Roadmap for H-1 Upgrades Laid Out

By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor

The Navy has laid out some of its plans for upgrades for the Marine Corps’ UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters for the next 10 years.

Col. Harry Hewson, the program manager, addressed the upgrades to reporters May 4 at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition. The UH-1Y utility helicopter, which made its first deployments to sea and to Afghanistan last year, is in full-rate production. The AH-1Z gunship is expected to complete its operational evaluation in China Lake, Calif., in July. A decision for full-rate production is expected later in 2010.

The GAU-21 machine gun is being introduced on the UH-1Y this year. A digital moving map display is being installed beginning this year. Blue-force tracking capability is to be introduced between 2011 and 2013. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System and the Joint Air-Ground Missile are scheduled for introduction between 2012 and 2015. The AIM-9X Sidewinder missile will be introduced on the AH-1Z in 2014-2016, if budget conditions allow. A multimode radar with ground moving target capability is scheduled for 2016-2020.

The second Marine Corps helicopter light attack squadron to be equipped with UH-1Ys is deploying to Afghanistan this month. Lessons learned in Afghanistan during the first deployment just concluding that are being addressed include problems of heat effects on avionics; fine sand infiltrating avionics and other components; and a shorter-than-expected life of the rotor blade cuffs. The first deploying squadron brought a supply of spares but found little need to access them.

Hewson said the low vibration of the UH-1Y compared to that of the UH-1N it is replacing makes it a superior platform for airborne snipers.

Hewson said the UH-1Y is scheduled to be displayed at the Farnborough Air show in the United Kingdom this year. The AH-1Z will be displayed at the Paris Air Show in 2011. Both helicopter types will be available for foreign military sales in 2012.