Product-wise, Sikorsky and Elbit Systems announced at the show that they had
successfully completed the test phase for the
Armed Black Hawk (ABH) demonstrator
helicopter, also known as the Battlehawk.
An optical missile, a laser-guided rocket,
and a 20-mm turreted gun were all fired
during these tests. This clears the way for
Sikorsky to begin marketing conversions
of in-service Black Hawks, and new production Battlehawks, to customers worldwide. The demonstrator configuration also
includes Elbit cockpit displays, a Mission
Management system with digital map, Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) and ANVIS/
HUD helmet systems with cueing capabilities integrated into the avionics suite.
Sikorsky also announced at the show
an agreement for Tata Advanced Systems
Limited (TASL) to manufacture Sikorsky
S-92 helicopter cabins in India, with the
first cabin due for delivery in late 2010
from a new greenfield facility that TASL
will build at Hyderabad in the state of
Andhra Pradesh.
Sikorsky is also making progress in
outsourcing its Black Hawk production.
It announced at the show that major
components of the first S-70i (i.e., export)
Black Hawk helicopter have been joined
at PZL Mielec in Poland, “marking the
first time a Black Hawk helicopter has
been assembled outside the United States
and signaling a major step forward in
producing Black Hawk helicopters internationally,” according to a statement.
This helicopter includes a cabin produced at Mielec, a tail cone made by Turkish Aerospace Industries and a cockpit
section produced by Kaman Aerospace
in the U.S. It is somewhat ironic that the
Black Hawk, a military helicopter once
the company’s most “domestic” product,
has now adopted a truly international
supply chain, while the global network
of risk-sharing partners and subcontractors that it had originally envisioned for
the S-92, a commercial helicopter, never
materialized.
Bell Helicopter’s exhibition centered
around its Model 429, the light twin on
which it is counting for future growth in
the commercial market. The company
organized demonstration flights during
the show, and won favorable reviews for
the aircraft’s roomy cabin, exceptional visibility from the cabin, and power.
Although it was hoping to announce
the 429’s certification at the show, Bell
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