News

2012-08-01

Armed Aerial Scout 72X+

EADS North America unveiled in April its Armed Aerial Scout 72X+ (AAS-72X+) at the annual Army Aviation Association of America convention in Nashville. The AAS-72X+, an armed derivative of the US Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter will be manufactured by the company’s American Eurocopter business unit .

The AAS-72X+ helicopter builds on the three Armed Aerial Scout Technical Demonstrator Aircraft (TDA) already developed, tested and flown, using the company’s own research and development investment. The AAS-72X or AAS-72X+ could be built and delivered at a cost competitive with the upgrades planned for the Vietnam-era OH-58 Kiowa Warrior and fielded to Army units as early as 2016.

This variant is based on the commercial EC-145T2 aircraft which incorporates the more powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines with dual channel FADEC, a Fenestron tail rotor for improved anti-torque, an upgraded transmission, the Helionix glass cockpit and avionics suite, and a 4-axis autopilot system. These elements of the AAS-72X+ will offer the US Army greater power, range, endurance and payload capacity when operating in 6,000 foot altitude and 95 degree environments, commonly known as “6K/95 high/hot” conditions — the most demanding environment for rotary-wing operations.

Industry Team

The Armed Aerial Scout 72X+ will be produced by a world-class industry team that brings together the design, development, manufacturing and sustainment strengths of EADS North America, Lockheed Martin, American Eurocopter and Rockwell Collins. EADS North America has proven its capabilities as a supplier of choice for the U.S. Army, providing UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters in one of the most rapid aircraft introductions in the military service’s history.

EADS North America will build the AAS-72X+ at the same American Eurocopter facility in Mississippi that currently manufactures the UH-72A Lakota—ensuring a U.S.-produced solution that is proven and mature. As the AAS-72X+ mission equipment supplier and integrator, Lockheed Martin brings to the team more than 25 years of unmatched expertise in Army Aviation mission equipment components and subsystems integration.

Performance

EADS North America’s AAS-72X+ provides powerful twin-engine performance and survivability. The X+ exceeds the Army’s previously published 6K/95 endurance requirement of 2 hours and 12 minutes plus a 20 minute reserve, and can provide a 6K/95 combat range that exceeds 424 kilometers, all with a 2,800 pound useful load. It is built upon the highly successful UH-72A that is deployed worldwide and currently operating across a broad spectrum of missions. The AAS-72X+’s modern design and open weapons systems architecture ensures maintainability and maximum operational reliability—resulting in high operational readiness rates to meet evolving Army missions.

Evolution

EADS North America has made a significant investment in the development of its Armed Aerial Scout solution since 2009; developing three Technical Demonstrator Aircraft for flight test and mission equipment integration.

The AAS-72X can accommodate a full range of chin-mounted turrets. Equipped on TDA 1 is a chin-mounted sensor with FLIR (forward-looking infrared), television and targeting capability. EADS North America’s UH-72A Lakota, which is derived from the same airframe as the AAS-72X, currently is being equipped with a chin-mounted sensor on Lakotas to be deployed with Army National Guard Security and Support Battalions (S&S Battalions).

The latest evolution of the Armed Aerial Scout provides even greater performance, range and endurance in high/hot conditions. The AAS-72X+ incorporates the latest technology including improved avionics with 4-axis autopilot, more powerful engines with FADEC and an improved anti-torque system. The civil version will be certified in 2013 with proven, in-service Arriel 2E engines. The AAS-72X+ can be fielded to Army units by 2016.

Armament

One of the two multi-purpose pylons on TDA 1 is equipped with the M260 seven-shot rocket launcher, which fires 2.75-inch folding fin aerial rockets. The pylons are designed to accommodate the full range of precision and unguided munitions expected to be required by the Army for the Armed Scout mission. The AAS-72X’s other multi-purpose pylon carries an HMP 400 heavy machine gun pod with a 50-caliber M3P machine gun that has a 400-round capacity.

Deployment

The Armed Aerial Scout’s small footprint allows for transportation by C-17 aircraft with minimum reconfiguration upon arrival in the operating area. The helicopter’s large, unobstructed main cabin is easily reconfigurable for maximum flexibility. The AAS-72X’s survivability is enhanced by the helicopter’s agility and small overall profile. This maximizes maneuverability in tight terrain and urban areas, and combined with a low aural signature, reduces detectability. While offering a compact footprint, the AAS-72X has a large cabin with rear clamshell doors, which allows the rotary-wing aircraft to carry an auxiliary fuel tank, troops, additional munitions and supplies.

Maintenance

Maintenance of the AAS-72X is facilitated by easy access to the helicopter’s two turboshaft engines, which have five modules that can be individually removed and replaced, enhancing maintainability. The AAS-72X’s rigid rotor system also significantly simplifies maintenance.

Technical Specification

Type: Armed helicopter

Crew : 2 pilots

Engine : 2 × Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshafts, 738 shp (551 kW) each

Speed: Maximum speed: 269 km/h

Range : 685 km maximum

Weight : 1,792 kg empty

Armament : Rocket launcher or machine gun pod

Dimension

Length : 13.03 m

Rotor diameter : 11. m

Height : 3.45 m