ROME — Italy must accomplice with the US on the event of coaxial rotor helicopters — and quick — to get the identical advantages it earned as an early accomplice on the F-35 program, in line with Italy’s Air Drive chief.
Gen. Luca Goretti mentioned Italy urgently must get in on the bottom ground of the know-how’s improvement to keep away from enjoying catch-up later.
“The People have requested Italian trade to take part, and I hope that, simply as we did with the F-35, we be part of initially,” he informed Protection News.
Coaxial rotor helicopters, which function two rotors delivering reverse instructions, are underneath improvement by a Sikorsky-Boeing crew to compete within the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Carry program. Two platforms, the Defiant X and Raider X, function pusher propellers that notably enhance pace.
After getting into the F-35 jet program early with plans to order 130 plane, Italy has now constructed Europe’s solely meeting and upkeep facility for the superior fighter at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy.
“We might be a promoter in Europe of [coaxial] know-how, a frontrunner in its improvement and industrial development, which can enhance in time, as occurred with the F-35, the place the Germans and Swiss are actually us and our upkeep hub in Cameri with a possible curiosity in our competencies,” Goretti mentioned.
Taking a look at the way forward for helicopters, he added: “We have now platforms which fly at 140-150 knots. We’re waiting for higher know-how, simply as we did for the F-35 the place we invested within the perception the platform could be adopted in Europe. We have been the primary to consider in it with out shedding curiosity in European applications just like the Eurofighter, which is our spine.”
“The identical philosophy can be utilized for a new-generation helicopter. We frequently have a look at the place the U.S. goes. As a result of inevitably that know-how will in the end be adopted all over the world.”
Furthermore, the Italian Air Drive wants the type of efficiency promised by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, he mentioned. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of Lockheed.
“Right this moment they’re engaged on the chance to fly at 300 knots, to hold out excessive maneuvers and cease instantly, which might be a leap in high quality for brand spanking new generations of helicopters,” Goretti mentioned. “I want that type of functionality: excessive pace, lengthy vary and excessive maneuverability. Ukraine is the proof. Helicopters have suffered losses as a result of they can’t defend themselves from [surface-to-air missiles], which seem from the woods.”
Italian forces would use the brand new helicopter to assist particular forces in addition to fulfill search and rescue missions. “The AW139 we now use for search and rescue has limitations within the function, and we purchased it off the shelf to fill a niche, ready to see what know-how emerged,” Goretti added.
Talks are underway between Lockheed Martin and Leonardo at hand the latter a job in growing coaxial know-how, and Goretti urged the Italian agency to get onboard.
“Leonardo has proved itself a world-beating helicopter agency,” he mentioned. “Within the industrial area, they are going to keep a frontrunner. Within the navy area, they should resolve in the event that they need to make this leap in high quality.”
Based on the air chief, Leonardo shouldn’t resolve that its ongoing improvement of a brand new AW249 assault helicopter precludes involvement in coaxial helicopter improvement. “The AW249 has a two-man crew, and its function is expounded to floor troops. The FVL [future vertical lift platform] should carry personnel for particular forces missions and particular forces assist. There isn’t any overlap.”
As a part of the FVL program in the US, Bell can be providing the V-280 Valor, a tiltrotor engine, however Goretti mentioned he’s much less serious about tiltrotor know-how.
“If I want to spend so much on upkeep of the hinges on a tiltrotor, I’ve an issue with decrease availability. Can I afford that? No. The opposite possibility appears set to be extra environment friendly,” he mentioned.
Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Protection News.
