Page 18 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

HELICOPTERS

THE NEXT-GENERATION

EUROPEAN ROTORCRAFT

irbus Helicopters chief executive

ABruno Even has re-peated the
need for Europe to develop a next-genera-

tion military rotorcraft and has continued
to court Italian rival Leonardo as a poten-

tial partner for the project.
“European customers will need a Euro-

pean solution,” Even said during a recent

briefing about the airframer’s 2020 order
and delivery performance.
Such a project would ensure continued

industrial capability and strategic autono-
my for nations, he said.

But Even has stressed it is the “right Airbus Helicopters chief executive officer Bruno Even and Safran president of

time” to make decisions on “the next gen- helicopter engines Franck Saudo shake hands at the Paris air show back in 2019
eration of military helicopters”, given how

long it will take to mature new technologies
and to “develop a new programme from the NH90. ruled out developing a military variant

scratch”. The airframer has continued to target the due to restrictions agreed with its Chinese
As well as bolstering its military market UK for military sales should London clarify partner in the programme.

share against transatlantic competitors its approach to replacing the Royal Air He said the company is ready to engage

involved in the USA’s Future Vertical Lift Force’s Puma fleet. with the UK to better understand any

process, architectures matured as part of Then Jerome Combe, head of product future requirement and “define what could

a next-generation military helicopter “will policy and strategy at Airbus, said that be the best solution”.

help us secure our position on the civil they could offer the H225M, NH90 or H175 Even stressed that whatever helicopter is
market tomorrow”. should the 23 Puma HC2s be withdrawn in proposed “will be fully compliant with the

Previously Even called for a joint ap- 2025 as currently planned. export rules and controls of our different
proach with Leonardo towards Europe’s fu- To that list, Even added the 6t H160M, nati ons”.
ture military helicopter needs and said that which is being developed for the French But he pointed out that the airframer
Airbus Helicopters was “open and ready” armed forces, with deliveries beginning in is also “ready and able” to extend the

for discussions with potential partners 2026. operational life of the Pumas beyond 2025

on ENGR, noting the existing relationship The H175 is a surprising candidate given if required. Q
through the NH Industries consortium for that Airbus Helicopters has consistently

IVORY COAST RECEIVES SECOND
REPLACEMENT MI-24
Ukrainian Air Force Il-76 transport aircraft, during a visit by president Ouattara. The

Scramble magazine reported. Mi-24D was written off while the Mi-17,

he Ivory Coast has taken deliv- President Alassane Ouattara said at belonging to the Presidential Flight,

Tery of a second Mi-24 to replace the time it was the first of two Mi-24s sustained repairable damage.
those that crashed in 2019 and 2020. being received, with the second due Then on 18 March 2020, another

The second aircraft (TU-VHT) was within three months’ time. Mi-24D (TU-VHO) came down at Felix

seen being loaded aboard an Ilyushin Both helicopters are believed to be Houphouet Boigny airport in Abidjan. It
Il-76 transport aircraft in Bulgaria in ex-Bulgarian Air Force examples. is not clear what caused the crash, but

January ahead of delivery. The aircraft are to replace the two lost the aircraft sustained moderate dam-

The first replacement aircraft was de- within the space of five months. age, coming to rest on its side.

livered on 7 August 2020 to coincide with On 27 November 2019, an Mi-24D Both pilots received minor injuries
the Ivory Coast’s 60th Independence Day. (TU-VHR) was lost in a collision with an and could escape the helicopter by
The aircraft arrived at Abidjan aboard a Mi-17 parked on the ground at Katiola themselves. Q

World Airnews | March 2021
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