"Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

Wehrtechnik & Rüstung, Gemeinsame Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik
theoderich
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"Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

Beitrag von theoderich »

Five nations join forces to develop the Next Generation of Medium Multi-Role Helicopters
France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom announced the launch of a multinational project on Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities on 19 November 2020.
A significant number of medium multi role helicopter capabilities currently operated by Allies will reach the end of their life cycle in the 2035 – 2040 period and beyond, with the subsequent need for replacements.

The Next Generation Rotorcraft project aims to develop a solution for these upcoming requirements, leveraging a broad range of recent advances in technology, production methods, as well as operational concepts.

Over the coming years, experts from all five nations will cover an exhaustive programme of work, starting with defining a robust Statement of Requirements and a multi-phase cooperation plan.

The Defence Ministers of the five Allies signed a Letter of Intent to develop an entirely new helicopter capability. The signature was added virtually from the capitals of participating nations.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_178952.htm
theoderich
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Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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Airbus Helicopters looks to Leonardo to counter US threat in military sector
Europe’s two rotorcraft manufacturers must come together to develop a next-generation military helicopter or run the risk of losing out to their rivals, an Airbus Helicopters executive has warned.

Jerome Combe, head of product policy and strategy at the airframer, told the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Next-Generation Rotorcraft Conference that it would be undesirable to have two major European helicopter manufacturers “competing in a shrinking military market”.

“Without co-operation we take the risk of not reaching critical mass” to achieve a return on the substantial investment required to bring a new aircraft to market, he says.
But Combe says there is also potential to join forces under a similarly titled effort Airbus has proposed to the European Defence Fund.

Combe is hopeful that this proposal can coalesce into an “identified” programme along the lines of the four-country EuroMALE unmanned air vehicle initiative.

He says support for the rotorcraft initiative has already been voiced by all three of its home nations: France, Germany and Spain.

“We would definitely be stronger towards Europe if we were going hand and in hand with Leonardo. We hope this will be the case in the future.”

Discussions between the pair are already under way, says Combe, and he is positive that an agreement on a future direction can be reached.

He notes that both companies are separately developing high-speed civil platforms – Racer and the Next-Generation Civil Tiltrotor, respectively – under the EU’s Clean Sky 2 programme.

These could be used to perform flight demonstrations for military customers to assess the suitability of their architectures for a range of missions, he says.

And while the Racer will be a smaller aircraft than that outlined by NATO, Combe says that Airbus modelled a similar compound architecture for its now abandoned X6 programme for a helicopter of up to 16t.

“When we explored the architecture for a heavier aircraft there was no blocking in terms of the design,” he says.
While Italy and the UK are part of NATO’s NGRC process, both countries have also expressed an interest in the USA’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme.

Should one or the other decide to leave the NATO effort, that could also throw Leonardo’s continued participation into doubt.

However, Combe says this will depend on whether FVL is “a competitor or complementary asset” to NGRC.

That will ultimately depend on the requirements outlined by NATO, particularly those around speed, range and endurance, says Steve Allen, head of strategy at Leonardo’s UK helicopter unit.

“A discussion around vehicle architecture is fundamental from an early stage,” he says.

In addition, choosing a non-US product may be driven by concerns around consideration needs to be given to sovereign capability, freedom of action and industrial strategy, he adds.

The NGRC group should begin to clarify some of these issues later this year, when it conducts planned engagement with industry.

Allen also notes that while the 2035 timeframe is achievable, veterans of previous development programmes would consider it a “sporty timeline”.

Although FVL presents an obvious threat to military sales, Combe stresses that the technological development driven by the programme will also lead to increased competition in the civil market.
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 70.article

Nach den Erfahrungen mit dem NH90?
theoderich
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Registriert: So 29. Apr 2018, 18:13

Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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NATO not prioritising very high speed for next-generation helicopter (14. Mai 2021)
NATO members driving the development of a next-generation rotorcraft appear to be prioritising range and capability – including use as an optionally piloted aircraft – over very high speed, according to documents released by the alliance.

In addition, two new countries, Spain and the USA, are considering joining the five nations that signed up to the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) initiative last year: France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the UK.

In an invite to a September industry day, the alliance’s NSPA procurement body details the required attributes of the NGRC.

It should, the document says, have a range in excess of 900nm (1,650km), a maximum take-off weight of 10-17t, capacity for up to 16 troops in full combat gear or mission equipment, and endurance of more than 5h, or up to 8h with additional fuel tanks. Combined internal and external payload should be greater than 4t, with at least 2.5t carried internally.

Additionally, it should be capable of being used in as an “optionally unmanned/remotely piloted vehicle”, it says. Maritime and land variants should use a common airframe and have a footprint no larger than the NH Industries NH90 or Leonardo Helicopters AW101, including a folding tail and main rotors.

While the NGRC is intended to be faster than a conventional helicopter, where cruise speeds are around 150kt (280km/h), its intended cruise speed – “optimally 220kt or more but not less than 180kt” – is less than that of the 250-280kt currently envisaged by the US Army for its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft. One contender for that requirement, the Bell V-280 Valor, cruises at 280kt and has been taken to speeds above 300kt.

Affordability and availability are also key metrics: the NGRC should have a fly-away cost of no more than €35 million ($42 million) and a cost-per-flight-hour of “optimally” €5,000 but no more than €10,000. Meanwhile, availability rates for forward deployed fleets should hit 75%.

Under the heading “desired attributes”, the document reveals that the NGRC should use “novel/hybrid powerplant[s]” producing at least 3,000shp (2,240kW), feature “fly-by-light/fly-by-wire” controls, be capable of being transported in an Airbus Defence & Space A400M or Boeing C-17 with minimal disassembly, of carrying out air-to-air refuelling, and feature an array of mission equipment and weapon systems, including air-launched effects.

In addition, it should be able to conduct manned-unmanned teaming, including managing a swarm of unmanned air vehicles, launching small “expendable” drones, and recovering small drones in flight.

The NGRC is due to enter service in 2035.
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 40.article
theoderich
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Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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NATO advances next-generation helicopter project as NGRC team grows to seven nations
Negotiations covering the text of the legally binding memorandum of understanding for the concept phase of the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project were concluded on 8 September, NATO says.

Participants in the two-day process included “NATO staff as well as legal advisors and experts from seven nations”, the alliance adds.

“We are looking to have the document signed during the first half of 2022 in order to kick off the concept phase,” NATO adds.

In November 2020 five countries – France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the UK – signed a letter of intent signaling their participation in the project. They have now been joined by the Netherlands and Spain.
NATO earlier this year released details of the “required attributes” for the NGRC, which include a common baseline airframe for a variety of missions.

“We would like to get away from multiple variants of the same basic airframe as far as possible,” says Collins.

In addition, the NGRC should be “much more cost-effective than current fleets”, says Collins, achieving a fly-away cost of no more than €35 million ($41.3 million) and an operating cost no greater than €10,000 per flight hour. Availability also needs to improve over current-generation types, with a target of 75% for the operational/forward fleet.
Speed is also a priority. NATO is seeking a cruise speed of 220kt (407km/h), which would need to be achieved through an “advanced configuration”.

However, it has also set a minimum speed threshold of 180kt. Collins says this could allow more conventional designs to be offered. “This [threshold] is probably achievable but would require a fairly slippery airframe with conformal sensors – it is quite different to what we have at the moment.”
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 15.article
theoderich
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Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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DSEI 2021: NATO admits Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability could be FVL solution
A NATO official has revealed to Shephard that the alliance’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme could result in a Future Vertical Lift (FVL) aircraft eventually being selected.

Despite the US only holding NGRC observer status, five European partner nations involved in the effort have already agreed to open a communications channel with FVL officials, according to the NATO source.

The official noted that this channel exists to avoid working in stovepipes, and to ensure that whatever is developed is interoperable from both ends.

US representatives have also been part of all NGRC meetings to date.

‘[A] decision on the preferred solution is obviously open and I would not be surprised if American industry made a bid for the project, FVL is a potential outcome,’ the official added.

NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) will host the first NGRC industry day at its Capellen, Luxembourg headquarters ‘next week’, when rotary-wing manufacturers and suppliers are set to discuss digital backbone issues and ‘building blocks’ of new helicopter designs.

‘As soon as there's industry data, we will then kick off the concept phase, where we then look at potential solutions that are on the table and assess them,’ the NATO official confirmed. ‘Hopefully that will lead to a recommended solution, which would lead to a development phase.’

NGRC is intended to produce a common medium-class helicopter for NATO allies.

Production of the new aircraft has also been scheduled for 2035-2040 to coincide with the out of service date of Europe’s major rotary-wing fleets, including the NHIndustries NH90.
Two other interested parties outside of France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the UK are considering signing on and could do so when an MoU is signed in Q1 or Q2 2022.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air- ... orcraft-c/
asdf
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Registriert: Mo 28. Sep 2020, 09:54

Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

Beitrag von asdf »

Also wenn die Europäer so dumm sind und das machen, ist echt Hopfen und Malz verloren. Da würde man Know-How wegwerfen, als wäre es Dreck. Den Amis würds natürlich passen, man bringt das eigene Modell schön an den Mann. JSF 2.0.

Für Europa und Airbus oder von mir aus auch Leonardo wäre es wichtig ein neues Modell zu entwickeln. "Am Ball bleiben" lautet die Devise.
theoderich
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Registriert: So 29. Apr 2018, 18:13

Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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theoderich
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Registriert: So 29. Apr 2018, 18:13

Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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theoderich
Beiträge: 20032
Registriert: So 29. Apr 2018, 18:13

Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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theoderich
Beiträge: 20032
Registriert: So 29. Apr 2018, 18:13

Re: "Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability": NH90-Nachfolger

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Airbus Helicopters warns on weight increase for NATO’s next-generation rotorcraft
NATO’s next-generation helicopter will need a maximum take-off weight of up to 17t if high-speed continues to be a priority while also seeking to maintain current payloads, according to preliminary calculations by Airbus Helicopters.
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 18.article

Das MTOW des NH90 beträgt, bei einer Nutzlast von 4,2 t, 11 t bzw. 10,6 t.
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