New Aircraft Should Be Designed To Carry Nine Troops, Armament

In its draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for a helicopter to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey, the U.S. Air Force appears to have walked back it potential requirement for the new aircraft to carry more troops that the existing helicopter.

In a statement, the USAF said the new aircraft should be able to carry at least nine combat troops on flights lasting at least three hours without refueling at a cruise speed of at least 135 knots. It must be armored and be capable of carrying weapons, which might be problematic for modified civilian helicopters.

Defense News reports that the statement released by the Air Force called the RFP an "important step toward replacing a Vietnam-era platform whose critical capability gaps present the USAF with unacceptable risk in the face of evolving threats. Most notably, the current UH-1N fleet falls short of requirements for speed, range, endurance, payload and survivability.”

In September, General Robin Rand, the head of the Air Force Global Strike Command, hinted that the new aircraft would be required to carry more than nine troops. That would have limited the choices to the UH-60 Black Hawk, and the service reportedly considered a sole-source contract with Sikorsky for the aircraft. But lawmakers balked at that idea.

The UH-1Y Marine Corps variant might have been acceptable, but Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia told Defense News that would depend on the definition of nine troops and equipment. He said that the AW149 has not yet found a launch customer, which could make development costs prohibitive, and the H175 would have to be militarized, which would also add to the cost. The AW139 and Bell 412 are most likely too small to meet the requirements, he said.

The Air Force is planning to acquire 84 of the helicopters, and the winning bidder will be required to provide training devices and courseware, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: RFP www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=97cbfd40f1c83c2953b284805527b3c7&tab=core&_cview=1