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Feature story

EADS North America meets requirements for next-generation armed aerial scout helicopter

July 29, 2009

The rotary-wing platform for EADS North America’s Armed Scout 645 has shown its capabilities in demanding high altitude/high temperature mission profiles – demonstrating performance that many thought no contractor could provide for the U.S. Army’s armed aerial scout helicopter requirement.

The Army is seeking a next-generation helicopter that can respond to the evolution of combat environments toward higher elevations and higher temperatures — similar to the combat conditions faced today in Afghanistan.  Specifically, the military service seeks a rotary-wing aircraft that can fly extended missions carrying a 2,300 pound Mission Equipment Package – and perform hover-out-of-ground-effect at a density altitude of 6,000 feet and a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

During flight trials conducted July 5-9 in Alamosa, Colo., EADS North America met these key armed aerial scout requirements using its American Eurocopter EC145, which also serves as the basic platform for the Army’s UH-72A Lakota.  The EC145 contained no special modifications and carried 2,300 pounds of ballast to simulate the Mission Equipment Package.  The platform’s long-range endurance was validated during a 2 hour, 30 minute flight with a 35 minute fuel reserve.

In addition to confirming its high/hot hover capabilities, these demonstration flights validated the platform’s tail rotor authority and controllability with the simulated Mission Equipment Package payload during hover-out-of-ground-effect conditions.

“Looking at the Sources Sought requirements, we’ve demonstrated the hardest part.  Given the shift in combat operations to much higher altitudes, like the mountains of Afghanistan, the high/hot performance and endurance is critical for a new armed aerial scout helicopter for our troops,” said David R. Oliver, EADS North America’s chief operating officer during a press briefing today in Washington, D.C.

An armed scout helicopter acts as the eyes and ears of the ground commander.  It is equipped for armed aerial reconnaissance, as well as for the support of joint air/ground maneuvers, close combat and vertical maneuver operations.

Alamosa was selected for EADS North America’s trials because of its comparable conditions to those in Afghanistan – one of the current “high/hot” combat environments which have proved difficult for military helicopters to access.

The Colorado trials proved that EADS North America’s robust Armed Scout 645 – with its twin-engine performance and high survivability – will be able to meet the Army’s demanding combat missions in both current and future operations, in the most challenging of environments.

The Armed Scout 645 also benefits from a world-class industry team. In addition to EADS North America – which serves as the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin has been selected to provide the Mission Equipment Package.

Production of the Armed Scout would be at American Eurocopter’s modern production facility in Columbus, Miss., where the company currently produces the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter.