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Le Bundestag a ratifié en fin de semaine dernière la décision de la Marine allemande en faveur de l'acquisition de 31 hélicoptères multi-rôle NH-90 MRFH (Muti-Role Frigate Helicopter). L'appareil avait été préféré par l'Allemagne, à l'été 2019, face à l'AW 159 Wildcat d'Agusta et au MH-60R Seahawk de Sikorsky, dans le cadre du programme Sea Tiger. Moins de 15 mois se sont écoulés entre le choix définitif de la Marine allemande et la signature du contrat, précise Air & Cosmos. Air & Cosmos du 24 novembre

BY OLIVER JOHNSON | NOVEMBER 23, 2020 Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even says the OEM “should play a key role” in a recently-announced program to develop Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities signed by five NATO member countries. France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom announced the launch of the program on Nov. 19. One of NATO's “high visibility projects,” it seeks to develop a replacement for medium multirole helicopters currently in operation that are expected to reach the end of their lifecycle around 2035 to 2040. “I'm convinced that there should be a European answer,” Even told journalists during a recent conference call. “I'm convinced that we have the competencies, the capability in Europe, to answer to the requirement and the need of our European customers.” The program echoes the origin of the NHIndustries NH90, which was developed collaboratively by Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters, and Fokker Aerostructures in response to a NATO requirement for a medium multi-role helicopter. “We like to come at open level, which means that as we did with NH90, Airbus Helicopters should play a key role, but should also be ready to partner, and to cooperate for such a future European program,” said Even. “I think it's fair to consider that there should be a European answer, not only because we have the competence and the capability . . . but it's also a question of [the] strategic autonomy of Europe.” Over 420 NH90s have been delivered to 18 customers in 13 countries — including France, Germany, Greece and Italy. However, Even said he did not see the newly-announced program necessarily providing a replacement to the NH90 itself. “The need could be also to complement some of the [customer fleets'] existing capability — the NH90, Tiger and so on — which will continue to fly through 2040/2050,” he said. “The need could be to complement these platforms/programs with a new type of architecture in order to bring a new capability, either in terms of autonomy, connectivity, speed, [or] range.” Experts from the five participant nations are to meet to define a statements of requirements and a multi-phase cooperation plan, beginning a multi-year program of work. “I think it's good to see that reflection not only for short- or medium-, but also for long-term requirements,” said Even. “As an industry, you need this long-term view on the evolution of the requirement in order to have time not only to mature technologies, but also to mature [the] architecture, and to be in position to launch the program when the need will be there.” https://verticalmag.com/news/airbus-keen-to-play-key-role-in-european-answer-to-new-nato-rotorcraft-program/

France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom announced the launch of a multinational project on Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities on 19 November 2020. The project is dedicated to the modernization of existing rotorcraft fleets and is one of NATO's High Visibility Projects (HVP). The project highlights NATO Allies' commitment to maintain a technological edge and to pursue multinational cooperation whenever possible. It aligns with Europe's desire to reduce dependency on U.S. defence equipment. A significant number of medium multi role helicopter capabilities currently operated by Allies will reach the end of their life cycle in the 2035 – 2040 period and beyond, with the subsequent need for replacements. The Next Generation Rotorcraft project aims to develop a solution for these upcoming requirements, leveraging a broad range of recent advances in technology, production methods, as well as operational concepts. Over the coming years, experts from all five nations will cover an exhaustive programme of work, starting with defining a robust Statement of Requirements and a multi-phase cooperation plan. The Defence Ministers of the five Allies signed a Letter of Intent to develop an entirely new helicopter capability. The signature was added virtually from the capitals of participating nations. “By investing our resources and channeling our development initiatives through a multinational framework, we are making sure Allies are equipped with the best available capabilities, which helps to maintain NATO's technological edge," stressed NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană. https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28368#.X71e6s1KiUk

By: Brian Kim SEOUL — Unmanned defense systems and advanced weapons to counter drone threats dominated an arms exhibition held outside of Seoul, South Korea, this week. During the biennial DX Korea event, which ran Nov. 18-20, local defense companies showcased their cutting-edge unmanned and counter-drone technologies. Hanwha Corporation, a leading developer of guided-missile technology and subsidiary of Hanwha Group, displayed its new family of laser weapons systems. The company unveiled two types of anti-drone laser weapons: one for installation on light tactical vehicles, and the other a laser-based anti-aircraft weapon gun in a container configuration. The latter, designated as Block I, can be modified to a Block II self-propelled system, but specifications were not disclosed. Hanwha Corporation is a partner in an anti-drone laser weapons development project led by the government's Agency for Defense Development. “The laser-based anti-aircraft weapon is a new concept of armament to shoot down small aerial targets, including drones and multi-copter with a light source laser,” the company said in a news release. “Prototypes of the laser weapon variants are under development jointly with the ADD.” The company also displayed anti-jamming equipment that can be fitted in tactical guided missiles as well as on military vehicles and naval vessels. Hanwha Systems — also an affiliate of Hanwha Group — displayed a mock-up of its personal air vehicle, Butterfly, under development with U.S. air taxi startup Overair. In partnership with Overair, Hanwha Systems plans to fully develop the electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing, or eVTOL, vehicle by 2040, with an eye toward military sales. “With technologies to be accrued from the development of commercial eVTOL, we will push for developing a military variant capable of conducing multiple missions, including special operations, transport and assault,” the company said in a news release. Meanwhile, Hyundai Rotem presented its HR-Sherpa unmanned ground vehicle designed to support infantry troops. The six-wheel drive vehicle can move autonomously or via remote control to perform missions such as surveillance, medical support and chemical detection. It has a payload of 600 kilograms and a combat weight of 1,800 kilograms. It is equipped with airless tires and powered by a battery with an operating time of six hours when traveling at 5 kph. LIG Nex1 showcased the third version of its Sea Sword unmanned surface vessel for riverside defense, following other naval variants. The vessel adopts a high-speed monohull design and is constructed with fiber-reinforced plastic. Equipped with a diesel engine and a waterjet propulsion system, the boat can sail at a maximum speed of 40 knots and has an operational endurance of up to eight hours at 15 knots. An indigenously developed autonomous navigation system enables the vessel to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions based on a preprogrammed route. Hanwha group was ranked 32nd in Defense News' list of the top 100 defense companies in the world. LIG Nex1 was ranked 68th, while Hyundai Rotem was ranked 95th. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2020/11/20/unmanned-systems-anti-drone-tech-featured-at-south-korean-arms-expo

Andrew Eversden WASHINGTON — The Central Intelligence Agency has awarded its new multivendor cloud contract to a few companies, the spy organization confirmed Friday. Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, IBM and Oracle all confirmed to C4ISRNET they had been awarded the CIA's Commercial Cloud Enterprise contract, which will serve as the intelligence community's cloud environment. NextGov, which first broke the news, reported Google as an additional winner. The CIA declined to confirm specific vendors to C4ISRNET. “We are excited to work with the multiple industry partners awarded the Intelligence Community (IC) Commercial Cloud Enterprise (C2E) Cloud Service Provider (CSP) contract and look forward to utilizing, alongside our IC colleagues, the expanded cloud capabilities resulting from this diversified partnership,” CIA spokesperson Chelsea Robinson said. The CIA declined to provide the contract value, though contract documents obtained by NextGov in 2019 stated it could be valued in the “tens of billions.” The draft request for proposals, released in February 2020 and obtained by C4ISRNET, was considering a 15-year performance period, a five-year base and two five-year options. The C2E contract is a follow-on award to the intel community's Commercial Cloud Services contact. AWS was the sole provider for that contract, which was worth $600 million. “We are honored to continue to support the intelligence community as they expand their transformational use of cloud computing. Together, we're building innovative solutions across all classification levels that deliver operational excellence and allow for missions to be performed faster and more securely,” an AWS spokesperson said. A spokesperson for Microsoft, which won the Defense Department's single-award, controversial Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud contract, said the company was “eager” to work with the intel community. “We applaud the intelligence community in advancing its cloud strategy to the next phase in order to take advantage of the latest commercially available cloud technologies,” the AWS spokesperson said. Jay Bellisimo, IBM's general manager for the U.S. public and federal market, said that the company “is proud to further its collaboration with the U.S. federal government.” https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2020/11/20/cia-awards-intel-communitys-cloud-contract-to-several-vendors/

U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND Four additional companies -- Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Washington (HTC711-21-D-CC01); Hawaiian Airlines Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii (HTC711-21-D-CC02); Jet Blue Airways, Long Island City, New York (HTC711-21-D-CC03); and Swift Air LLC, Greensboro, North Carolina (HTC711-21-D-CC04) -- have been awarded firm-fixed-price contracts under the Domestic Airlift Charter Services, Federal Aviation Administration Part 121, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, fixed-price contract, at estimated program value of $697,000,000. These funds were obligated on individual task orders issued among 16 contracts. The program initially began in October 2018. The contracts provide domestic air cargo and passenger charter services. Services shall be provided for the Department of Defense and other federal government agencies. Work will be performed within the continental U.S., all U.S. territories, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. Period of performance is from Nov. 20, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2023. Ordering is decentralized and will be determined at the task order level. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Sysco-Central Alabama, Calera, Alabama, has been awarded a maximum $136,226,979 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for full-line food distribution. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a four-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Alabama, with a Nov. 23, 2024, ordering period end date. Using customers are Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting agency is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE300-21-D-3311). SupplyCore Inc., Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded a maximum $92,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for supply, storage and distribution of water purification systems. This was a competitive acquisition with two responses received. This is a four-year base contract with one one-year option period. Location of performance is Illinois, with a Nov. 19, 2024, performance completion date. Using services are Army and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7MX-21-D-0016). Creighton AB Inc., Reidsville, North Carolina, has been awarded a maximum $7,788,263 modification (P00002) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-20-D-1213) with four one-year option periods for men's broadfall trousers. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are New York and North Carolina, with a Nov. 24, 2021, ordering period end date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2021 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AIR FORCE PAE Applied Technologies LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded a ceiling $98,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for U.S. Air forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) electronic warfare operations training and infrastructure maintenance services. This contract provides electronic warfare aircrew tactics evaluation, electronic warfare combat training, operation and maintenance of equipment and electronic warfare range infrastructure maintenance for USAFE-AFAFRICA. Work will be performed at various locations in Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy. The basic contract has a five-year ordering period ending Nov. 19, 2025. This award is result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,091,999 will be obligated via the first task order, which will be awarded immediately after the basic contract, and is expected to be completed Jan. 31, 2026. The 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is the contracting activity (FA5641-21-D-0001). ViaSat Inc., Carlsbad, California, has been awarded a $50,800,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for development on prototype space systems. The contractor will provide studies, design, manufacturing, integration, performance qualification, network space segment elements, launch, flight and demonstration of prototype space systems. This also includes the development, integration and demonstration with ground terminals in conjunction with the government Ground Segment to reduce risk and assess performance and functionality for future protected service. It includes the associated program management, system engineering, certification, integration, test and evaluation and configuration management. Work will be performed in Carlsbad, California, and is expected to be completed Feb. 20, 2026. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with one offer received. Fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $737,646 are being obligated to the first task order at time of award. Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is the contracting activity (FA9453-21-D-0029; task order: FA9453-21-F-0001). NAVY Kellogg Brown and Root Services Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded a $64,827,880 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification for the exercise of Option Three for base operating support services at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti; and Camp Simba, Kenya. The work to be performed provides for all management and administration, security, fire and emergency, air operations, ordnance, material management and supply, facilities management and investment, pest control, integrated solid waste, pavement clearance, utilities, base support vehicles and equipment, morale, welfare and recreation support, galley, unaccompanied housing, custodial, grounds maintenance and landscaping and environmental services to provide base operations support services. After award of this option, the total cumulative contract value will be $263,190,457. Work will be performed in Djibouti City, Djibouti (89%); Manda Bay, Kenya (8%); and Chabelley, Djibouti (3%). This option period is from November 2020 to November 2021. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (O&M) (Navy); fiscal 2021 O&M (Air Force); and fiscal 2021 O&M (National Security Agency) contract funds in the amount of $61,043,871 for recurring work will be obligated on individual task orders issued during the option period. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe Africa Central, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity (N62470-17-D-4012). (Awarded Nov. 19, 2020) BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., doing business as BAE Systems, Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $16,506,245 firm-fixed-price contract modification (P00012) under previously awarded contract N00604-19-C-4001 to exercise Option Year Two for the operation and maintenance of Navy communication, electronic and computer systems. The contract included a 12-month base period and four one-year option periods. The exercise of this option will bring the estimated value of the contract to $46,060,784 and if all options are exercised, it will bring the total value to $80,115,425. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii (94%); and Geraldton, Australia (6%). Work will begin December 2020 and is expected to be completed by November 2021; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by November 2023. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,048,611 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a full and open, unrestricted basis with two offers received. Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Center, Pearl Harbor Regional Contracting Department, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. EMR Inc.,* Niceville, Florida, is awarded firm-fixed-price task order N69450-21-F-1409 at $13,968,592 under a multiple award construction contract for the munition storage area utilities project at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The work to be performed includes civil and electrical disciplines. The civil work includes the replacement of the water distribution mains within the munitions storage area. The electrical work includes the replacement of all existing underground primary conductors with the exception of the existing underground emergency circuit. Work will be performed in Bossier City, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Air Force) contract funds in the amount of $13,986,592 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-18-D-1318). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded a $10,713,544 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-17-C-6311 to procure two additional Surface-to-Surface Missile Modules (SSMM) for integration into the Littoral Combat Ship framework. The SSMM fires a Longbow Hellfire missile that will be added to the surface warfare mission module aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama (80%); Bethpage, New York (18%); and Hollywood, Maryland (2%), and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2021 other procurement (Navy) (82%); and fiscal 2020 other procurement (Navy) (18%) funding in the amount of $10,713,544 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Iridium Satellite LLC, Tempe, Arizona, is awarded a $9,667,301 cost-plus-fixed-fee option to support commercial satellite-based network services for the Department of Defense in the areas of satellite, ground node, user equipment/terminal software and hardware development, integration and testing. Work will be performed in in McLean, Virginia (50%); and Tempe, Arizona (50%), and is expected to be complete in November 2021. This contract includes a base year and options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $45,807,778. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $100,000 will be obligated at time of the option exercise and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was solicited on a sole-source basis via a synopsis posted in Federal Business Opportunities website in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1); only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-17-C-0001). Vigor Marine Shipyard LLC, Portland, Oregon, is awarded an $8,562,943 firm-fixed-price contract (N32205-21-C-4117) for a 50-calendar day shipyard availability for the mid-term availability on the USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9). The contract includes options, which if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $8,821,718. Work will be performed in Portland, Oregon, and is expected to be completed by March 8, 2021. Contract funds in the amount of $8,562,943 are obligated in fiscal 2021 using working capital funds (Navy). This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the beta.sam.gov website and two offers were received. The Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. ARMY Amentum Services Inc., Germantown, Maryland, was awarded a $7,819,920 modification (000280) to contract W52P1J-12-G-0028 for logistics support services for Army prepositioned stocks. Work will be performed in Mannheim, Germany, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 21, 2021. Fiscal 2021 operation and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $7,819,920 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2423533/source/GovDelivery/

By: Seth J. Frantzman JERUSALEM — Israel Aerospace Industries has named Boaz Levy, its former vice president for the Systems Missiles and Space Group, as its new CEO. Levy's group oversaw major contracts for IAI over the years, including billion-dollar deals in India in 2018. He was also central to the Arrow 3 program, which was developed with U.S. support to intercept high-altitude targets in space, such as ballistic missiles. In his new position, Levy said he plans to lead the company through the challenges of the future. “IAI has transformed in recent years, but we still have a considerable way to achieve the company's potential and strengthen our position in existing and new markets,” he said. Levy's appointment was approved by the Board of Directors, according to a statement from the company. The search committee chose Levy to replace Nimrod Sheffer after announcing in July he would step down. Sheffer had replaced Joseph Weiss as CEO in 2018, who had been at the helm of the company for six years. Sheffer came from the strategic planning area of the company and had drafted a new growth strategy for IAI. In March the company said its annual revenue surpassed $4 billion for the first time. That was an increase from $3.6 billion in 2018 and $3.5 billion in 2017. IAI's chairman of the board, Harel Locker, praised the unanimous decision to nominate Levy. “Levy has successfully managed the Systems Missiles and Space Group — IAI's most profitable group that in recent years has made technological and financial groundbreaking achievements. Boaz knows the domestic and international defense market and understands our customer's needs,” Locker said. Sheffer officially stepped down on Oct. 31, and Levy's nomination has been submitted to Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Minister for Cyber and National Digital Matters Dudi Amsalem, who supervise the government's authority over IAI. IAI is one of Israel's three large defense companies along with Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Many of the companies' capabilities are integrated into key Israeli weapon systems, such as the Iron Dome air defense system, which uses radar made by IAI subsidiary Elta Systems. Similarly, the new Sa'ar-class corvette will combine capabilities from IAI, including a new sea-to-sea missile the company recently tested. Levy was previously head of IAI's air defense division between 2010 and 2013. A graduate of Israel's Technion, he came to IAI in 1990 as an engineer and worked on the Arrow program in the 1990s and 2000s. According to IAI, he “headed the induction of the Arrow-2 into operational service.” He also headed the Barak-8 program, which IAI claims is one of the world's most advanced air defense systems. The Barak-8 is also a major revenue source for the company. In 2017, Levy indicated Israel aimed to build future interceptors beyond Arrow 2 and Arrow 3. The Arrow 3 is currently Israel's top tier in a multilayered air defense system that includes the Iron Dome and David's Sling, all programs supported by the U.S. More than 20 American states are involved in the production of Arrow 3. Israel faces increasing threats from Iran and also challenges at sea, which is partly why it has shifted its naval doctrine amid adoption of the new Sa'ar 6 corvettes, and also why it rolled out a new multiyear defense strategy called Momentum. The country has aso begun modernizing training, creating new military units and upgrading communications systems for its armed forces. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2020/11/20/iai-names-boaz-levy-as-new-chief-exec

STUTTGART, Germany – Five NATO member nations have signed on to build the alliance's next-generation helicopter, planned to replace existing fleets starting in 2035. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Greece each signed letters of intent to participate in the program, dubbed “Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability,” or NGRC, per a Nov. 19 statement issued by NATO. Over the coming years, these partners will work together to develop “an entirely new helicopter capability” that would replace a variety of medium multi-role rotorcraft fleets that are expected to retire between 2035 and 2040. The program was launched on the margins of the virtually held defense ministerial meeting in October, the alliance said. “By investing our resources and channeling our development initiatives through a multinational framework, we are making sure allies are equipped with the best available capabilities, which helps to maintain NATO's technological edge,” NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoană was quoted as saying in the release. The letters of intent are non-binding documents, and the initial cooperation effort is in principle open to other NATO allies and partners, subject to the approval of the existing participants, a NATO official said in an email to Defense News. Details including cost, work share between the five nations and specific timelines have not yet been released. NATO envisions defense ministers from participating countries will sign a legally binding memorandum of understanding for the initial concept phase around 2022. In the meantime, the allies will develop a statement of requirements to inform that concept phase, and hash out a cooperation plan to define, develop and field the next-generation helicopter. The NATO official noted that it will be critical to “get the intellectual foundation for NGRC right,” and that 2021 discussions to establish an initial common statement of requirements will not require “substantial” capital expenditures. Next year's efforts will provide “a robust starting point for the participants to discuss and design the subsequent concept phase and agree on the associated funding requirements for the following years,” the official said. As a medium multi-role rotorcraft, this new capability would assist NATO allies in missions including insertion and extraction of special operations forces, and transporting small- and medium-sized cargo and troops within operational theaters. It would also be used in medical evacuation, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare. NATO is launching this effort just as the U.S. Army is firming up requirements for its own new medium multi-role rotorcraft, via the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition. A draft request for proposals for this capability – part of the service's next-generation Future Vertical Lift family of systems – is expected by the end of 2020. Bell and a Boeing-Sikorsky team have each already built a technology demonstrator, and are expected to compete for the contract award, with plans to field the new aircraft by 2030. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/11/20/five-european-allies-sign-on-to-build-natos-next-medium-lift-helicopter/

20/11/2020 08:45 | Jean-Marc Tanguy Reconditionnés par Héli-Union, les trois premiers Airbus Dauphin N3 rejoindront la base d'aéronautique navale de Hyères, première équipée. Reconditionnés par Héli-Union Ces Airbus Dauphin N3 sont reconditionnés par Héli-Union en France, en Norvège (deux appareils actuellement) et chez Hélidax dans les Landes. Le reste sera ensuite livré à la cadence de trois appareils par an en métropole (Lanvéoc) et outremer (Antilles, Réunion, Nouvelle-Calédonie, Polynésie). Le contrat de location FLIHPER (pour FLotte Intérimaire HélicoPtères EmbaRqués), couvrant dix ans d'exploitation, inclut un objectif de disponibilité extrêmement élevé (supérieur à 90%) que l'industriel dit pouvoir tenir gr'ce à sa connaissance de l'exploitation de l'offshore. Pas forcément simple avec des configurations différentes, dont certaines très complètes (pilote automatique 4 axes, boule optronique Euroflir 410). MCO partagée Des lots de déploiement sont prévus en ce sens, et Héli-Union interviendra dans le Pacifique pour assurer les visites périodiques de maintenance. Ailleurs, et notamment sur les navires d'emploi de ces appareils, la Marine assurera la maintenance en ligne. Environ 300 heures de vol seront générées par chaque appareil par an. Le contrat couvre aussi la formation initiale des pilotes et mécaniciens. Des QT de navigants ont aussi été assurées par la société dans son centre d'Angoulême. Ce sont des navigants de la Marine qui se chargeront du convoyage. En attendant l'Airbus Guépard A l'issue des dix ans, la Marine disposera de suffisamment d'Airbus Guépard pour pouvoir se passer de ces appareils. Une prolongation sera toujours possible si ce n'est pas le cas. Avec cette location, Héli-Union reconvertit ainsi son parc de Dauphin auparavant utilisés dans l'offshore (à l'exclusion d'un unique appareil), une belle martingale d'avoir réussi à faire d'un passif inutilisé par la crise de l'exploitation pétrolière une flotte de location au profit des Armées. Un exploit également réussi pour les trois H225 destinés à DGA EV. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/la-marine-recevra-ses-trois-premiers-airbus-dauphin-n3-le-1er-dcembre-23880