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2021-10-01

Airbus Showcases Space, Helicopters,Defence Products at DSEI

Airbus showcased its leading range of products and services in the defence, space, secure communications and helicopter segments at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition held at Excel, London from September 14-17.

DSEI is a leading event that brings together the global defence and security sector to innovate and share knowledge. It represents the entire supply chain.

The Airbus stand H6-122 featured models of the A400M new generation airlifter and Skynet 6A military communications satellite, plus a large new model of the H175M medium transport helicopter.

The A400M “Atlas” is an advanced, proven and certified airlifter, combining 21st century state-of-the-art technologies to fulfil the current and upcoming armed forces’ needs.

Flying further, faster and into difficult landing zones, the A400M is said to be the world’s most versatile airlifter.

Visitors were able to learn more about Airbus Helicopters’ H175M-based proposal to meet the United Kingdom’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) needs.

Airbus’ expertise in secure communications remained a key theme at DSEI including the Skynet military satellite communications capability. The company focussed on the UK MOD’s future milsatcom requirements including leading the consortium for future Skynet services with its partners KBR, Leidos, Northrop Grumman and QinetiQ.

New developments in secure communications featured beyond line of sight (BLOS) through the rotor blade communications showcasing Airbus’ Proteus Unity Satellite Modem System. This new lightweight system utilises an adaptive waveform that ‘senses’ the blade position with no input from the platform itself, and adapts the transmission to always provide optimum communications.

In the Multi Domain Combat Cloud, Airbus demonstrated how to make multi-domain operations a reality.

In May 2021, Airbus reached its 100th A400M delivery in the same week the A400M global fleet achieved the landmark of 100,000 flight-hours performing missions worldwide for all nine customer nations.

NextGen CityAirbus

Separately, Airbus has announced plans for a new CityAirbus at the Company’s first #AirbusSummit on “Pioneering Sustainable Aerospace” as the emerging Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market begins to firm up.

Ushering in the next generation of CityAirbus, the fully electric vehicle is equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its uniquely designed distributed propulsion system. It is designed to carry up to four passengers in a zero emissions flight in multiple applications.

Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO, elaborated: “We are on a quest to co-create an entirely new market that sustainably integrates urban air mobility into the cities while addressing environmental and social concerns. Airbus is convinced that the real challenges are as much about urban integration, public acceptance, and automated air traffic management, as about vehicle technology and business models. We build on all of the capabilities to deliver a safe, sustainable, and fully integrated service to society.”

CityAirbus is being developed to fly with 80-km range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h, making it perfectly suited for operations in major cities for a variety of missions.

Sound levels are a key factor for an urban mission and Airbus’ extensive expertise in noise-friendly designs has helped greatly while developing CityAirbus.

Airbus is benefitting from years of dedicated research, innovation, two electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) demonstrators, and development on sound technology across its portfolio of products, as well as decades of experience in certifying aircraft.

The Vahana and CityAirbus demonstrators have jointly conducted 242 flight and ground tests and have flown around 1,000 km in total.

CityAirbus NextGen is in a detailed design phase right now and the prototype’s first flight is planned for 2023.

Engine Back-up System

In another development, Airbus Helicopters, in partnership with the French Civil Aviation Authority DGAC, has started flight testing an engine back-up system (EBS) onboard its Flightlab.

The project opens the way to a future hybridised propulsion system for light helicopters while delivering concrete flight safety improvements in the short term. The campaign’s main target is to enhance flight safety of single engine operations by providing emergency electrical power in case of a turbine failure.

To conduct these tests the Flightlab was equipped with a 100 Kw electric motor connected to the main gearbox, which can provide electrical power for 30 seconds in the event of engine failure.

By giving the pilot extra time to react and maintain rotor speed, the engine back-up system contributes to a safer and smoother autorotation manoeuvre to the ground.

The flight tests include the simulation of engine failure in different flight conditions, including takeoff and landing procedures and corresponding limitations.

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