TAIPEI-(IDB) : Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan
are seeking a variety of helicopters, including the V-22 Osprey
tilt-rotor aircraft, to offset China’s growing maritime threat in the
East China and South China seas, and to deal with other security issues,
such as humanitarian and disaster relief missions.
The stronger trend in Asia appears to be toward procuring utility helicopters, but attack helicopters are also in demand.
The Osprey
Japan and Singapore have expressed interest in the Bell-Boeing V-22
Osprey, which takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane.
For
Japan, China’s recent agitation over the Japan-controlled Senkaku
Islands (claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands) has raised fears China
might attempt to seize the islands by force.
This has put Japan’s
Self-Defense Forces on notice: Improve range and capacity in its
vertical-lift capability or risk losing the Senkakus, and possibly part
of the Ryukyu Island chain, to China.
Japanese defense industry
and government reports indicate the country is looking to procure 17
V-22s within the next five years.
In February at the Singapore
Airshow, the US Marine Corps showed off its MV-22B. The message was
clear from Bell sources and Singapore government officials that the
Osprey is on the Singapore military’s to-buy list. The problem for
Singapore is how to use Osprey to its full potential.
Singapore
does not have an expeditionary force capability, though the military
participates in regional humanitarian and disaster relief missions. Any
military missions beyond maritime security would have to include
Indonesia and Malaysia.
Japan
Japan has a UH-X program designed to replace the Ground Self-Defense
Force’s aging UH-1H/J utility helicopter fleet. Kawasaki Heavy
Industries is in charge of the UH-X utility helicopter development
program, which is expected to begin in 2017. The UH-X requirements are
similar to modern UH-1 helicopters in range, speed and troop transport
capacity. Bell Helicopter sources have said the new UH-1Y four-blade
helicopter could fulfill UH-X requirements.
Japan also is looking
at acquiring additional Sikorsky S-76D helicopters for its Coast Guard, a
Sikorsky source said. The Coast Guard has 11 on order, but the total
requirement is 18 and additional S-76s are expected in the near term.
In
2001, Japan’s AH-X competition for replacement of its Bell AH-1S Cobra
attack helicopter came down to the Boeing AH-64 Apache beating the Bell
AH-1Z Super Cobra. In 2006, Japan’s Fuji Heavy Industries began licensed
production of 50 Apaches.
South Korea
South Korea’s Navy has eight AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopters
on order for maritime operations, beating out the Sikorsky MH-60. The
AW159 will serve as the Navy’s multimission helicopter, capable of
handling anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare,
search-and-rescue and maritime surveillance missions. Deliveries of four
AW159s will take place in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
The AW159s
will join AgustaWestland Super Lynx ASW helicopters in service, along
with planned procurements of the Korea Aerospace Industries
(KAI)-designed KUH-1 Surion in both the utility and ASW role. A KAI
source at the Singapore Airshow in February said the Surion will also
serve in the Army and Air Force for utility missions.
In 2013, the
South Korean government announced it would procure 36 AH-64E Apache
attack helicopters, beating out the Bell UH-1Z Super Cobra,
AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta and Turkish Aerospace Industries’ T-129.
Deliveries are expected from 2016 to 2018.
A defense industry
source said South Korea is holding a contest to fill its light armed
helicopter (LAH) requirement to replace its Cobra attack helicopters and
OH-58 reconnaissance/attack helicopters. Boeing’s AH-6I Little Bird,
Sikorsky’s S-76, Airbus Helicopter’s AS365 Dauphin and AgustaWestland’s
AW169 are potential competitors. KAI also has an LAH design, and it
might collaborate with a foreign company in a joint venture.
Taiwan
Taiwan will begin receiving 60 Sikorsky UH-60M utility helicopters at
the end of the year. The helicopters will replace Army Bell UH-1H
utility helicopters.
Deliveries of 30 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack
helicopters have already begun. The new Apaches will work side-by-side
with the Army’s 60 Bell AH-1W Super Cobras. Boeing began Apache
deliveries in November.
On April 24, an Apache crashed onto the
roof of a building in Longtan, Taoyuan County, during a training
mission. Neither pilot was seriously injured, but the military indicated
the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
With the conclusion of
the delivery of the Apache and Black Hawk helicopters, Taiwan’s military
has expressed little interest in future procurements.
Over the
past 10 years, the military has received nine CH-47SD Chinook cargo
helicopters for the Army and three Eurocopter EC225 Super Pumas for Air
Force search-and-rescue missions.
The Air Force has a contract
option to buy 17 more Super Pumas if funds become available, but the
military is struggling to modernize while reducing its size.
Source : Defensenews
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