Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone

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Sikorsky CH-148
CH-148 Cyclone at the Paris Airshow
CH-148 Cyclone at the Paris Air Show
Type: Transport helicopter
Design country:

United StatesUnited States United States

Manufacturer:

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

First flight:

November 15, 2008

Commissioning:

Still in testing

Number of pieces:

28 (Accepted: 17, as of February 2019)

The Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is a military helicopter for the Canadian Armed Forces that is powered by two shaft engines. The helicopter is based on the civilian version of the Sikorsky S-92 from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation . They are designed to replace the outdated CH-124 Sea King that have been in use since 1960.

The helicopters are operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force primarily for use on ships of the Canadian Navy . Their purposes will be hunting for submarines and search and rescue missions . The Canadian Armed Forces have ordered a total of 28 of these helicopters. The operational readiness was originally planned for 2013. After various problems, the date for the full operational readiness of the first machines was set for 2018 in 2017 and the end of the program for 2025.

history

The Canadian Forces Maritime Helicopter Project (MHP) was started in the 1980s. At that time, it was decided to buy 50 new helicopters of the type AW CH-149 Cormorant . A first delivery of these was put into service as a search and rescue helicopter. After the change of government in autumn 1993 , further deliveries were canceled.

At the beginning of the new millennium, a new selection process to replace the CH-124 Sea King was started. On November 23, 2004, the Sikorsky CH-148 was declared the winner. The 28 CH-148 should cost a total of $ 1.8 billion and the first CH-148 should be delivered by January 2009. Sikorsky's local subcontractors General Dynamics Canada and L-3 MAS are responsible for maintenance. This also includes the operation of the Maritime Helicopter Training Center with two simulators. There were also other contracts for spare parts and support.

The first flight of a CH-148 (serial number 801) took place on November 15, 2008 in Florida. In March 2010, the first flight exercises began on the HMCS Montréal with take-offs and landings as well as other exercises.

The first machines in Block 1 started running in June 2015. In January 2018, the fifteenth and final Unit 1 machine was delivered to the Canadian armed forces. In April and June 2018, more machines were delivered to Block 2. By February 2019, the Canadian armed forces had accepted a total of 17 machines (Block 1 and Block 2).

On April 30, 2020, a helicopter of this type crashed into the Mediterranean near the island of Kefalonia . He belonged to the Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337).

design

The CH-148 is based on an enlarged helicopter cell from the S-70 Seahawk . The cell consists of a metal and composite frame. The main rotor is four-bladed and wider and longer than that of the S-70 Blackhawk . Some security improvements have been made. The helicopter is protected against bird strikes and has improved flight characteristics during various flight movements. An active vibration system reduces the vibrations in the passenger compartment, which ensures a more comfortable flight.

Technical specifications

  • Crew: 4 (2 pilots, 1 tactical coordinator, 1 radar supervisor)
  • Capacity: 6 in mission configuration, up to 22 people in transport configuration
  • Length: 20.9 m
  • Rotor diameter: 17.7 m
  • Height: 4.7 m
  • Maximum take-off weight: 12,993 kg
  • Engines: 2 × General Electric CT7-8A7 Turboshaft, (each 2,238 kW)
  • Top speed: 306 km / h
  • Service ceiling: 4,572 m
  • Armament:
    • 2 × MK-46 torpedoes at side-mounted external load stations (integration only considered)
    • 1 × side-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun C6 GPMG with 100 rounds of ammunition
  • Range: 450 km without refueling

The CH-148 is to be equipped with a system for searching and locating submarines. The helicopter also has systems for repelling approaching missiles. The integrated mission system was developed by General Dynamics Canada , as was the Sonobuoy Acoustic Processing System. The helicopter has Telephonics APS-143B radar systems, a Flir Systems SAFIRE III EO system, L-3 HELRAS sonar and a Lockheed Martin AN / ALQ-210 ESM. CMC Electronics developed the flight management system of the type CMA-2082MH.

Development and introduction

The first deliveries were planned for November 2008. Due to US government arms export restrictions on components of the CH-148 and other problems, the Canadian government approved an extension of the delivery period by two years in April 2009. In May 2011, a CH-148 was delivered by the manufacturer to the Canadian military base CFB Shearwater , but it did not meet the contractual requirements; it was not taken by the Canadians and therefore remained in the possession of Sikorsky. June 2012 was specified as the new delivery date for the CH-148. Sikorsky had delivered a CH-148 on this date, but again it was not accepted by the Canadians. The Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay then declared the purchase of the CH-148 to be the worst purchase in Canadian history. Neither side provide any information about the type of problems that led to the non-acceptance of the CH-148. Due to the increase in weight during the development phase, more powerful engines and more powerful gears had to be installed. Both should still generate excessive vibrations and not yet be certified. The mission software is said to be ready, but not yet integrated into the CH-148. There will be penalties for being late, but Sikorsky has not yet paid a penalty. Sikorsky wants to discuss the next steps regarding the CH-148 with the Canadian government. The previous software for the deployment systems, which should control the use of weapons and self-defense, does not yet work. The data exchange via the data link is not yet functional. The operating time is 21 minutes less than the minimum contractually required. Furthermore, the turbines do not meet the desired performance in single-turbine emergency operation or in tropical and desert-like areas. For the time being, interim CH-148 are to be delivered for the training of the crews, which will later be upgraded to the contractually agreed level. Since the Seakings will be decommissioned in 2015, the 28 CH-148 should be delivered and fully operational by 2018. Since not a single milestone in procurement and commissioning was reached, the termination of the contract and procurement of another helicopter was discussed in September 2013.

The fleet of CH-148 helicopters was banned from flying on March 10, 2017 after an error occurred in one of the flight control computers during a test flight. The software error was corrected and flight and training operations resumed after nine weeks.

Potential prospects

In 2011, the German Navy expressed non-binding interest in the CH-148 to replace its Sea Kings.

Comparable helicopters

Web links

Commons : Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b CH-148 Cyclone procurement project. Government of Canada, July 16, 2018, accessed August 3, 2019 .
  2. ↑ CH-148 Cyclone procurement project. Canadian National Defense, March 9, 2017, accessed June 15, 2017 .
  3. ^ Flightglobal: First flight for Canada's Cyclone maritime helicopter. November 18, 2008, accessed August 25, 2012 .
  4. ↑ Der Spiegel: NATO helicopter crashed. April 30, 2020, accessed April 30, 2020 .
  5. ↑ General Dynamics Canada - CH-148 Project, accessed on July 6, 2012 ( Memento from September 2, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ↑ Telephonics to supply the APS-143B (V) 3 Multi-Mode Radar and IFF, accessed on July 6, 2012 ( Memento from August 14, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  7. ^ FLIR Systems Awarded Contract for Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project, accessed July 6, 2012
  8. ^ Helicopter Long Range active Sonar, accessed July 6, 2012
  9. ^ Aviation Today: Security Restrictions May Hamper Canadian Purchases. March 27, 2007, archived from the original on June 9, 2015 ; Retrieved August 25, 2012 .
  10. ↑ Flightglobal: Canada reveals new delay for interim CH-148 delivery. May 26, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2012 .
  11. ↑ thespec: Defense minister says Cyclone helicopter deal 'worst' in Canada's history. July 10, 2012, accessed August 25, 2012 .
  12. ↑ Reuters: Sikorsky eyes foreign deals to offset US drop. July 8, 2012, Retrieved August 25, 2012 .
  13. ↑ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/canadas-ch-148-cyclones-better-late-than-never-05223/
  14. ↑ flightglobal.com: Sikorsky and RCAF no closer to finding fault on Cyclones. April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017 .
  15. ↑ cbc.ca: Military's much-delayed new Cyclone helicopters return to limited service. June 14, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2018 .
  16. ↑ Cyclone for the German Navy? German Maritime Competence Network (dmkn) / rheinmetall defense, January 1, 2011, archived from the original on March 7, 2011 ; Retrieved August 25, 2012 .
Aircraft of the Canadian Forces since 1968
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