H145M military helicopter for the PAF?

[Ayoshi]

Manila Bulletin - March 1, 2017

The government intends to acquire additional helicopters to boost the military’s capability to combat terrorism and other security threats.

“We plan to purchase more helicopters,” President Rodrigo Duterte announced in a Palace press conference on Tuesday, February 28, amid the government operations against the Abu Sayyaf group responsible for a string of atrocities in the south.

“The numbers, I would not want to tell you now but I have to improve on our night-flying capability. We’re nearing to it,” Duterte said.

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=498.0

Night time firing

[Ayoshi]

Airbus Helicopters PHL in talks with military for chopper purchase | GMA news - August 30, 2017

Senior governmental sales manager Yves Poesy added that the company is discussing the potential chopper purchase deal with a technical working group from the armed forces.

"We have been doing some general presentations. Last October, we did a presentation of some of our helicopters and they're very interested [in] some of [them]," Poesy said.

"Nothing is signed up for now, but we have some hope," he added.

The Airbus executives said that the country's military market is promising, and said they might push the H145M military helicopter as the ideal helicopter platform to meet Philippine Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard requirements.

Maupoeou said that the H145M was preferred by the German special forces, the Thai navy, the Serbian army and US police forces.

From: airbushelicopters.com

The H145M (previously known as the EC645 T2) is an economical and versatile military helicopter covering the entire spectrum of military missions, from light utility to light attack. The H145M delivers the reliability and low operating costs of Airbus Helicopters’ multi-role EC145, which is a rotorcraft of reference for law enforcement organizations and military services – including the U.S. Army, with its UH-72A Lakota version.

The H145M is equipped with a modern digital glass cockpit, night vision goggle compatability, and Airbus Helicopters’ advanced Helionix® avionics suite with a 4-axis digital autopilot.

< snipped >

For armed operations, the rotorcraft carries a mission computer, two rigid multi-purpose armament pylons that are easily removable, an infrared/TV electro-optical system, and a laser range-finder/designator/pointer. With its open system architecture, this innovative weapon system contributes to full situational awareness for the crew.

[Manokski]

F***, another helicopter type!?

Getting multiple types is such an act of shortsightedness (I have another s word in mind but this is polite company).  We'll have different types flying the same mission.  How long do you think we can keep everything flying?

[Juramentado]

The PAF keeps letting Lift/HADR creep into every mission and acquisition. If there was a way for the FA-50s to lug relief goods as well as bombs, they would find it.

The country needs an EM Agency with it's own transportation fleet, given the volume and high-impact nature of natural disasters that occur. Stop putting this burden directly on defense. Defense can auxiliary these efforts, but we'll never get anywhere hamstringing acquisitions this way.

[Manokski]

"Standardization" does not appear to be a word in the acquisitions vocabulary.

[LionFlyer]

"Standardization" does not appear to be a word in the acquisitions vocabulary.

H145M isn't much of a step-up from the AW109. The blame being put on the AW109 recently seems rather unfair. The NCAH programme had failed bidding multiple times by then. With that sort of budget, that's probably the best possible option/outcome. That it wasn't entirely adequate (I'm still not sure why) isn't the fault of the platform, it is a function of the choices made.

[mamiyapis]

It's been suggested that the H145M is meant to be a replacement for the MD520s and that's why the purchase is planned for up to 24 birds.

Though personally, if the PAF wants a more capable bird, they should go for larger aircraft with heavier payload capacity so they can fit more hardware.

[Blaster2k]

Was it mentioned in the article that it's a done deal already?  Airbus is just pushing for it just like the the Koreans, Russians and everybody else  is doing since everybody knows that PAF is buying more attack helicopters. 

[Blaster2k]

"Standardization" does not appear to be a word in the acquisitions vocabulary.

The Army stuck to KM450 and they are still at it.   Navy's also at it with the MPAC (albeit with some modification/upgrade).  I don't see any other medium transport aircraft except for the C-130. 

If ever PAF does choose another attack helicopter, it will be definitely be for a reason just like what it did when it chose the 412s instead of getting more SOKOLs.

[Ayoshi]

Airbus Helicopters bids to break into Philippines military helicopter market | IHS Jane's 360 - 06 September 2017

Airbus Helicopters is looking to break into the Philippines’ military market with its H145M light-utility/attack platform, Fabrice Rochereau, the company’s head of sales for Southeast Asia, has disclosed to Jane’s .

The company has positioned the H145M to meet a Philippine Air Force (PAF) requirement for a fleet of night-capable attack helicopters. Future opportunities for the platform may also emerge in the Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippines Coast Guard (PCG).

< snipped >

These helicopters are currently supported by the company’s local subsidiary, Airbus Helicopters Philippines Incorporation (AHPI), and its joint venture partnership with the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation (PADC). The partnership is based in Pasay, near Manila.

An Airbus Helicopters H145M operated by the German military. Source: Airbus Helicopters/Christian D. Keller

[gemini1]

Airbus flies HForce weapons system on H145M helo



Airbus Helicopters announced on 8 August the first flight of an H145M fitted with the company’s new HForce generic weapon system (GWS).

The flight, which took place at the company’s Donauwörth facility in southern Germany at the end of August, saw the twin-engined helicopter fly with an FN Herstal 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) heavy machine gun pod (HMP) and a 70 mm (2.75 inch) rocket pod on side-mounted weapons pylons.
......


http://www.janes.com/article/73639/airbus-flies-hforce-weapons-system-on-h145m-helo?utm_campaign=CL_Jane%27s%20360-Sept-8-2017_PC5308_e-production_E-2951_KP_0908_0730&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

[mamiyapis]

I'm just going to leave these here:



https://youtu.be/nrnpaY-EVig
https://youtu.be/YV6OzNNEi6s

The H145M makes no sense to me now that the AFP is thinking of buying Candian-made 412s/Griffons.

They carry the same sensor load if so desired and can carry a more effective strike package. The GAU-19 and the LR30 would make mincemeat of any structure or barricade. Have a room full of Maute you need taken care of? Replace the Hellfires with Spikes and you can take that room out safely from a HOVERING attack asset kilometers away.

If Marawi has taught us anything, it's that you can't have too much firepower.