New EU/US Heavy lift Helo proposal

[Modern Elmo]

Joint Heavy Lift Rotorcraft (JHL) Not Joint

The Joint Heavy Lift Rotorcraft (JHL) program is `joint' in name only and is only intended to be the Department of the Army's next-generation heavy lift rotorcraft to replace the Army's CH-47 Chinook. The Marine Corps has its own program, the Heavy Lift Replacement (HLR), intended to replace the CH-53E Super Stallion.

Although the Marine Corps calls its program the "Heavy-Lift Replacement" it is a medium-heavy-lift capability by Army standards. The Marine CH-53K Super Stallion HLR - Heavy Lift Replacement has a threshold requirement to carry 27,000 lb over 110 nm unrefueled. The Army HLVTOL - Heavy Lift VTOL is an aircraft with the ability to deliver one 40,000 lb FCS within a radius of 1,000 miles [1,600 km].

As of 2005 the timelines for heavy lift rotorcraft replacement were not the same for the Army and the Marine Corps. But some claimed it was possible to establish a competitive program based on a single joint requirement that phased rotorcraft delivery in a manner to meet both service schedules.

In the past issues such as corrosion control requirements, range, lift capability and ship basing have been used to justify separate programs. However, it is clear that in the future both the Army and the Marine Corps will operate from and be transported by ship and therefore, require the same level of corrosion control, be subject to other considerations mandated by ship based operations, and need be capable of similar long ranges.

Marine Corps acquisition officials weighed the option of participating with the Army’s Joint Heavy Lift program. The Army’s proposed heavy lift requirement to transport the Future Combat System greatly exceeds Marine requirement. The actual aircraft hasn’t been designed as of 2006, but initial analysis suggested the joint heavy lifter will be too large to operate from current and programmed amphibious shipping. The Marines may have a use for it, but in more of a logistical role as a possible KC-130J replacement, so the Marines still need the CH-53K for tactical heavy lift.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jhl.htm


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Description: The Joint Heavy Lift (JHL) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) program intended to produce a theater tactical transport aircraft capable of lifting heavyweight loads vertically. The end customer for the JHL aircraft would be the US Army. To date, DoD has selected three industry teams for the conceptual design and analysis phase of JHL program: Karem Aircraft and Lockheed Martin with the Optimum Speed Tilt-Rotor (OSTR) design; Boeing and Bell Helicopter with the Advanced Tandem Rotor Helicopter (ATRH) and QuadTiltrotor (QTR) aircraft; and Sikorsky with its X2 Technology Demonstrator.

http://www.deagel.com/Military-Transport-Aircraft/JHL_a002096001.aspx