NAVAIR PATUXENT RIVER, MD
The Marine Corps’ newest utility helicopter, the UH-1Y, completed testing of its Special Warfare Kit at Marine Corps Base Quantico, last week.
The 10-day long event tested the helicopter’s ability to insert Marines into special warfare situations where landing the helicopter is not possible.
Static line hung jumper evaluation, SPIE rig, rappelling, fast rope, and free-fall parachute operations from heights including 10,000 feet comprised the evaluations of the new helicopter’s abilities.
Correcting power deficiencies in the currently fielded Hueys is one of the primary reasons for the upgrade, as well as providing a platform for the Marines capable of inserting small combat teams into confined or rugged areas.
“We’ve restored the power margin lost in the N model,” Metzger added. “The Marines will be getting a good platform for helicopter rope suspension techniques.”
The improvements incorporated in the UH-1Y, including more powerful General Electric T-700 engines and an all-composite four-bladed rotor system, give the new Huey a vastly improved capability to conduct these special warfare missions over the currently fielded Huey, the UH-1N.
“Our special warfare missions play an essential role in the Marine Corps’ MAGTF concept and Seapower 21 Sea Strike core capabilities,” explained Maj. Brad Schieferdecker, H-1 Upgrades deputy program manager for Engineering and Manufacturing Development here. “The UH-1N’s restrictive power margin and weight restrictions have reduced our ability to do these missions in recent years. With the UH-1Y’s expanded performance, we’ll get back to being the Corps’ workhorse for these missions.”
The program recently passed a major milestone by gaining approval from the Defense Acquisition Board to begin low-rate initial production. Full-rate production of the 84-percent common AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters is scheduled to begin in 2006.
After remanufacture, the aircraft will feature the latest technology in rotor and drive train design, avionics, sensors and weapons. They also share approximately 84 percent of their parts, making them far more maintainable, supportable, survivable and deployable than today’s H-1 aircraft.
The H-1 Upgrades integrated test team here currently has achieved approximately 1,500 flight test hours with five aircraft (three AH-1Z and two UH-1Y test aircraft, of which all but one AH-1Z are production representative). The test aircraft have flown 220 knots, maneuvered from –0.4 to +3.5 g’s and been well above the 10,000-foot altitude mark.
By 2014, the Marine Corps will have procured 100 UH-1Y Hueys and 180 AH-1Z Super Cobras.