By AgustaWestland on Monday, April 15th, 2013
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has officially unveiled the
latest generation AW169 AAS military helicopter during a dedicated
ceremony held at the Army Aviation Association of America Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas (April 10th-13th) today.
The
AW169 AAS is an advanced twin-engine helicopter with the capability to
meet all US Army Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) mission requirements and
provides a new-design, new-technology helicopter for the current and
future battlefield. With two enhanced PW210A engines operating in
challenging ‘hot & high’ conditions and advanced technology embedded
into an efficiency main rotor system, the AW169 AAS delivers high
performance and enduring capability at long range with engineered-in
growth potential.
With a comprehensive set of available mission
equipment the AW169 AAS is uniquely adaptable to support all US Army
Aviation Armed Aerial Scout mission requirements cost effectively making
it the prerequisite to defense readiness. The AW169 AAS features high
performance, advanced safety features and outstanding
cost/effectiveness. Combined with open systems architecture, integrated
controls and displays, flight management systems, mission equipment and
weapons – it is the only solution that meets the AAS requirements of
today and tomorrow.
R. Scott Rettig, CEO AgustaWestland North
America, said “We are very excited and proud to be unveiling the AW169
AAS helicopter today at Quad-A’s Annual Forum and Exposition. We believe
it sets the new standard for Armed Reconnaissance helicopters.”
Adrian Board, SVP Products, AgustaWestland added “The only new
generation helicopter in its category in 40 years provides an insight of
AgustaWestland design and development ability to offer the US Army
levels of cost effectiveness and mission capability the service deserves
to successfully and safely accomplish the mission for decades to come.”
The
AW169 is uniquely suited to perform and safely accomplish the widest
range of US Army’s present and future Armed Reconnaissance missions
including aerial escort, command and control, security
operations, deep operations, target acquisition and targeting, fire
support coordination. The AW169 AAS offers high maneuverability, power
margin and demonstrates a forgiving aircraft in all flight and mission
conditions.
A damage and ballistic tolerant fail safe airframe and
rotorcraft system features multiple redundancies of all critical
systems, excellent one engine inoperative (O.E.I.) capability, a 30
minutes ‘run-dry’ capable transmission, self-sealing crashworthy fuel
system, crashworthy airframe and seating, heavy duty landing gear and
armor protection for crew, fuel system and vital components as well as
an advanced integrated self-defence suite. Also, the AW169 AAS modern
design for engines and blades reduces heat and noise signature further
contributing to mission effectiveness and survivability.
A fully
integrated aircraft and mission management system is based on latest
generation technology and avionics comprising a low workload/high
situational awareness single pilot IFR and NVG compatible glass cockpit
with an integrated control and display system. This features three large
multifunctional displays and touch screen technology. Excellent
ergonomics in the cockpit allows an outstanding external visibility too.
Avionics also includes an integrated 4-axis digital AFCS, advanced
communications and data management system, a comprehensive sensors
suite, synthetic vision and Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) / Head-up
Display (HUD). A combination of weapon systems comprise machine guns,
rocket launchers and air-to-ground missiles.
The AW169 AAS is
designed to maximize operational effectiveness and reduce time and cost
of maintenance, thanks to a reduced number of components compared to
older or existing platforms, easy accessible and with an extended life
cycle for many key components as well as advanced diagnostics devices. A
comprehensive package of advanced dedicated training
solutions and devices, including a Level D full flight simulator, will
be immediately available when the AW169 enters the market.
With
all 4 prototypes already exceeding a total of more than 200 flight hours
in just nine months for development testing, the AW169 program is on
time to enter the market in 2014.
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