Helicopters

Russian Helicopters has displayed the latest version of the KA-52 attack helicopter at the Army 2019 defense expo at Kubinka, in the Moscow region. A derivative of the Kamov KA50 helicopter that used a tandem cockpit, KA-52 This version is based on the KA50, KA-52K is in service with the Russian Army and a navalized version, KA-52K is operated by the Egyptian Navy.

Israel selects Lockheed Martin Sikorsky CH-53K Yasour helicopters as the IDF’s new heavy-lift aircraft, as part of the IDF’s “Tnufa” (Momentum), multi-year plan. These will replace the “Yassur” helicopters employed by the IAF since the late 1960s.

Israel's RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is expanding its Spike guided missile family with the introduction of Spike ER2, an extended-range tactical missile the company positions to equip attack helicopters, combat vehicles, and mall boats.

A high-energy laser mounted on an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter acquired and hit an unmanned target during a recent firing test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The test was conducted by Raytheon and the U.S. Army Apache Program Management Office, in collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command.

Aircraft and helicopters on both sides used flares extensively but lacked the capacity to face the dense MANPADS on long sorties over the enemy area. Some Russian helicopters were also equipped with electro-optic jammer countermeasures, but these did not prevent losses.

The Russian Rosvertol company completed production of the first newly modernized Mi-28UB 'Night Hunter' attack helicopter toward delivery to the Russian military. Unlike the standard attack helicopter, the UB has dual controls in the front and back seats, to enable better training of flight personnel.

The US Navy is operating high energy laser on the command ship leading the annual mine countermeasure exercise IMCMEX 2014. A revolutionary weapon system, the high power laser is designed to protect the vessel from attacks of Iranian fast boats.

Australia formally selected the Boeing AH-64E as a replacement for the Airbus Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH). The new helicopter is expected to enter service by 2025.

The British Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin announced a £269M (US$327 million) deal for the procurement of 10 aerial surveillance systems to operate on the Royal Navy new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. Initial deliveries are expected in 2018 with initial operational capability in 2020.

BAE Systems unveiled today a new countermeasures suite designed to protect helicopters and aircraft from current and future anti-aircraft threats. By better managing the deployment of traditional countermeasures such as flares, decoys, and hard-kill projectiles, ‘Smart D2’ acts as a layered defensive system protecting aircraft and aircrews from existing and emerging threats.

The US Navy has demonstrated operations of manned and unmanned aircraft from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). On a test off the Pacific coast, the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout launched and controlled from the USS Freedom, transferred information to an airborne Sikorsky MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, both providing the LCS critical surveillance information

At the Army-2017 exhibition near Moscow, the Russian arms industries are promotiong the latest weapons and systems tested in combat in Syria. Unlike similar events in the west, the Russian weapons are demonstrated in daily live firing demonstrations throughout the week long event.

Unveiled yesterday at Eurosatory 2016 by Israel based Bird Aerosystems, SPREOS combines a radar based verification sensor and an active laser effector to form a directional, infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system. Mounted on the same optical path, the laser 'fires׳ right through the center of the radar panel, enabling significant cost saving in maintaining separate aiming devices.

Airbus' EAGLE vision system began flight testing on ab H225 helicopter flying testbed. The system improves situational awareness and reduces the pilot’s workload by automating and securing approaches, take-off, and landing. Photo: Airbus