Support Helicopters

A109M Light,
30 A109 LUH (Light Utility Helicopters) are being built for the South African Air Force.	The A109M light, twin-engine, multipurpose, military helicopter.	A109 Power helicopters in service with the US Coastguard. The A109s' role is to interdict high-speed smuggling vessels and they are armed with machine guns.
The A109M can be armed with TOW anti-tank missiles, rockets and/or machine guns.	The A109M can carry out a variety of missions and operations in hot temperatures and high altitudes.	The A109M is a military version of the A109 Power family of civil helicopters. Shown here is a law enforcement version in service with the Carabinieri of Italy.
Around 300 A109 Power helicopters have been ordered since the model's entry into service in 1996.	The cabin can be fitted with a single or double stretcher installation for casualty evacuation. Shown here is a civil EMS (emergency services) version.	The A109 was originally developed as an ambulance and rescue helicopter to operate in the mountainous regions of Switzerland.

AS 532 (Horizon) Cougar
The AS 532 Horizon.	The ground station.	The rotating antenna beneath the fuselage.
The cockpit.	Chaff release.

AS 532 U2/A2 Cougar
Cougar in flight.	Medical evacuation rescue.	The Cabin console with Radar and FLIR display.
The machine guns fire out of the doorways from within the cabin.	A French Cougar Mk. 2.	The hoist joystick and main hoist. The joystick allows the winchman to adjust the position of the aircraft in regard to the rescuees.
Cougar's cabin capacity allows for up to 9/12 stretcher patients or 29 seats.	Flotation gear for over-water flying.

AS 550 Fennec - Single-Engined Light Military Helicopter,
The AS 555 Fennec single-engine helicopter. Shown here in service with the Royal Danish Army.	The Ecureuil/Fennec family of helicopters is operational in over 70 countries. Shown here in service with the Brazilian Army.	AS 550s in service with the Royal Danish Army are armed with the HeliTOW sighting system and the TOW anti-tank missile.
The Australian Army has 18 Fennec helicopters used for training.	The AS 550 can be fitted with the Giat 20mm gun type M621 and the FN Hershal twin 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine gun pod.	The HeliTOW sight is roof-mounted and contains direct view optics, day and/or night sight and laser rangefinder.

AS 565 Panther Multirole Light Helicopter
The Eurocopter AS 565UB Panther is a multi-role light helicopter for troop transport, logistic support and medical evacuation.	As a tactical troop transport, the Panther has the capacity to transport ten commandos.	For logistical support, the Panther is fitted with a sling with a 1,600kg capacity.
An 11-bladed Fenestron faired-in tail rotor provides a high level of manoeuvrability.	The AS 565 Panther is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshaft engines, each rated at 635kW.	The Starflex fibreglass rotorhead has four main rotor blades which incorporate a carbon fibre reinforced plastic spar and are filled with a Nomex honeycomb material.

AW101 (EH101)
AW101 on patrol.	AW101 is a military utility helicopter whose roles include amphibious assault.	Image shows external sensors.
Dual flight controls are provided for the pilot and co-pilot.	AW101 a weightier utility helicopter capable of carrying a higher payload than medium helicopters.	The military version AW101 has accommodation for 30 seated or 45 standing fully combat equipped troops.

CH-47D/F / MH-47E Chinook
The CH-47F improved cargo helicopter features reduced vibration, improved avionics and more powerful engine.	The primary mission of the Chinook is transportation.	Over 1,000 Chinooks are operational wordwide.
An RAF Chinook on UN operations.	CH-47D on exercise.	Chinook MH-47E refuelling in flight.
The Chinook has a triple hook system which provides stability.	Ramp operations can be carried out on water.	Chinook 47D deploying countermeasures.

Dhruv
The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), multi-role and multi-mission helicopter is in service with the Indian Army.	The Dhruv design features automatic flight control, Anti-Resonance Vibration Isolation aystem (ARI), hingeless main rotor, bearingless tail rotor and an automatic flight control system.	The Dhruv is a 5.5t class helicopter which can carry up to 14 passengers.
Eight Dhruv advanced light helicopters have been delivered to the Indian Army, three to the navy, four to the air force and three to the coast guard.	A more powerful engine for the Dhruv, the Shakti (Ardiden 1H) rated at 900kW is being developed between HAL and Turbomeca and will be manufactured at Bangalore.	The Dhruv has a cruise speed of 265km/h, range of 700km and endurance of four hours 20 minutes.
Indian Air Force Dhruv helicopter fitted with flotation bags.

Future Lynx Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter
Future Lynx will be the UK Army's new Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter (BRH), formerly the Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter (BLUH).	40 Future Lynx helicopters are to be built for the UK Army and 30 for the Royal Navy.	The first flight of the Future Lynx helicopter will take place in late 2009 with first deliveries starting in 2011.
The Army's Future Lynx will have new mission systems and avionics, including tactical processor, integrated display units, Secure Communications Control System (SCCS) and Bowman radio functionality.	The Future Lynx is powered by two LHTEC CTS800 engines, each rated at 1015kW, which provide greater power, improved hot-and-high and single-engine performance.	The most notable changes to the Lynx design are the new tail rotor and low-set symmetric tailplane, larger cockpit doors, and a redesigned larger nose and rear fuselage.

Ka-60 Kasatka (Killer Whale)
The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka medium transport helicopter.	The Ka-60 is expected to enter production in 2003.	The helicopter took its first flight in 1998.
The cabin can accommodate 16 equipped troops or three medical crew and six stretcher patients.	The Ka-60 has four-bladed main rotors with swept back tips and a multi-blade tail rotor.	The helicopter can be armed with two 80mm rocket pods or two 7.62mm or 12.7mm guns.

Lynx Mk 7/ Mk 9 Multi-Role Helicopter
The UK Army Air Corps operates the Lynx Army Helicopter (Lynx AH) mk 7 and mk 9.	The Lynx AH mk 9 is fitted with non-retractable tricycle-type landing gear with twin nosewheels.	Refuelling the UK Army Lynx AH mk 7.
Lynx can carry external weapons such as two Miniguns, gun pods, rocket pods, or up to eight HOT, Hellfire or TOW missiles.	About 77 AH mk 7 versions and 22 AH mk 9 helicopters are in service with the UK Army.	Pre-flight checks on the Lynx before desert operations.
Army Lynx fitted with TOW missiles.	Army Lynx viewed with image intensifier.

Mi-8 / Mi-17 Hip
More than 12,000 Mi-8 Hip multi-purpose helicopters have been produced.	Two Rwandan Air Force Mi-17MDs on test flight prior to delivery.	The Mi-8T military-transport helicopter provides mobility to ground force units.
The Mi-17MD Russian market designation Mi-8MTV5.	Troops are accommodated on three rows of seats in the cargo cabin.	The Mi-8MTV5 carrying the Igla (left) and the Shturm (right) guided missiles.
The Mi-17MD carrying cargo with the extended loading ramp.	The helicopters deployed in Chechnya.

S-70A Black Hawk
The UH-60 multimission helicopter.	More than 2,000 Black Hawk helicopters are in service with the United States forces.	Two US Army S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60 Black Hawk has been operational in the US Army since 1978.
The S-70A Black Hawk helicopter can be armed with a variety of missiles, rockets, machine guns and 20mm cannons.	The highly capable Royal Brunei Air Force Black Hawk helicopter with radar, FLIR, and auxiliary fuel tanks is put through its paces.	The S-70A Black Hawk can lift 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg). Its enhanced lifting capacity provides new levels of multi-mission mobility.
A glass cockpit and digital avionics including digital Automated Flight Computer System (AFCS) and Electronic Flight Information System.	An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from Sikorsky, part of the Hawk family of helicopters.

UH-1Y Huey
The US Marines UH-1Y Huey utility helicopter.	100 UH-1Y utility helicopters are being built for the USMC.	The UH-1Y and AH-1Z models have a very high level of commonality, which reduces the manufacturing and procurement costs.
The helicopter has a new four-bladed, composite, hingeless, bearingless main rotor system and tail rotor.	The UH-1Y is fully marinised and capable of shipboard operations, including take-off, landing, refueling and re-arming.	The UH-1Y has a new glass cockpit with integrated avionics system.
The helicopter will have a new BRITE Star thermal imaging and laser designation system, capable of designating targets for the Hellfire missiles of the AH-1Z.	Drawing of the AH-1Z Supercobra showing the rotor system common with the UH-1Y.	The UH-1N helicopter has been in service since 1971.
The UH-1 series helicopters have been serving the US forces in action since the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Seen here is the UH-1N.

UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter
The UH-72A Lakota is the United States Army's new light utility helicopter.	The UH-72A has a hingeless rotor system with composite 11m main rotor blades and high-set, twin-blade 1.96m tail rotor.	For ambulance and MEDEVAC missions, the cabin can accommodate two stretchers, plus one medical attendant.
Safety features on the UH-72A include a high level of redundancy with a twin-engine design and redundant hydraulic, electrical and engine control systems.	The UH-72A Lakota has an externally mounted rescue electric hoist, mounted on a boom and support assembly for operational flexibility.	The UH-72A Lakota is a militarised version of the civilian Eurocopter EC145 helicopter, in operation since 2002.
US Army lift test of the UH-72A in May 2007. The Lakota entered service in June 2007.	The US Army Lakota helicopters will be used for logistics and support missions within USA and with the Army National Guard for homeland security and disaster-response missions.

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