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Manufacturers that have already expressed an interest in the requirement to Jane’s comprise Bell, which said it is to offer its UH-1Y Venom, and NorthStar Aviation, which is offering its 407 Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH). Earlier in 2018, Airbus Helicopters told Jane’s that it was discussing with a potential customer a requirement to airlift some of the company’s H145M battlefield support helicopters aboard a C-17. Although the company did not name Australia, it was understood that it was this SOF requirement that it was pursuing.

AD/RFI/7300/1 hat geschrieben:Defence is planning to acquire a fleet of light helicopters to enhance the ADF Special Operations
Aviation Capability as advised in the 2016 Defence White Paper. The helicopters are to be proven (already in service) Commercial or Military off the shelf, optimised for operating in dense urban environments, and capable of being rapidly deployed by air transport in ADF Boeing C-17 A Globemaster Ill aircraft. The helicopter should be capable of being fitted with simple, proven, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) equipment and weapons systems.

The project is currently in an exploratory phase, collecting information and proposals to inform concepts for capability realisation. The project is considering a wide range of procurement options based around a light helicopter as the major system.

AD/RFI/7300/2 hat geschrieben:Defence is planning to acquire a fleet of light helicopters to enhance the ADF Special Operations capability as advised in the 2016 Defence White Paper. The helicopters are to be proven (already in service) Commercial or Military off the shelf, optimised for operating in dense urban environments, and capable of being rapidly deployed by air transport in ADF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft.

The helicopter will primarily support air assault of small Special Forces teams. To fulfil its secondary roles, the helicopter should be capable of being rapidly re-configured by fitment of simple, proven, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) equipment and weapons systems. The helicopter should also be capable of conducting general utility.

This RFI also seeks information on through life sustainment and support services such as; maintenance and engineering support, supply chain logistics warehousing and management, training of Defence aircrew and ground support staff, supply of Ground Servicing Equipment and various training simulators and aids, as well as access to Intellectual Property (IP) and Technical Data (TD).

AD/RFI/7300/2 hat geschrieben:The primary location for the capability will be at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney, NSW. This is likely to be the location of the pilot training capability. Defence are considering establishing a second element at another as yet undecided location, which will be referred to as the “Independent Detachment”. Maintenance technician training will be located at Swartz Barracks, Oakey, QLD.

The capability must be capable of generating two deployable elements that can simultaneously deploy to and operate from separate “greenfield” sites. Each deployable element will usually consist of four (4) helicopters and must include all required tooling, spares and support equipment for a short duration activity (approx. 50 hours of flying over 5 to 7 days). The capability must have sufficient capacity that the home base (Sydney) and “Independent Detachment” can continue to operate from their normal locations while the deployed elements are away.

The capability must be able to be activated at very short notice including after hours, on weekends and public holidays. This will require additional quarantined spares, equipment and tooling to be provided to speed response times. This equipment should be suitably packaged to reduce the total volume and weight that is required to be transported.

AD/RFI/7300/2 hat geschrieben:Air Assault Role Description

The primary role for the helicopter is air assault of small teams. In this role, the standard payload is all of the following:

a. Two (2) 100kg Pilots

b. Four (4) 120kg Operators sitting on the floor. No seats are required but the cabin must have cargo points / cabin fittings so operators can attach a karabiner.

c. A fast roping system that can deliver passengers from out of ground effect (OGE) hover. The fast roping system must be able to deliver troops from both sides of the helicopter and each side of the system must be capable of simultaneously supporting a 120kg operator and a fast rope weighing up to 18kg.

The most frequent operating conditions for helicopter will be sea level altitude at 35 degrees Celsius (ISA + 20). When operating at these conditions and carrying the above payload, the helicopter must be able to:

a. Start up and warmup.

b. Cruise for at least 30 minutes at a speed of at least 90 knots to the target.

c. Conduct OGE hover for at least 5 minutes.

d. Cruise for at least 30 minutes at a speed of at least 90 knots back to start location.

The standard configuration may be altered based on the requirements of the tactical situation. In these circumstances, it is accepted that the payload or distance will need to be reduced. The following configuration options are desirable and are not required to be capable of being simultaneously fitted:

a. Sufficient cabin volume and fittings to transport six (6) passengers on the floor.

b. A rappelling system to allow two (2) operators per side (four (4) total) to rappel.

c. Ballistic protected crashworthy seating for pilots.

d. A ballistic protection kit for the cockpit to protect the pilot’s legs from small arms fire.

e. A threat detection, warning and countermeasure system to mitigate a range of guided and unguided threats to the helicopter.

f. A hoist system rated to at least 300lbs (136kgs).

The helicopter must also be capable of conducting general utility tasking including VIP and cargo transport. In this configuration the following options are desirable:

a. The ability to fit crashworthy troop seating in the cabin.

b. A ballistic protection kit for the cabin to protect passengers from small arms fire.

c. The ability to carry and secure a NATO standard stretcher.

AD/RFI/7300/2 hat geschrieben:ISR Configuration Description

When configured for the ISR role, the helicopter will require a proven, electro-optical sensor (EOS) with laser illuminator and laser designator. The EOS must be controllable from the cockpit and the live data must be capable of being displayed in both the cockpit and in the cabin. Any fixed display unit in the cabin should be capable of being removed to reduce weight when conducting other roles.

It is highly desirable that the helicopter has additional hardware to allow the live data from the EOS to broadcast to remote terminals.

AD/RFI/7300/2 hat geschrieben:Fire Support Configuration Description

When configured for the Fire Support role, the helicopter needs:

a. The ability to mount a support bar to assist a sniper to steady their weapon.

b. The ability to mount fixed forward firing and/or pintle mounted machine gun.

c. A mounting system that is able to suspend systems that use NATO 14 inch lugs.

d. At least two suspension points.

e. Each suspension point should be rated to 160kg.

f. A fire control system compatible with guns, rockets and precision missiles.

Speaking to Defense News, Dan McQuestin, Bell’s business development director for Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, confirmed that the company responded to a request for information issued by the Australian Army, offering the Bell 407 or Bell 429 helicopters with local partner Hawker-Pacific.

The helicopters being offered for Australia’s Land 2097 Phase 4 requirement will be commercial off the shelf, with kits developed to meet the majority of mission requirements spelled out in the RFI. These include air assault, intelligence-gathering, and troop transport. There is also a potential requirement for the helicopter to be weaponized in the future.

McQuestin said that 60 weaponized Bell 407 are already operating with a customer in the Middle East, and existing customers have expressed interest in an armed configuration of the Bell 429. The company is preparing to offer a similar weapons kit tfitted to the 407 on the 429, with two, four or six weapons stations.

McQuestin also confirmed that four Bell 407s can fit inside a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III airlifter, adhering to one of the requirements set out in the RFI. He added that testing is ongoing with the Bell 429 to assess its compatibility on the C-17 with government customers elsewhere.

Partner Hawker Pacific in Australia submitted the response to the RFI as the prime contractor.

Airbus Helicopters has confirmed it is to bid its H145M battlefield support helicopter for Australia's special forces requirement.

The announcement, made by the company on 18 March, comes eight months after Jane's first reported that Airbus was discussing with a potential customer a requirement to airlift up to four H145Ms aboard a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft for rapid forward deployment.

While the head of H145M marketing, Christian Fachini, declined at that time to identify the prospective customer, Australia was known to have such a requirement for its special operations forces (SOFs).

Besides Airbus Helicopters and its H145M, Jane's was previously told that Bell is offering its UH-1Y Venom, Leonardo its AW109, and NorthStar Aviation its 407 MultiRole Helicopter (MRH) as potential SOF solutions. Other potential candidates that have yet to formally register their interest could include Boeing and its AH-6i, as well as MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) and its MD 530F/G.

Once in service, the selected airframe will augment the larger NHIndustries NH90 (MRH90 in national service), which is currently transitioning over to the special forces role in place of the Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk. The first two MRH90s were delivered to the special forces regiment on 1 February, at which time two Black Hawks were withdrawn.

Die australischen Special Forces wollen den leichten Mehrzweckhubschrauber Bell-429 von Bell-Textron beschaffen.

„Die Bell 429 verfügt über ein relativ neues modernes Design mit einem hohen Maß an Sicherheit, Flexibilität und Leistung, das den Anforderungen der australischen Spezialeinheiten vollauf gerecht wird“, so Graeme Nayler, Geschäftsführer von Babcock Australasia, das die australische Armee bei der Beschaffung unterstützt. Das australische Verteidigungsministerium suchte laut eigenen Angaben einen Hubschrauber, der kleine Teams in städtischer Umgebung transportieren und absetzen sowie den Soldaten Feuerunterstützung geben und Aufklärungsaufgaben übernehmen kann. Im Rennen waren neben dem Bell-429 laut diesem Bericht auch der H145M von Airbus, der AH-6I (Exportversion des AH-6S) von Boeing und Leonardo Helicopters.

Airbus will offer its H145M helicopter on July 11 for Australia’s special operations support helicopter program, the company’s Australia Pacific managing director confirmed Thursday.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to present the H145M as part of [Project] Land 2097 Phase 4,” Andrew Mathewson said.

Other contenders are likely to include Boeing’s AH-6i Little Bird; MD Helicopters’ MD530G; and Leonardo Helicopters, but neither company has publicly declared its intent to participate.

Deliveries are expected to begin in 2022.

For its planned bid, Airbus Australia Pacific has teamed with 15 local suppliers to meet the Australian Industry Capability policy, which calls for defense suppliers to include local industry in their efforts. Those domestic companies include Safran Australia, Qinetiq Australia, HeliMods, Toll Helicopters, Helicopter Logistics, Sigma Bravo and Thales. The company has also entered a strategic partnership with Deakin University, near Melbourne, to develop innovative solutions and modifications throughout the H145Ms’ proposed 25-year life span.

Mathewson says Airbus Australia Pacific has also offered seven H145Ms to the commonwealth, which, together with a series of technology inserts to the Australian Army’s Tiger helicopters, is an independent bid to meet the requirements of Land 4503 (for armed reconnaissance helicopters).

Three bidders have publicly announced their interest in the requirement, which is understood to be for 20 helicopters.

HSD/RFP/7300/1. PART 1 - CONDITIONS OF PROPOSAL hat geschrieben:This RFP is related to, but separate from, the Request for Tender HSD/RFT/7300/1 for LAND2097PH4 Special Operations Rotary Wing, which was released to market on 3 February 2020 (the RFT). That RFT was seeking a simple, proven and reliable Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) helicopter (SORW Capability) and support systems that will provide greater options for Special Operations across a range of deployment scenarios. The SORW Capability will complement the MRH90 Taipan by improving mobility, firepower and situational awareness effects available to Special Operations. The SORW Capability, by virtue of its smaller size, will be optimised for operations within dense urban terrain and will be rapidly deployable via a C-17A Globemaster aircraft.

HSD/RFP/7300/1. PART 2 - STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENT hat geschrieben:LAND 2097 Phase 4 Special Operation Rotary Wing (SORW) Capability will acquire a new simple, proven and reliable Commercial or Military Of-The-Shelf helicopter. This project exists in and forms part of Army’s Battlefield Aviation Program. It is within this program over the past two decades, where many lessons have been accumulated that fashion our approach to business and our vision for the future. At the forefront of experience is the inter-reliant nature of Army’s aviation platforms, people and processes.

ADBR also understands the new Black Hawk acquisition may see the planned Project LAND 2097 Phase 4 special forces light helicopter program deferred or possibly cancelled, as the Black Hawks are considered a more urgent requirement.

muck hat geschrieben: ↑Sa 11. Jul 2020, 08:34 Obwohl die H145M ein wirklich exzellenter Helikopter ist, kann ich mir nicht vorstellen, dass Airbus hier zum Zuge kommt. Das ist politisch nicht vertretbar. Zu sehr haben sich die Australier mit ihren Tigern und NH90 herumgeärgert – wenngleich wenigstens teilweise aus eigenem Verschulden.