A three-engine, medium-lift, multirole helicopter, the AW101 (formerly known as the EH101) has been produced in naval, military utility and commercial/VVIP versions. The helicopter has been fitted with either General Electric CT7-8E or Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshafts. Through 2011, 170 AW101s were produced. Approximately 66 more are forecast to be built in the 2012-21 period.
The Jaguar light strike/reconnaissance aircraft was produced by the Sepecat consortium of British Aerospace and Dassault-Breguet. A prototype made its first flight in 1968, and deliveries began in 1972. Production by Sepecat ended in 1985, but Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. built a licensed version in India through 2008. Power for the Jaguar comes from a pair of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour turbofans. Some 632 Jaguars had been produced through 2008, including aircraft built by HAL.
The single-engine AS550 utility helicopter is a military version of the AS350 Ecureuil. It is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft. Approximately 4,266 AS350/AS550/EC130s were produced through 2011, including civil and military variants and those assembled under license. Another 31 units for military applications are slated for production between 2012 and 2021.
The B-1B is a four-engine strategic bomber produced by Rockwell International (now Boeing) for the U.S. Air Force. The initial prototype made its first flight in 1974. The B-1B is powered by four GE F101-102 augmented turbofans rated at more than 30,000-lb.-thrust each. In addition to four B-1A prototypes, 100 B-1Bs were built before production ended in 1988. The Conventional Mission Upgrade Program (CMUP) began in 1995 with Block B and proceeded through to Block E, adding precision strike capabilities.
The Harrier II (AV-8B) is a single- or two-seat, single-engine ground- attack aircraft now out of production. Through 1998, Boeing/McDonnell Douglas and BAE had built 428 Harrier II vertical/short-takeoff-and-landing (V/STOL) aircraft. AV-8Bs are powered by either a 21,450-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-21 (U.S.-designated F402-406A) vectored-thrust turbofan or a 23,800-lb.-thrust Pegasus 11-61 (F402-408). U.K. Royal Air Force GR7 and GR9 models were powered by a Pegasus Mk 105 (21,500-lb.-thrust), and GR7A/GR9As with the Pegasus Mk 107.
The Tucano series is a family of trainer/light attack aircraft. First flown in 1980, the EMB-312 Tucano is powered by a single 750-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C turboprop, while the Shorts Tucano variant is powered by an 1,100-shp AlliedSignal TPE331-12B-701A. These original models are no longer in production. The current production model is the EMB-314 Super Tucano, which has an extended fuselage, pressurized cockpit, a strengthened airframe, and uses a 1,600-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C turboprop.
Lockheed Martin's F-35 design was selected as the winner of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2001. The JSF program calls for three versions: the F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing model, the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (Stovl) F-35B, and the carrier-capable F-35C. Production F-35s are powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan engine rated at 40,000-lb.-thrust. In the B model, in Stovl mode, this engine drives a Rolls-Royce lift fan via a shaft and gearbox. The U.S.
The A-10 is a single-seat ground-attack aircraft powered by a pair of General Electric TF34-100 turbofans rated at 9,065-lb.-thrust each. First flight occurred in 1972, and production ended in 1984 after a total of 713 A-10As had been built for the U.S. Air Force. Conversion of a portion of the A-10 fleet for use in forward air control resulted in the OA-10 configuration. More than 300 A/OA-10s have been upgraded to the A-10C standard through the Precision Engagement program, for which Lockheed Martin was the prime contractor.
The A400M is a four-turboprop heavy military transport aircraft currently under development. Seven European nations are participating in the program: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, and the U.K. The seven partner nations intend to acquire a total of 170 A400Ms. Malaysia joined the development effort in 2005, and will acquire four A400Ms. First flight occurred in December 2009, with deliveries to begin in the second quarter of 2013. Five test aircraft had been built through 2011, with 199 aircraft forecast to be built in the 2012-21 timeframe.
The C-17 is a long-range, heavy-lift transport aircraft powered by four 40,440-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney F117-100 turbofans. First flight took place in 1991. The C-17 can carry outsized military payloads such as the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M1 Abrams main battle tank. Through 2011, Boeing had produced 240 C-17s, while another 32 are forecast for production from 2012 through 2015.
NEW DELHI — India plans to buy 270 F-125IN turbofan engines from Honeywell to improve its fleet of Jaguar aircraft, the key strike asset for the Indian air force (IAF). “The defense ministry on Oct. 15 issued a request for proposal to Honeywell to supply the turbofan engines through the U.S. foreign military sales route,” IAF spokesman Wing Cmdr. Gerard Galway tells Aviation Week.
Family of single- and twin-engine attack helicopters. Bell has delivered over 2,300 AH-1s and Fuji of Japan produced about 90 under license. The latest AH-1Z Viper is an improved version of the earlier AH-1W Super Cobra. Powered by two GE T700-401 turboshaft engines rated at 1,723 shp each, the AH-1Z features a four-blade composite main rotor, uprated transmission, digital avionics and a new targeting system. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to take delivery of 189 AH-1Zs, including 152 new-build helicopters and 37 converted AH-1Ws.
First flight of the Mirage 2000 occurred in 1978, with production running through 2007. Early aircraft of the type were powered by a Snecma M53-5 augmented turbofan (19,840-lb.-thrust), and later aircraft with an M53-P2 (21,385-lb.-thrust). Single-seat interceptor and two-seat nuclear strike variants also were produced. Approximately 607 Mirage 2000s were built.
The EC635 is the military version of the commercial EC135 light twin-turbine helicopter. It can be used for troop transport, search-and-rescue missions, and training. The latest models are the EC135P2e, powered by 667-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 engines, and the EC135T2e, with 634-shp Turbomeca Arrius 2B2s. Through 2011, 46 EC635s had been produced. Production of another 30 EC635s is forecast for the 2012-21 period.
Medium, twin-engine multirole helicopter. Since the W-3 Sokol's first flight in 1979, a wide variety of variants have been produced, including the search-and-rescue W-3RM Anakona and armed combat W-3PL Gluszec. Development of a W-3PL/N naval multirole version is now under way. The W-3 is powered by two PZL-Rzeszow PZL-10W turboshafts rated at 900 shp each. Through 2011, approximately 155 W-3s had been produced. From 2012 through 2021, 53 W-3s are forecast to be built.
As the Arab Spring progresses, Israel is being surrounded by what its intelligence community calls Safar—bad lands, wilderness, no man's land. These enclaves are administered by weak governments with limited influence where the rule of law is often absent.
The Czech manufacturer's L-39 family includes two-seat trainers and single-seat light attack aircraft; all are single-engined. The most recent version is the L-159 and, although still available for order, no new aircraft have been produced since 2003. Power for the L-159 is provided by a 6,300-lb.-thrust ITEC (Honeywell/AIDC) F124-100 turbofan. The L-39 first flew in 1968, with the L-159 following in 1997. Nearly 3,000 aircraft in the series have been produced.
The CN235 is a twin-turboprop transport and maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare aircraft. As a transport, the aircraft seats 30-40 passengers (up to 53 paratroopers), or has a maximum payload of 11,023 lb. The stretched C295 version carries up to 78 troops, or a maximum payload of 20,392 lb. The CN235 is powered by two 1,750-shp GE CT7-9C turboprops, while the C295 has two 2,750-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprops. First flight of the CN235 prototype was in 1983. First flight of the C295 took place in 1997.
The MD 500 series is a family of 4-6-seat, single-engine military and commercial utility helicopters. Past militarized models have included the multirole 500MD Defender, armed Scout Defender, anti-tank TOW Defender, anti-submarine ASW Defender, multimission Defender II with optional four-blade quiet tail rotor; and the 500MG Defender with a derated, 420-shp, Rolls-Royce 250 engine and MD 500E rotor system. The 520N, with the Notar (no-tail-rotor) anti-torque system, is used in reconnaissance and multirole purposes. MDHI is now developing the more powerful MD 540F.
In 1991, two years after the U.S. withdrew from the Grumman/Chengdu Super 7 effort, Chengdu began the FC-1 lightweight fighter program. Pakistan (where the aircraft is known as the JF-17) and China signed an agreement in 1998 for joint development and production. The first prototype flew in 2003, and first delivery occurred in 2007. The single-seat aircraft is powered by a single Klimov RD-93 afterburning turbofan (18,300-lb.-thrust), with a two-seat variant also planned.
