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2015-05-01
H-1 SERIES ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY
UH-1Y and AH-1Z latest in combat utility and attack platforms created by Bell Helicopter
By Sakha Pramod
Bell Helicopter’s H-1 Series, the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, trace their origins back to the Vietnam War and it’s been a distinguished history ever since. The new generations are now with us and the process of international sales is in full swing as Scott B Clifton, manager, Military Business Development, Bell Helicopter, explains.
What is new about the latest aircraft you are promoting?
The H-1 Series – the UH-1Y and AH-1Z - are the latest generation in combat utility and attack platforms created by Bell Helicopter. These aircraft share their lineage with the UH and AH platforms best known for combat action in Vietnam but have now advanced several generations gaining capability to where we are today. These platforms are 85 per cent common between them, meaning the engines, cockpit components; transmissions, blades, etc., are the same. Both aircraft have twin engines and glass cockpits, allowing the US Marine Corps to use fewer maintainers, common supply parts and the support equipment is all the same.
So it’s a cost saving for the Marine Corps, the primary customer for the UH-1Y and AH-1Z. The US Marine Corps gets advanced capabilities for the aircraft while making sure that they can be maintained by the same or smaller number of Marines. By adding the glass cockpit and four bladed transmissions to the AH-1Z, Bell was able to increase the weapons and fuel payload that can be achieved. The AH-1Z now has six weapon stations and fully integrated with the aircraft. So at the push of a button, the pilots in the cockpit can select the weapons and engage targets without having to go through multiple steps.
With the UH-1Y, the upgrade from its previous aircraft was so dramatic that it’s not a fair comparison. The Marine Corps now has the ability to launch the UH-1Y with combat loaded Marines in the cabin, weapons on the outside as well as crew chiefs with door guns. They can depart from either the ship or an airbase; they can fly out or stay on station for 30 minutes supporting the ground troops, fly back and still have a reserve of fuel to maintain the compliance regulations.
How long could they fly without refueling?
Both of these aircraft could fly without refueling between two and a half to three hours, depending on how you manage your fuel. Total endurance is over four hours, if you set out to manage your fuel from the beginning.
What weapons could be incorporated?
The normal load out for the AH-1Z is an air-to-air missile on the outside of each wing station, laser guided missiles inboard of those and a choice of either unguided 2.75-inch rockets or the advanced precision kill weapon system, a guided 2.75-inch rocket. You also have the 20-millimeter cannon in the nose of the aircraft, which carries a wide array of rounds that can be fired. The UH-1Y will use the same type of rockets, - 2.75 inch unguided rockets or APKWS guided rockets - along with multiple options for door guns.
Normally they will carry a 7.62-millimeter mini gun; they can also fire the 5.56-millimeter squad automatic weapon. On the other side it would carry a 50-caliber machine gun and that depends on the mission they are going out to support. It gives the capability for high rate fire on one side and a larger weapon on the other side. With the UH-1Y, you can now carry troops in the back plus weapons, revitalizing the combat utility support mission for the US Marine Corps.
The key aspect for combat aircraft to support the US Marine Corps is their capability to support the infantry on the ground. With this as a mindset, it creates aircraft that are multi-purpose and rugged so they can support the ground troops in any location. When we talk about combat radius, for the US Marine Corps it is about how far they can go with troops embarked, how long can they remain on station supporting the troops and then return to their ship or station.
Can it be used for surveillance?
Yes. The sensors on the nose of both aircraft are advanced enough such that armed reconnaissance is a key mission for both aircraft.
Do you have any customers for the aircraft?
There are quite a few countries that are very interested in the aircraft because they were designed to be operated from a ship which makes them rugged and more suitable to support in any environment. The design characteristics required to operate in a Maritime environment, make the aircraft better suited for jungle or sand environments because if it can withstand salt water then it can also work well in sand. So a lot of countries are very interested in the aircraft and have started the dedicated process for international sales.
How many countries are using UH-1?
Because the UH1 has been around since the early 1960s, there have been several thousand UH-1s produced and multiple countries are still operating it. The last aircraft retired by Marine Corps was almost 38 years old. With that heritage as a baseline, the UH-1Y is a culmination of combat and production knowledge to produce a truly outstanding aircraft.
The AH-1Z will be a very well suited platform for this region because it can operate from a ship or an airbase, operating over the land or the ocean and really becomes a good platform for search and rescue, surveillance, oil and has platform security and gives a lot of options. The expeditionary units of the Marine Corps that are in this part of the world will have a complement 3 UH1Y’s and 4 AH1Z’s onboard the Navy ships. The ships down in the Gulf of Oman are part of the anti-piracy missions.
Can you tell us more about the flying hours of the aircraft?
It all depends on fuel management, and the range from the landing zone to the objective area. These are combat aircraft designed to operate in close proximity to the ground forces. If you know that you have to fly for three hours then your flight profile will be minimum power changes in order to maximize the time. For a surveillance mission, you have easily close to three hours if not more and have the opportunity to carry auxiliary fuel tanks on both sides. Both of the aircraft have the option of carrying fuel tanks and weapons on the side. The AH-1Z can carry four while the UH-1Y can carry two. The AH-1Z has the option to carry auxiliary fuel tanks and weapons or four auxiliary fuel tanks.
The AH-1Z specifically is really the most advanced attack helicopter on the market because the Marine Corps asked for a combat aircraft that has an excellent sensor and weapons that can support ground forces as well as provide superior capabilities. All of these requirements were built up over 40 years of combat experience because the H-1 was born in Vietnam, out of combat. Everything that has happened since then has fed in to the aircraft. So when the Marine Corps said ‘this is what I need’, Bell Helicopter was able to provide them with what they need.
What is the maximum number of crew you can carry?
AH-1Z carries only two pilots. The UH-1Y will carry two pilots and two chiefs in the back and 8 passengers – which include combat loaded Marines, who are ready to step-off so they have weapons and equipment. It’s possible you can put more passengers in there. Both these aircraft have a max gross weight of 18,500 pounds. These aircraft are designed around the pilot to provide them capability at their fingertips – both aircraft are equipped with Hands-On-Collective and Stick (HOCAS) controls allowing them access to the weapons and systems without taking their hands off the controls.
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