RAF Puma Replacement?

Most would probably end up in mothball, rather than being retired out of the service completely.


Going somewhat off topic, but I still wish the AAC chose the Mangusta as their attack helicopter. But, I guess we can all dream.


Back to the topic at hand :).
 
Wyvern said:
Most would probably end up in mothball, rather than being retired out of the service completely.


Going somewhat off topic, but I still wish the AAC chose the Mangusta as their attack helicopter. But, I guess we can all dream.


Back to the topic at hand :).
Click to expand...

likewise too

Anyhow the Probs were twofold

1) Apparent, when it was firing trials over Salisbury Plain, the Mangusta could not hit targets properly at the time.

2) How much it could carry was not up to AAC spec

cheers

-
 
Wyvern said:
Here's another article about the Puma replacement program

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

UK’s ‘New Medium Helicopter Programme’ detailed

The 'New Medium Helicopter Programme' will see four medium-sized helicopter types replaced by one new helicopter type.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk ukdefencejournal.org.uk
Click to expand...

TBH, UKDJ isn’t all gospel and time and time again I have corrected their FB posts as they’ve got the wrong a/c type designation or described an a/c program incorrectly.

cheers
 
robunos said:
Paper talk . . . ?
Or subtle lobbying.

www.express.co.uk

Black Hawk to be used by Britain Special Forces for US link up

BRITAIN'S Special Forces are on course to adopt the iconic Black Hawk helicopter to work more effectively with their US counterparts.
www.express.co.uk www.express.co.uk

cheers,
Robin.
Click to expand...
Speaking as someone who takes anything they read in that paper with a large dose of scepticism, especially about aviation, I would say lobbying, Leonardo had a go last week...

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1...l-britain-aw149-leonardo-uk-integrated-review

Zeb
 
Last edited:
Hood said:
More Chinooks were always on the cards, they have been talking it for a long while.
With no Herks they will rely on the Chinook even more.
Click to expand...

Blast from the past then. IIRC the original 60s RAF order for Chinooks was as a replacement for Beverleys in the Middle East.
 
A few weeks old but I haven’t seen it posted on this thread before.

www.flightglobal.com

Leonardo promotes AW149 credentials as UK Puma replacement

Leonardo Helicopters' UK boss has outlined why he believes the AW149 is the natural replacement for the Royal Air Force's Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2 transports.
www.flightglobal.com www.flightglobal.com
 
Wyvern said:
It's still relevant, so might as well post it.

I've seen that the AW149 variant being offered to the UK may carry weapons, will it carry them, if it enters service?
Click to expand...

Brimstone no less!

CnAcAygW8AEH_7D.jpg:large
 
Wyvern said:
It's still relevant, so might as well post it.

I've seen that the AW149 variant being offered to the UK may carry weapons, will it carry them, if it enters service?
Click to expand...

I'd be shocked if it got much more than door guns, at least at first. The Apaches should be there to handle the armed mission, after all, and weapons integration does cost money.
 
Last edited:
Airbus again proposing UK build options for the H175:

"While Airbus Helicopters UK is located at Oxford Airport, expansion of the site may not be required to house an assembly line for the NMH, as the wider Airbus group has a “lot of real estate in the UK”."

Airbus Helicopters claims Chinese content on H175 can be replaced if offered to UK military

Reports from a Westland Group on Facebook suggest that AW189 I-RAIU has been repainted as an AW149 demonstrator.

Zeb
 
Given the close/dependent relationship with the US military more Chinooks plus a smallish number of Blackhawks or Hueys for specialised roles (US Marines still use modern Hueys) must be a real possibility.
The AW149 might be a runner as EH101/Wildcat need a successor built in UK and Leonardo are the only candidate for that.
 
uk 75 said:
Given the close/dependent relationship with the US military more Chinooks plus a smallish number of Blackhawks or Hueys for specialised roles (US Marines still use modern Hueys) must be a real possibility.
The AW149 might be a runner as EH101/Wildcat need a successor built in UK and Leonardo are the only candidate for that.
Click to expand...

There's a multi-national program underway to build a brand new medium type to replace Merlin etc. The UK is leading the concept phase.
 
Almost forgot about this thread, it's been a while.

On a different note, is the H175 still in the running, or was it never truly in the race from the start? I'm beginning to get the feeling this is turning into a one-horse race....
 
uk.leonardocompany.com

AW149 Medium Multi-role Helicopter

Leonardo's AW149 helicopter is the ideal solution for the UK's New Medium Helicopter requirement. The AW149 multi-role helicopter is our latest-generation battlefield platform, reconfigurable for a wide range of demanding missions in the most severe operational environments.
uk.leonardocompany.com uk.leonardocompany.com
Would a UK built AW149 get BERP rotor blades? Looks good to me anyway :)
 
SteveO said:
uk.leonardocompany.com

AW149 Medium Multi-role Helicopter

Leonardo's AW149 helicopter is the ideal solution for the UK's New Medium Helicopter requirement. The AW149 multi-role helicopter is our latest-generation battlefield platform, reconfigurable for a wide range of demanding missions in the most severe operational environments.
uk.leonardocompany.com uk.leonardocompany.com
Would a UK built AW149 get BERP rotor blades? Looks good to me anyway :)
Click to expand...

The AW149 already has shaped tips (raked plus a pretty prominent anhedral) to optimize for lift in hover, apparently. No reason to tear up that work, especially if the goal is a minimum change aircraft on the cheap.
 
Hard for me to see any other route for the UK, if they elect to go forward with a program prior to NGRC, that does not include a significant component of the program being done there.
 
The 175 looks promising. See the perfs and weight: it slightly lighter, cruise a little bit faster and significantly farther.
More powerful engine (PT6 - scalable) could even brings some better dynamics or sling loads when needed.
 
I had the opportunity To fly in said AW149 NMH (New Medium Helicopter). This particular AW149 powered by twin Safran Aneto enginesdemonstrator last week so thanks to all at Leonardo for organizing the event, over Glastonbury Tor and RNAS Yeovilton and race to south coast.

So here are my photos below …

cheers
 

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Hood said:
Lockheed Martin are still mulling over whether to submit the UH-60 Blackhawk.
Its seems the stumbling block is how to get a UK partner on board to meet the Defence Industrial Strategy. No way they would let Leonardo or Airbus licence-build it, hard to see what other options there are though.

https://www.flightglobal.com/defenc...WW2k2eVjnhyXB4Wd2ZBei-1yTpT_PLf_UNLIOiFT9CzBw
Click to expand...
Maybe Marshalls? or whatever is left of Shorts/Bombardier/whatever in Northern Ireland. About the only 'airframe' builders I can think of....
 
It has been said that the AW149 cabin is smaller than the Puma's maybe so but I'd disagree, I've spent far too much time in both (AW189 rather than AW149) and I'd say the 189/149 is better sized as far as its proportions go.

Would you agree Raven One?

Chris
 
CJGibson said:
It has been said that the AW149 cabin is smaller than the Puma's maybe so but I'd disagree, I've spent far too much time in both (AW189 rather than AW149) and I'd say the 189/149 is better sized as far as its proportions go.

Would you agree Raven One?

Chris
Click to expand...
I concur Chris.

cheers
 
But I thought Spirit Aerosystems in Belfast and Prestwick just make structural bits and specialise in composites rather than assembling entire aircraft/helicopters?
 

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