CH-148 Cyclone

Infobox Aircraft
name = CH-148 Cyclone


caption=
type=Maritime helicopter
manufacturer= Sikorsky Aircraft
designer=
first flight=
introduced=
retired=
status= Developmental
primary user= Canadian Forces
produced=
number built=
unit cost= USD $15,300,000
developed from = Sikorsky S-92
variants with their own articles =

The CH-148 Cyclone is a medium lift twin engine helicopter manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation for the Canadian Forces. The CH-148 is to replace the venerable CH-124 Sea King, in operation since the early 1960s.

The CH-148 is the Canadian version of the H-92 Superhawk variant of the S-92 model and is designed for shipboard operations. The helicopter will be operated by Air Command (Canada's air force) and will conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance, and search and rescue (SAR) missions from Canadian warships. It will also provide tactical transport for national and international security efforts. [ [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/ch148/default_e.asp CH-148 Cyclone | Aircraft | Canada’s Air Force ] ]

Development

The Canadian Forces "Maritime Helicopter Project" was commissioned during the 1980s and initially selected a variant of the EH-101, however this was infamously cancelled in 1993, resulting in a 10-year delay to the procurement of a replacement aircraft. The project took on increased importance in the early 2000s and resulted in a run-off between the H-92 and the EH-101, from which the H-92 emerged with the winning bid. The second procurement process saw the government separate the airframe from the weapons/sensor instrumentation package.

The Sikorsky S-92 took its maiden flight in December 1998 at the Sikorsky Development Flight Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida. FAA FAR part 29 certification was received in December 2002. European Aviation Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities (EASA/JAA) certification was received in June 2004. The first S-92 was delivered to launch customer Petroleum Helicopters in September 2004.

The H-92 Superhawk is the military variant of the S-92, with more powerful GE CT7-8C engines rated at 2,300 kW (3,070shp). In July 2004, a derivative, with CT7-8A [ [http://www.forces.gc.ca/admmat/mhp/cyclone_e.asp The Maritime Helicopter Project - PMO MHP ] ] was selected by Canada for its Maritime Helicopter Programme (MHP) as the CH-148 Cyclone. Twenty-eight helicopters were ordered, with the first scheduled to enter service by January 9, 2009, five weeks later than originally scheduled (November 2008). [ [http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=1520 DND/CF | News Release | Government of Canada Awards Contracts to Sikorsky for New Canadian Forces Maritime Helicopter ] ] [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070123.wcyclo0123/BNStory/National/home globeandmail.com: National ] ]

It was speculated on January 9, 2008 that the delivery of CH-148s would now be delayed a further 30 months, placing even greater strain on the current Sea King fleet. [ [http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/01/09/4764210-cp.html CANOE - CNEWS - Canada: New military choppers delayed ] ] [ [http://www.cdnmilitary.ca/index.php?p=24 The Maritime Helicopter Project | cdnmilitary.ca] ]

Design

The CH-148 has a metal and composite airframe. The four-bladed articulated composite main rotor blade is wider and has a longer radius than the S-70 Blackhawk. The tapered blade tip sweeps back and angles downward to reduce noise and increase lift. In response to requests for additional cabin space, Sikorsky has increased the cabin length of the final prototype by 41 cm (16.1 in), reduced the height of the tail pylon and relocated the horizontal stabiliser. Tethered hover flight has recorded 138 kN (31,000 lbf) of lift generated, both in and out of hover effect.

A number of safety features such as flaw tolerance, bird strike capability and engine burst containment have been incorporated into the design. An active vibration system ensures comfortable flight and acoustic levels are well below certification requirements.

The CH-148 is equipped with devices to search and locate submarines during ASW, and is equipped with countermeasures to protect itself against missile strikes. The Integrated Mission System is being developed by General Dynamics Canada, [ [http://www.gdcanada.com/content/detail.cfm?acronym=ch148 General Dynamics Canada - CH148 Cyclone - Maritime Helicopter Project - Overview ] ] as is the Sonobuoy Acoustic Processing System. [ [http://www.gdcanada.com/content/detail.cfm?acronym=Sonobuoy General Dynamics Canada - Sonobuoy Acoustic Processing Systems - Overview ] ] The radar is a Telephonics APS-143B, [ [http://www.telephonics.com/press_media_details.asp?press_media_id=27 Telephonics: Corporate Info ] ] the EO System a Flir Systems SAFIRE III [ [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=95372&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=720484&highlight= FLIR - News Release] ] , the sonar an L-3 HELRAS [ [http://www.l-3com.com/os/airborne_helras.html L3 Communications - Ocean Systems, Products - Airborn Systems/Seaborn Systems] ] , and the ESM a Lockheed Martin AN/ALQ-210 [ [http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2007/LockheedMartinAwarded594MillionProv.html Lockheed Martin Awarded $59.4 Million to Provide Electronic Support Measure Systems to Canadian Forces | Lockheed Martin] ]

In addition, Sikorsky, General Dynamics Canada, and L-3 MAS, with their subcontractors, are responsible for in service, including the Maritime Helicopter Training Centre, with two Operational Mission Simulators. Other elements of in service support include the Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring System, spares and software support.

Variants

;CH-148 Cyclone : Maritime helicopter

Operators

;CAN
* Canadian Forces - 28 on order

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Canadian Forces CH-148 page [cite web|url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/admmat/mhp/cyclone_e.asp|title=The Maritime Helicopter Project - PMO MHP|last=|first=|date=2006-10-31|accessdate=2007-06-29|work=|publisher=]

crew=4 (2 pilots, 1 tactical officer, 1 sensor operator)
capacity=6 in mission config, up to 22 in utility config
length main= 68 ft 6 in (S-92)
length alt= 20.9 m (S-92)
span main= 58 ft 1 in (S-92)
span alt= 17.7 m (S-92)
height main= 15 ft 5 in (S-92)
height alt= 4.7 m (S-92)
area main= 2,650 ft² (S-92)
area alt= 246 m² (S-92)
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 28,650 lbs
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=Fuselage 56ft2in long, 12ft9in wide, 18ft4in high

engine (prop)=General Electric CT7-8A
type of prop= turboshafts
number of props=2
power main=
power alt=
power original=
max speed main= 165 knots
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 137 knots
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 15,000 ft DA
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=*2 x Mk-46 Torpedoes on BRU-14 mounted in folding weapons pylons
*Door-arm mounted GPMG

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Sikorsky S-92
* Sikorsky S-70

similar aircraft=
* Sikorsky S-61
* Sikorsky S-61R
* AgustaWestland EH101

lists=
* List of helicopters
* List of active Canadian military aircraft

References

External links

* [http://www.sikorsky.com/details/0,,CLI1_DIV69_ETI2282,00.html Manufacturer's Official Web page for CH-148]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/ch148/default_e.asp Canadian Forces official website for the CH-148 Cyclone]
* [http://www.forces.gc.ca/admmat/mhp/home_e.asp Canadian Forces Project Management Office Website]
* [http://www.cdnmilitary.ca/?p=24 CdnMilitary.ca article on the Maritime Helicopter Project which made Canada the first buyer of the H-92]