Friday 11 August 2017

Spanish Navy receives fourth upgraded AB-212 helicopter

engineeringandconstruction.sener


Spanish Navy receives AB-212 helicopter


08th August 2017 - 12:30 by The Shephard News Team 

Sener and Babcock have delivered the fourth upgraded AB-212 helicopter to the Spanish Ministry of Defence, Sener announced on 4 August.

The delivery is a part of a modernisation project to extend the lifespan of seven AB-212 helicopters by at least 15 years. The fleet has been in service since 1974.

The helicopter has been delivered to the Rota Naval Base in Cádiz, Spain, where it has joined the already three upgraded aircraft which are operational.

Two further aircraft will undergo the upgrade, along with the prototype which is being used for development and certification purposes, for delivery between 2017 and 2018.

The AB-212 upgrade involves full replacement of the electrical systems and a digitised cockpit. It also includes new functionalities such as radar, GPS navigation, night vision system, protection and self-defence systems.

The upgraded AB-212 can be operated without restriction in controlled military or civil airspace and in compliance with all the requirements of new regulations.


Life extension program of the AB-212 helicopters


The program for the modernization of seven Agusta Bell helicopters of the Spanish Navy in service since 1974, will extend their operational life in at least 15 years, incorporating advances in equipment and avionics. New mission systems such as radar, night vision system, and self-protection means, among others, have been also included to allow them to assume new roles and eff ectively operate in national and international scenarios more and more demanding.

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The objectives pursued with the program are to:
  • Allow the operation without restrictions within both military and civil controlled airspaces, in accordance with all requirements of newest regulations.
  • Provide the helicopters with self-protection and self-defense means to allow them to be deployed in multinational missions with low-level threat environment.
  • Upgrade the helicopters with state-of-the-art systems to assume their new role of maritime surveillance operating from OPV (Oceanic Patrol Vessel) type ships.

Completed tasks:
  • Update of the helicopter power generation systems including restructure and replacement of wiring.
  • Replacement of navigation, avionics systems and engine instrumentation for a glass cockpit, NVG compatible, integrated mission system and the modernization of communications systems.
  • Integration of equipment to enhance their mission capabilities including:

    • Surveillance radar
    • EO/IR Vision system
    • Self-protection and self defense systems (ballistic protection, missile warning system MAWS, and a Gatling type defensive weapon)
    • GPS navigation system with moving map
    • Cargo hoist.
SENER Group
SENER Group
SENER Group
SENER Group
SENER Group
SENER Group
SENER Group

The upgrade of the AB212 helicopters, as well as full replacement of the electrical systems and replacing the analogue cockpit for a fully digitalized one, also includes new functionalities such as radarGPS navigationnight vision system, and protection and self-defense systems etc., all of which are essential to effective operations in an ever more demanding national and international context. As a matter of fact, some of these helicopters upgraded by SENER-Babcock are aboard frigates that operate off the coast of Libya, participating in challenging missions and, according to the Spanish Navy itself, they are providing a very satisfactory response.

engineeringandconstruction.sener

engineeringandconstruction.sener

Source: aerospace.sener

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac



Technical data: redstar.gr

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