French Army helicopters exercise in Morocco

Seen here taking-off from Albacete Air Base, Spain, after a fuel-stop on its return journey from Morocco to France in mid-April 2019, is 46-year old ALAT Aérospatiale SA330B Puma 1231/DDK.
Roberto Yáñez

The Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre’s (ALAT or French Army Aviation) 5e Régiment d’Hélicoptères de Combat (5eRHC) participated in an exercise with the Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya Marakishiya (RMAF or Royal Moroccan Air Force) in the Errachidia region of the Atlas Mountains between April 1 and 12, 2019.

Exercise Tafilalet 2019 involved the deployment of two Aérospatiale Gazelles (4114/GBO and 4140/GBU), two AS532UL Cougars (2316/ CGO and 2325/CGS) and two SA330B Pumas (1262/DBD and 1231/DDK) from Pau, Southern France, supported by an Armée de l’Air C-130J-30 Hercules.

The RMAF participated with two Aérospatiale SA342L Gazelles (CN-ACP and CN-ACX) and a SA330F Puma (CN-ARU). They were supported by a CH-47D Chinook (CN-ALJ) and a KC-130H Hercules (CN-AOR). Roberto Yáñez

Nigerian Air Force AW109s

The Nigerian Air Force has received the first two of four AW109 Power helicopters from Leonardo Helicopters, NAF 576 (msn 11844) and NAF 577 (msn 11845).

They were unveiled on April 22, 2019 in partially assembled condition and displayed during the Nigerian Air Force’s 55th anniversary celebrations between April 27 and 29, 2019, where they were fitted with gun and rocket pods.

The Nigerian government has budgeted NGN 6 billion for two AW109s and more are likely to be ordered as the government allocates more money in future budgets -the Air Force said it was taking delivery of four AW109 Powers, one Mil Mi-35M (four of 12 have already been delivered), one AW139 and 12 Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos. The new AW109s join older models in service with the Air Force – the Nigerian Navy flies A109Es. Guy Martin

Philippine Navy AW159s

Philippine Navy AW159 Wildcats departing the Leonardo Helicopters manufacturing facility at Yeovil on April 30, 2019, for the short flight to London Stansted.
Westleigh Bushell

Leonardo Helicopters delivered two AW159 Wildcat Mk220s to the Philippine Navy during early May 2019.

In service, the two helicopters will fulfil a range of maritime roles including anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare.

The two helicopters, with UK military registrations ZZ549 (440) and ZZ550 (441) applied, departed the Leonardo Helicopters manufacturing facility at Yeovil, Somerset on April 30, 2019 for the short flight to London Stansted before being air freighted to Manila.

The order, which dates back to 2016, was placed by the Philippines Department of National Defence. The contract, reportedly valued at $102.7 million, includes the provision of training and a multiyear support package as well as munitions and mission equipment.

The two Wildcats are expected to embark aboard two frigates currently under construction in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy industries which will be delivered from 2020. Westleigh Bushell

Polish AW101s

The Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej will replace its existing Mil Mi-14PL and Mi-14PS Haze helicopters with four new Leonardo AW101s from 2022.
Leonardo Helicopters

Leonardo Helicopters announced on April 26, 2019, that the Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej (Polish Naval Air Force) will acquire four AW101 helicopters under a €380 million deal.

The helicopters will be supplied via Leonardo’s Polish PZL-Świdnik facility and will include a comprehensive integrated logistics and training package for the Polish Ministry of National Defence. PZL-Świdnik will act as the prime contractor, responsible for the execution of the entire contract.

Leonardo said that delivery of the four helicopters was expected to be completed by 2022. In service with the Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej, it said the AW101s will be used for a range of missions, including antisubmarine warfare and combat search and rescue.

The Polish Navy and 44 Baza Lotnictwa Morskiego based at Darlowo Maritime Aviation Base in northern Poland currently operates a fleet of Mi-14PL and Mi-14PS helicopters in the ASW and CSAR role. Ian Harding and Nigel Pittaway

India’s MH-60R approval

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on April 2, 2019, that the State Department had approved the potential sale of 24 Sikorsky MH-60R naval combat helicopters to the Indian Navy.

The cost of the deal, should it eventuate, is reported to be $2.6 billion.

Included in the proposal are 24 MH-60Rs, together with 30 Telephonics APS-153(v) multimode radars; 60 General Electric T700-GE-401C engines; 24 Raytheon AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency System sonar systems; 30 Raytheon AAS-44C(v) multi-spectral targeting systems; 1,000 SSQ-36/SSQ-53/SSQ-62 sonobuoys; ten Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (together with four AGM-114 M36-E9 captive air training missiles and four AGM-114Q training rounds); 38 Advanced Precision Kill Weapons system rockets and 30 Mk54 torpedoes.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification said: “The proposed sale will provide India the capability to perform anti-surface and antisubmarine warfare missions, along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue and communications relay. India will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence.”

Nigel Pittaway

Airbus wins Tiger support contract

The Australian Army’s Tiger ARH has matured into a potent weapons system and in 2018 the fleet of 22 helicopters flew the highest annual rate of effort on record.
Nigel Pittaway

The Australian Department of Defence announced on April 7, 2019, it has awarded a five-year contract extension to Airbus Australia Pacific for through life support (TLS) of the Australian Army’s Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH).

The Australian Army has 22 Tigers, in service with the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin, Northern Territory (161 and 162 Reconnaissance Squadrons) and with the School of Army Aviation at Oakey, Queensland.

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said the extension of the current Tiger ARH TLS agreement with Airbus demonstrates the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to the helicopter, which had previously been singled out for criticism in the 2016 Defence White Paper. He said the Tiger, which has been in service with the Australian Army since December 2004, has matured into a “critical asset” for the Australian Defence Force.

The TLS contract extension covers the ARH programme through to 2025 and includes more extensive aircraft and component deeper maintenance; operational maintenance of aircraft allocated to training; aircrew and technician training (including maintenance of training devices); design services, including original equipment manufacturer (OEM) design incorporation; systems and software development and testing; parts support and technical publications.

Andrew Mathewson, Managing Director of Airbus Australia Pacific, said: “This is an aircraft type that will serve on into the 2040s in the worldwide fleet. We will endeavour to provide the best Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter capability in Australia over the same timeframe.” Nigel Pittaway

More AH-1s for the Philippines?

Philippine media outlets reported that President Rodrigo Duterte has speculated on the acquisition of more former Royal Jordanian Air Force Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters for the Pilipinas Hukbong Himpapawid (Philippine Air Force). Jordan has reportedly agreed to supply two AH-1Fs to Manila in 2018 and these are expected to be delivered in July 2019.

Speaking to local media on April 13, 2019, Duterte said: “They gave us two [AH-1Fs]. I’m friends with the King of Jordan [King Abdullah II]. He said he might give us a third.”

Nigel Pittaway