barnstorm2
06-14-2007, 05:00 AM
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200706131534DOWJONESDJONLINE000832_FORTUNE5.htm
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are awaiting new helicopters with potentially life-saving improvements, as the U.S. Army prepares to upgrade its fleet of aging CH-47 Chinooks and UH-60 Black Hawks.
The two aircraft are Army workhorses, but current operations have pushed them to their limits. High altitudes and hot weather strain helicopter performance, as does the constant threat of attack.
Boeing Co. (BA) makes the Chinook, including its new CH-47F incarnation. United Technologies Corp.'s (UTX) Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. unit makes the Black Hawk; the new model is called the UH-60M.
The new aircraft will have more powerful engines and better cockpit communications than their predecessors, the Army said. They also have more built-in defensive technology, like flares and suppressed heat signatures, to deflect attack. Older models don't have such survivability features, in part because of the Army's past decisions to cut funding for helicopter countermeasures. Now the service is trying to make up lost ground.
"The CH-47F and UH-60M bring to Army aviation to capability to conduct combat missions and humanitarian assistance in the most extreme environments of our globe," the Army said in response to a Dow Jones query.
The new Chinooks are slated to reach troops in July. They join a 101st Airborne Division air assault unit, scheduled to head overseas in 2008. The new Black Hawks are due to reach troops in early 2008, the Army said.
Both programs are big investments. According to the most recent Defense Department report on weapons costs, the Army plans to spend $23.8 billion for more than 1,000 Black Hawk upgrades, and $13.4 billion for 512 CH-47F Chinooks.
More engine power and new electronic warfare suites will help the new helicopters stay out of harm's way, said Teal Group aircraft analyst Richard Aboulafia. Even so, a helicopter's flight flexibility comes at a cost.
"Every little bit helps. But when people are shooting at you and you're in a machine that does 150 knots if it's lucky, and if it's transporting stuff, it's going to be big and vulnerable. That's basically risky," Aboulafia said.
The new Chinook is due to reach initial operating capability soon, perhaps by the end of June. This is a big step as the new aircraft prepares for combat.
Boeing said the new Chinooks will be much easier to maintain than their predecessors. Also, the company is ground testing a new infrared suppressor, intended to protect the helicopters from some types of ground fire. Meanwhile, new avionics will make the aircraft easier to fly, even in severe dust storms, said Boeing program manager Ken Eland.
"You can move in one-foot increments in any of the six directions you want," Eland said in a telephone interview, describing the performance improvements.
The new Black Hawks will include a common missile warning system to protect against ground threats, as well as a laser warning system to detect laser-guided attacks, Sikorsky said. The new aircraft will have more powerful engines and various improvements to improve reliability, the company said.
"The UH-60M will provide reduced pilot workload, increased lift, better protection and enhanced survivability. It is ideally suited for its mission and provides a safer, more responsive, deployable, versatile and effective weapon system for the Army," said Bob Mastronardi, Sikorsky's vice president of Army programs.
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are awaiting new helicopters with potentially life-saving improvements, as the U.S. Army prepares to upgrade its fleet of aging CH-47 Chinooks and UH-60 Black Hawks.
The two aircraft are Army workhorses, but current operations have pushed them to their limits. High altitudes and hot weather strain helicopter performance, as does the constant threat of attack.
Boeing Co. (BA) makes the Chinook, including its new CH-47F incarnation. United Technologies Corp.'s (UTX) Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. unit makes the Black Hawk; the new model is called the UH-60M.
The new aircraft will have more powerful engines and better cockpit communications than their predecessors, the Army said. They also have more built-in defensive technology, like flares and suppressed heat signatures, to deflect attack. Older models don't have such survivability features, in part because of the Army's past decisions to cut funding for helicopter countermeasures. Now the service is trying to make up lost ground.
"The CH-47F and UH-60M bring to Army aviation to capability to conduct combat missions and humanitarian assistance in the most extreme environments of our globe," the Army said in response to a Dow Jones query.
The new Chinooks are slated to reach troops in July. They join a 101st Airborne Division air assault unit, scheduled to head overseas in 2008. The new Black Hawks are due to reach troops in early 2008, the Army said.
Both programs are big investments. According to the most recent Defense Department report on weapons costs, the Army plans to spend $23.8 billion for more than 1,000 Black Hawk upgrades, and $13.4 billion for 512 CH-47F Chinooks.
More engine power and new electronic warfare suites will help the new helicopters stay out of harm's way, said Teal Group aircraft analyst Richard Aboulafia. Even so, a helicopter's flight flexibility comes at a cost.
"Every little bit helps. But when people are shooting at you and you're in a machine that does 150 knots if it's lucky, and if it's transporting stuff, it's going to be big and vulnerable. That's basically risky," Aboulafia said.
The new Chinook is due to reach initial operating capability soon, perhaps by the end of June. This is a big step as the new aircraft prepares for combat.
Boeing said the new Chinooks will be much easier to maintain than their predecessors. Also, the company is ground testing a new infrared suppressor, intended to protect the helicopters from some types of ground fire. Meanwhile, new avionics will make the aircraft easier to fly, even in severe dust storms, said Boeing program manager Ken Eland.
"You can move in one-foot increments in any of the six directions you want," Eland said in a telephone interview, describing the performance improvements.
The new Black Hawks will include a common missile warning system to protect against ground threats, as well as a laser warning system to detect laser-guided attacks, Sikorsky said. The new aircraft will have more powerful engines and various improvements to improve reliability, the company said.
"The UH-60M will provide reduced pilot workload, increased lift, better protection and enhanced survivability. It is ideally suited for its mission and provides a safer, more responsive, deployable, versatile and effective weapon system for the Army," said Bob Mastronardi, Sikorsky's vice president of Army programs.