry Squad Vehicle, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, more than 600 gallons of water, or ~240 cases of MREs – resupply vital to Soldier survival in a contested environment.

The SB>1 Defiant test flight program continues to demonstrate the military utility of the Defiant X design and further reduces the risk for the US Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program.

In May, SB>1 Defiant exceeded 230 knots in level flight.

SB>1 Defiant is the technology demonstrator proving out transformational capabilities for the Defiant X weapons system, the Sikorsky-Boeing team offering for the US Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition as part of the Future Vertical Lift program. The Sikorsky-Boeing team designed Defiant X to serve the specific needs of all U.S. Army FLRAA missions – offering a holistic approach to speed, range, and maneuverability. The external load capacity of Defiant X significantly increases its potential for humanitarian assistance missions at home or abroad.

With its rigid coaxial rotor system and pusher propeller, Defiant X incorporates Sikorsky X2 Technology to operate at high speeds while maintaining low-speed handling qualities. This critical capability provides Soldiers with increased maneuverability and survivability in high-threat air defense environments, allowing them to penetrate enemy defenses while reducing exposure to enemy fire. Compared to SB>1 Defiant, the Defiant X airframe has enhancements to improve aerodynamics and reduce the thermal signature.

Defiant X flies twice as far and fast as the venerable Black Hawk helicopter it is designed to replace. Currently undergoing testing in a digital combat environment, the aircraft continues to prove itself the most survivable platform for mission requirements.

Photo by Lockheed Martin

The commonality between the UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper aircraft enabled critical component supply chains to remain active during AH-1Z production for the USMC.

Bell has restarted UH-1Y Venom helicopter production for the first international operator. Crestview Aerospace has completed manufacturing the first of eight cabins at the Crestview Florida facility. The aircraft will complete the final assembly at the Bell Amarillo Assembly Center. The helicopters are part of the 2020 US Department of Defense contract awarded to Bell for the production and delivery of eight UH-1Y and four AH-1Z helicopters for the government of the Czech Republic.

“Crestview Aerospace is honored and grateful for the opportunity to team with Bell on the continued production of the UH-1Y cabin for the first international customer,” said Paul Kohlmeier, senior vice president, Strategy and Business Development, Crestview Aerospace, in a Bell news release. “Crestview continues to build in the same high quality and reliability into the international Venom helicopters that underpin the aircraft currently operated by the United States Marine Corps around the world.”

As already reported, Bell delivered the final UH-1Y for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) program of record in April 2018 and has continued to produce and deliver the AH-1Z Viper as part of the H-1 production contract for 349 H-1 aircraft, consisting of 160 UH-1Y and 189 AH-1Z.

The Bell UH-1Y is a combat-proven utility helicopter slated to support the USMC and Czech Republic missions for the next four decades. The Yankee engages threats, delivers or exfiltrate personnel, and performs under the most punishing operating conditions, making it the ultimate tactical utility helicopter. The Bell UH-1Y was first deployed with the USMC in 2009. The “Yankee” operates in the most extreme environments, from Arctic cold to desert heat.

The Venom and the Viper are based on the Vietnam-era family of Huey helicopters, the UH-1 Iroquois, and the derivative AH-1 Cobra. The modern variants share 85 percent of their parts including a common tail boom, engines, rotor system, drivetrain, avionics architecture, software, and controls. The commonality between the aircraft enabled critical component supply chains to remain active during AH-1Z production for the USMC.

“Time, logistics, and man-hours are all strategic resources,” said Mike Deslatte, vice president, and H-1 program director, Bell. “Commonality helps ensure everything between the Viper and Venom, from manufacturing, maintenance, and upgrades, remains seamless while simultaneously providing lower program and life cycle costs. It’s a real tactical advantage on multiple levels.”

The UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft are specifically designed and produced for expeditionary operations. Together, they provide a full spectrum of military operations, unlike any other helicopter duo.

Bell anticipates USMC production through early 2022, followed by continued production for foreign military customers. Bell has two signed Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases in production, Bahrain and the Czech Republic.

Photo by Bell