Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) News and Discussions

[John Fedup]

Just wondering what the army thinks about $18 billion on helicopters. Compared to the RCAF and RCN, the army is getting jackshit. Some serious kit upgrades are in order, primarily for border defence (and that's the southern border not the northern)!

 

[Terran]

The project is to acquire a set of capabilities, not just one type. The tiltrotor would be one of, from my understanding, up to four different types: Utility (to replace the Griffon - something like the H145M, H175M, or AW149), Attack (a new capability similar to the Apache), Recce (reacquiring a capability the RCAF had up until the late 90s with the CH-139 JetRanger), and this long-range assault capability represented by the tiltrotor. I've also heard it may be expanded to include a replacement (or upgrade) to the heavy lift side (currently Chinook). It's a developing story, but it's a funded program, so the project office is actively engaged with industry.

We might be able to infer the direction this project is taking with the following announcement: Airbus signs historic contract to provide 19 H135 military training helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force. In other words, towards a European type, at least for the Utility helicopter.

True though… This is Canada, and it’s hard to imagine them having the bandwidth, Budget and political capital to procure a number of aircraft.

Utility is an easy class to cover and the H135M is a fine training, air ambulance, Utility or VIP chopper class. Though it’s fairly short range. The H145M has been modified to be more military capable but it’s only moderately more capable than the H135. I mean the payload difference is only 700lbs.
The H175 is a closer match to the CH146 griffons in payload with a larger theoretical pax.
The AW149 is actually closer to the S70 Blackhawk.

Attack does not automatically require an Apache or equivalent. Bell’s concept work for FVL include a V280 gunship. Basically a V280 with the cabin replaced by missile racks and a M230 chain gun slung under the nose. It’s not a unique concept Sikorsky’s Blackhawk has been sold in a similar configuration called the “Battle Hawk” and the AW149 has external stores options for mounting ATGMs. Any of these configurations would be a major step up from the CH146 which is basically mounting gun pods. The three described configurations all retain the base fuselage so not dedicated attack choppers. Using the same base as the assault platform giving savings on common parts and training.

in Recce these days the trends seem to favor UAS rather than manned however if manned is required then the H135M has been designed with this mission the main problem point is how would it fair in the Arctic?

On the Heavy side there are fewer options to replace the capability of the Chinook. The Europeans flirted with their own heavy lifter but they never laid down any euros on it. Leaving heavy lift rotary wing as a U.S. monopoly barring Russian aircraft. It’s either CH53K but that line is likely to close sooner rather than later or CH47F block III. Even in the U.S. FVL it’s not realistic to expect a Chinook replacement until the at least the 2040s meaning Chinook is likely to be a century old family before it’s retired. Bell seems to be working on a tilt rotor jet hybrid for the job.

 

[John Fedup]

Agree, the Chinook will be around for a long time, probably 30 years or more and long after the CH53K ceases production, a great helio but way too expensive for most customers.