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Eurocopter HTH

Type
Heavy transport helicopter (schwerer Transporthubschrauber)

Country (Land)
Germany

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Eurocopter Deutschland
Postfach 801140
81663 München
Germany

Phone: 0049-89/6000-0
Fax: 0049-89/6000-9033
Internet: www.eurocopter.com

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2
Passengers (Passagiere): 66 combat equipped soldiers

Power plant (Antrieb): 3 x turboshafts
Power (Leistung): 3 x 5000 kW

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 12 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 2,5 to 3,2 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 2,5 to 3 m

Weights (Massen)
Payload (Nutzlast): around 10 to 13 tons
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): around 36 tons

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Top speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 300 km/h
Hover in ground effect (Schwebeflug im Bodeneffekt): 2000 m at ISA + 20 deg C
Mission range (Reichweite): 1000 to 1200 km with standard fuel or 5000 km with air-to-air refuelling
Operating radius (Einstzradius)
- 500 km with 10 – 13 ton load
- 360 km with 15 ton overload

Costs (Preise)
No details available yet.

Customers (Kunden)
Germany needs a replacement for its CH-53s. France is also interested. In the RFI issued in February 2006, production options for 60 to 120 machines were mentioned. Other European countries could be interested in a heavy lift capability as well.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Sikorsky CH-53K

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
For long-range airborne operations, NATO nations will need a new heavy lift helicopter to replace types like the CH-53G or the Chinook. Eurocopter is proposing a new design concept that will boost capabilities.
Among the loads will be the Dingo or Fennek armed personnel carrier, the French VBL and VAB (13000 kg) vehicles as well as Wolf and Wiesel (4500 kg) or BV206.
Among the technologies proposed for HTH are:

seven blade rotor with elastomeric head and high-performance composite blades
glass cockpit with four-axis autopilot and sensors for all-weather capability
Fly-by-wire or fly-by-light
modular ballistic protection
full composite fuselage
reduced signature

In the spring of 2004, Eurocopter stated that the HTH would be ideal for international cooperation. Especially, a transatlantic partnership would be preferable, to bring costs down.
Eurocopter proposed to contribute high-tech components like fly-by-wire or fly-by-light, digital flight control systems, glass cockpit and composite structures. An aim would be to use existing test and training equipment from the Tiger and NH90 programs.

History (Geschichte)
The German army aviation command has, together with the French DGA, defined the basic requirements for a new heavy transport helicopter. These were also cross-checked with the NATO Landgroup 10 specifications.
Thus, Eurocopter started preliminary studies for a successor to the German army CH-53G helicopters in about 2003. In the spring of 2004 it was said that there are no German funds available for the programme for now. It was said that a new HTH could be available around 2015 – 2020.
In February 2006, the German BWB (procurement agency located in Koblenz) issued an RFI (request for information) to Eurocopter regarding HTH, with a due date of 21. July 2006.
In March 2006, Eurocopter said that an HTH could become available in 2018 at the earliest, based on a strategic partnership with another company and a development start around 2010. Sikorsky would be the most likely fit, as it is developing the CH-53K for the US Marine Corps.

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Last updated 24 April 2006

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