Says HH-47 Offers Superior Cabin Size, Most Lift
Boeing submitted its revised HH-47 Combat Search and Rescue
(CSAR) helicopter proposal to the US Air Force Monday, in response
to Amendment Five of the service's original request for
proposals.
"Our focus has remained on providing the Air Force a low-risk,
date-certain, best value offering that meets or exceeds all
customer performance requirements," said Jim Albaugh, president and
CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "With its superior range,
payload and speed, we are confident the HH-47 will provide the
customer with an aircraft that can best perform the mission of
reliably bringing downed flight crews safely home."
Originally awarded to Boeing in November 2006, the $10 billion
CSAR-X contract has undergone two rounds of competitor protests
sustained by the Government Accountability Office. As ANN reported in November,
Amendment Five reopened the competition and allowed the competitors
to adjust all aspects of their proposals to provide the Air Force
141 new helicopters.
The HH-47 is a derivative of the Chinook helicopter. The company
maintains the HH-47 offers the benefits of the CH-47F and MH-47G
upgrades in order to fulfill the Air Force's CSAR mission needs at
low-risk, and as soon as possible. Sikorsky is fielding a
search-and-rescue version of its S-92 -- dubbed HH-92 -- while
Lockheed Martin is offering a variant of the three-engine US101
helicopter.
Boeing says the HH-47 offers the largest cabin size, highest
operating altitude, lowest downwash velocity and most lift capacity
of all competitors, providing CSAR crews with enhanced flexibility
for demanding missions.
The HH-47 shares high commonality with the combat-proven MH-47G
and CH-47F. The HH-47 will have a state-of-the-art common avionics
architecture system cockpit, digital aircraft flight control system
and an integrated electronic warfare and weapons suite. With an
unrefueled range of more than 775 nautical miles, the HH-47 also is
the only entry with US-certified aerial refueling and
terrain-following/terrain-avoidance radar, further extending the
HH-47's operational reach.
Boeing will be the prime contractor for the HH-47. The program
office is responsible for the total design, weapons system
integration, production, training crews and maintainers, and
support of the CSAR platform. Primary suppliers and teammates
include Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, ITT, Northrop Grumman, CAE and
BAE.
Boeing will produce the HH-47 at its facilities in Ridley Park,
PA on the same active Chinook production line that has delivered
approximately 1,200 helicopters.
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