Kawasaki OH-1
| Kawasaki OH-1 ninja | |
|---|---|
 OH-1 “Ninja” at JASDF's Matsushima base , 2001 |
|
| Type: | Attack helicopter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
August 6, 1996 |
| Commissioning: |
January 2000 |
| Production time: |
In series production since 1999 |
| Number of pieces: |
37 (as of end of 2019) |
The OH-1 Ninja is a light, twin-engined reconnaissance helicopters ( English helicopter observation , OH), which by the Japanese ground self-defense forces is used and the Hughes OH-6 is intended to replace. The helicopter, equipped with a tail rotor in Fenestron design , was developed by the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Company and has been produced in small series since 1999 .
General
The maiden flight of the first prototype took place on August 6, 1996. In 1997, all six prototypes were manufactured, with only four of them being airworthy. When series production began two years later, the Japanese armed forces planned to purchase a total of 180 machines. Massive budget cuts have reduced the need to 45 machines, with only two ninjas being produced each year.
On March 1, 2019, after more than three years of interruption in flight operations ( grounding ), it was resumed. The grounding took place after a helicopter belonging to the Eastern Army Aviation Group in Tokyo was forced to make a safety landing due to engine problems on December 4, 2015 . It was found that one of the two engines was reduced in performance after the turbine blades in the engine were damaged due to excessive stress. Therefore, the shape of these blades has been gradually changed to ensure that operational problems no longer arise.
Versions
- XOH-1 : prototype
- OH-1 : reconnaissance helicopter
Technical specifications
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| Parameter | Data | |
|---|---|---|
| crew | Pilot, pilot and observer | |
| Dimensions | length | 12.00 m |
| Rotor diameter | 11.60 m | |
| height | 3.80 m | |
| Rotor area | 105.6 m² | |
| Crowds | Empty mass | 2450 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 4000 kg | |
| Engines | 2 × Mitsubishi TS1-10 turbines, each 1185 PS (884 kW) | |
| Flight performance | Top speed | 270 km / h |
| Max. Altitude | 3480 m | |
| Range | 550 km | |
Armament
- Gun loading on four pylons under both stub wings
- Air-to-air guided missile
- 2 × starter containers for 2 × Type 91 Hand Arrow each
- External container
- 2 × disposable additional fuel tanks with 235 liters of kerosene
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Kosuke Takahashi: Japan's OH-1 helicopters resume flight operations. Jane's Information Group , March 8, 2019, accessed March 9, 2019 .