DTN News - JAPAN TODAY: Saitama Prefecture Orders An AW139 Helicopter

Asian Defense News: DTN News - JAPAN TODAY: Saitama Prefecture Orders An AW139 Helicopter

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AgustaWestland

(NSI News Source Info) YEOVIL, UK /VERGIATE, Italy - January 15, 2011: AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace are pleased to announce that Saitama Prefecture of Japan has placed an order for an AW139 medium twin helicopter. This aircraft will be operated by the Fire Fighting and Disaster Relief Department to perform fire fighting, emergency medical service, air rescue and transport missions. The helicopter will be assembled at AgustaWestland’s Philadelphia (USA) facility with delivery taking place in late 2011. The aircraft is expected to enter operational service in spring 2012.

The AW139 was chosen following a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process by the customer to ensure it could meet its demanding mission and safety requirements. The Saitama Prefecture’s AW139 will feature a very comprehensive mission-dedicated fit including a “belly tank” fire fighting system, weather radar, nose camera, FLIR, video downlink, search light, cargo hook, rescue hoist, loudspeaker system and main rotor blade high visibility painting. Advanced avionics selected include an Enhanced Vision System (EVS), Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). The AW139 offers superior safety levels in this role due to its class leading performance, outstanding one engine inoperative capabilities, system redundancy and high levels of crashworthiness.

This latest contract further strengthens the presence of the AW139 in the Japanese helicopter market where 22 have now been ordered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Japan Coast Guard, All Nippon Helicopter (NHK), Kansai TV, and Japan National Police Agency. This order marks the first AW139 sale in Japan for fire fighting and disaster relief duties. With orders for almost 500 units in around 50 countries from almost 140 customers, the AW139 is the best selling medium twin helicopter in the world. A number of leading fire fighting, EMS and disaster relief operators have chosen or are already operating the type for these tasks in several countries including the USA, Canada, Italy, Republic of Korea, China, Malaysia and Australia. AgustaWestland's success in the Japanese helicopter market continues to grow with strong sales in recent years across its complete product range. AgustaWestland opened a new regional business headquarters in Tokyo in 2008 in support of its growing business in Japan. The helicopter fleet in Japan is also supported by three official service centres which provide maintenance and repair services.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore-Designed Warthog MRAP In Afghanistan

Asian Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore-Designed Warthog MRAP In Afghanistan

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 15, 2011: Currently in service in hot and sandy places the Warthog has been shown off in a new PR video from the MoD/BFBS

This is an earlier video.

Costing roughly £1.7 million pounds each, no, you didn’t misread that, it would seem from the first video that despite being in production for several years with ST Kinetis as the Bronco , our experience with Viking and a £20 million modification packagefrom Thales there are still problems;

“Like anything brand new they are not without their problems though”, said the BFBS reporter

The very carefully thought through reply was..

Inevitably there are bits and pieces which we sort of err, err, which we sort of, err, managing out here in theatre, but to be honest we have not had to deal with any significant issues that we thought we might have when this vehicle has gone from inception into delivery in under two year

Two years would be pretty impressive if it was a brand new design and any teething troubles would be understandable, but it is not brand new. The ST kinetics Bronco has been in service with the Singapore armed forces since 2004 and forms the basis for theWarthog.

The Singapore-designed Warthog MRAP vehicle is on its way to Afghanistan.

Announcing the deal, the Thales press release stated

WARTHOG will come in four variants: a troop carrier; an ambulance; a command vehicle; and a repair and recovery vehicle. The ambulance variant will be capable of carrying casualties, medics and kit. WARTHOG’s repair and recovery variant will be fitted with a crane and winch, and will have the capability of towing another WARTHOG vehicle back from the front line.

WARTHOG will be powered by a 7.2-litre engine, producing 350bhp, and will be able to move through water – all while carrying up to 11 troops and offering advanced armoured protection.

Thales will install UK-specific equipment to the vehicles, including additional armour, specialist electronic counter-measure equipment and communication tools, to bring them in line with UK theatre-entry requirements.

It was reported that the original design failed blast testing and needed an extra couple of tons of armour, reducing mobility and payload. The in service date was pushed forward, beyond what was considered to be sensible but hey, there is a war on you know.

Despite failing selection for the Warthog UOR requirement, the Royal Marines subsequently ordered 24 Viking Mks 2′s, the last ones of the order for 24 being delivered in July 2009.

The Viking 24 Viking Mk2′s cost about £875k each.

We now have 2 marks of the BvS10 and one Warthog in service, not including the different variants.

At £1.7million each, which includes all variants, some logistic support and integration of additional armour/electronics etc, is the Warthog good value for money?

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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