UK considers aerial refuelling for helicopters IHS Janes
 

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
19 January 2016

The United Kingdom may field a helicopter aerial refuelling capability for the first time under options being considered following the recent Strategic Defence and Security review (SDSR), a senior official said on 18 January.

Speaking in London under the Chatham House Rule, the official said that air-to-air refuelling (AAR) of helicopters was one of a number of capability-enhancement options that were being explored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), although it was too soon to say whether it would be adopted.

"I can't put [rumours of] aerial refuelling for helicopters to bed. We are looking at options to fly further, faster, and better as part of SDSR, and no decisions have yet been made," the official said, adding that it will be "quite a few months" before any decision is announced, one way or another.

The United Kingdom does not currently field a helicopter type that is AAR capable, although the Finmeccanica Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) AW101 Merlin HC3s fielded by the Royal Navy (RN) are provisioned for an aerial-refuelling probe beneath the nose. A number of the Boeing Chinook HC4/5/6 platforms fielded by the Royal Air Force (RAF) could be retrofitted also, although this would not necessarily be a simple task, or a number of MH-47G special mission Chinooks already fitted with an AAR probe could be acquired instead.

Besides not currently fielding a helicopter that is equipped with AAR, the United Kingdom is also hamstrung by not having a suitable tanker aircraft in service. Currently, all UK tanking needs are contracted to the AirTanker consortium which utilises the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A330 Voyager, which flies too high and fast to refuel helicopters. The Airbus DS A400M Atlas airlifter has been found to be unsuitable also, due to airflow issues, and while the Lockheed Martin C-130J could perform the task, it would first require an amendment to AirTanker's contract with the MoD.

Clearly the best option is to make Chinooks the tankersand fit probes to Puma? :}

Brilliant. Every time I read about this it astounds me. If we want to modify the C-130Js that we own and operate we need the agreement of Airtanker, which has nothing to do with our C-130Js. The MoD gimp that agreed to this has probably received a knighthood. May even be working for.....

S-D

No - it's quite simple. Just tell the £1M+ per day AirTanker consortium to provide the necessary service! They can then go and find a suitable platform to act as a helicopter refuelling tanker!

Now, where did I put those KC-27J and C-295K helicopter refuelling tanker feasibility studies I did several years ago?

"Now, where did I put those KC-27J and C-295K helicopter refuelling tanker feasibility studies I did several years ago?"

I would be surprised if these models have enough capacity, but perhaps so. Certainly more than a helicopter could offer. The C-130J just seems to be the obvious low risk, high capability answer.

I always understood that we procured the MK 5 (short) J model hercs for this very reason but the funding for helicopter tanking was then pulled.

UK Looks At Helicopter In-Flight Refueling. 21.01.2016
 

Just read an article by Maj Gen Richard Felton, the head of Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) talking about AAR for rotary assets. The main gist is what would they use for AAR. He ends with saying that C130J would be the most likely aircraft to utilise. How long would it take to get crews and ac ready for this.

Are the probes bought for the Merlin 3 still in store or did they get sold by someone who thought they'd never be needed?

As an ignorant old bloke, am I not right unthinking that A400M isn't a suitable AAR donor due to prop-wash, which is why the FAF are looking to buy some of our old C-130s.

So what is the imagined refuelling aircraft?

I've just found this ... Airbus seems to think the A400M is Helicopter AAR capable ... If only said in 'headline sales speak' ?

http://militaryaircraft-airbusds.com...elicopters.jpg

Image Credit : Airbus

Military Aircraft Airbus DS | Missions

But a Chinook might be a more tricky AAR proposition ?

I think the plan was, even an operational requirement, for the A400 to be able to refuel helicopters, but trials were not successful or promising. Perhaps there is a remedy. Otherwise a different airplane is needed for helicopter refueling.

CoffmanStarter ... nice PR picture. Are they actually plugged in? :cool:

Or do they actually need a 10 metre probe to be able to get close enough to the basket?

A challenging environment ... the solution may be interesting!

MPN11 ... You need to be 'well endowed' it would seem :}

http://www.eucom.mil/Img/18395/HiRes/eucom-photo

Off the shelf KC-130J - complete with HARVEST HAWK kit - would be nice. It can also be used as a helicopter refueling point on the ground. Handy for SF helicopters perhaps.

KC-130J Tanker · Lockheed Martin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERzT8KoVY7k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIodcKSIARU

I'm sure there was a thread on here a few years back? Italian C130J refuelling EH101

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h.../YK6R01751.jpg


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h.../YK6R01771.jpg




and from the other end (a CH-53)

The French were also doing trials with Pumas refuelling from an Italian C-130, over the lakes in the Medoc, last summer.

which is why they are buying some more C-130's principally to refuel helicopters it seems

Surprised this one hadn't appeared earlier;



On a more cheerful note, fantastic footage later in this one;

another video of from the back of a C130J

https://youtu.be/hdqHTDKPzlA

[QUOTE]Speaking in London under the Chatham House Rule[/QUOTE

Eh? Isn't the idea of the Chatham House Rule that you're not supposed to be identified?

(PS - no connection to military aviation myself, so please forgive this post!)

Edit - oops, had misread the original post, please ignore me!