Memorandum from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
INTRODUCTION
1. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is a recognized
world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and support. The
company's military products include the BLACK HAWK and SEAHAWKTM
helicopters, as well as the CH-53 heavy-lift helicopter.
Sikorsky also is producing militarized versions of its commercial
S-92TM helicopter that today are performing search and rescue
missions for the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency and transporting
the Heads of State of a half-dozen nations. The United Kingdom
Royal Travel Office has operated a VIP Sikorsky S-76+ for the
last ten years and in November 2007, The Royal Household again
selected Sikorsky as Preferred Supplier for the Royal Family helicopter
with the selection of a new delivery Sikorsky S-76C++ which is
scheduled to enter service in the 3rd Quarter of 2009.
2. Additionally, Sikorsky is preparing to
launch a new BLACK HAWK variant specially configured for international
markets. Sikorsky's factory in Mielec, Poland, will manufacture
this aircraft, the S-70i. Worldwide, Sikorsky employs 15,000 people,
and its aftermarket business, Sikorsky Aerospace Services, operates
globally to maintain both rotary and fixed wing aircraft.
3. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies
Corporation (UTC), which is the 39th largest manufacturer in the
U.S. and the 59th largest publicly held manufacturer in the world.
Its other subsidiaries include Otis Elevator; Carrier Corporation,
maker of air-conditioning and heating systems; UTC Fire &
Security, which includes the U.K.-born Chubb and Kidde products;
Pratt & Whitney, maker of aerospace propulsion systems; and
Hamilton Sundstrand, maker of aerospace systems. UTC recently
was named as Fortune Magazine's "Most Admired Aerospace and
Defense Company."
4. Sikorsky was founded in 1923 as
the Aero Engineering Corporation by aerospace pioneer and legend
Igor Sikorsky. The company was acquired in 1929 by the United
Aircraft and Transportation Corporation, which later became United
Technologies Corporation.
HISTORICAL AFFINITY
BETWEEN SIKORSKY
AND U.K. AVIATION
5. Today's modern military helicopter evolved
in part as a result of Sikorsky's and the UK armed forces' joint
experiences. At key periods in aviation history, the two entities'
paths intersected, benefiting both, as well as the entire aerospace
world.
(i) In January 1945, The Helicopter Training
School was opened at RAF Andover base. This also was Europe's
first helicopter flight training school. The aircraft used to
train Royal Air Force pilots was the Sikorsky R-4, which in 1943 had
become the world's first production helicopter. The R-4, designated
as the Hoverfly I in the U.K., is credited with training the first
British and American military pilots.
(ii) The RAF realized the R-4's potential quickly
and helped bring it to the attention of the U.S. military. Only
after the British had ordered well over 100 R-4 helicopters
did the U.S. armed forces follow suit.
(iii) The R-4 performed the world's first
military combat rescue mission, in 1944. An American crew rescued
a team of downed British personnel behind enemy lines in Burma.
The R-4 and the Sikorsky R-6 would become the only helicopters
used in World War II.
(iv) Sikorsky continued to refine the R-4 and
developed the S-51, which in 1947 became the first helicopter
in U.S. Navy history to perform a rescue. Sikorsky licensed the
U.K.'s Westland company to build the S-51, helping to position
Westland as the leader in British helicopter development. In December
1948, the first Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 successfully completed
its inaugural flight. Westland then produced the Dragonfly HR.1 helicopter
used by the Royal Navy's first operational helicopter squadron.
Westland also produced several variants including the Dragonfly
HC.2 medical evacuation helicopter, all based on the Sikorsky
designs.
(v) In 1952, the Sikorsky S-55 established
a world record by becoming the first helicopter to fly across
the Atlantic Ocean. Sikorsky in 1950 licensed Westland to
build this aircraft, which in the U.K. was designated the WS-55 Whirlwind
and served the RAF, the Royal Navy, and the Queen's Flight.
(vi) In 1958, Sikorsky's S-58 became the
first helicopter developed for a U.S. President, Dwight Eisenhower.
Westland was granted a license to produce this aircraft as well,
calling it the Wessex. The U.K helicopter's missions included
serving the Royal Marine Commandos.
(vii) Sikorsky later produced the S-61, which
was the world's first helicopter that could both hunt and destroy
submarines. In 1962, the S-61 set a helicopter speed record
of 210 mph. This was the first time a helicopter had flown
faster than 200 mph on an established course. Sikorsky licensed
this technology to Westland in 1969, which resulted in production
of the Sea King fleet used by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
for search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare, and troop transport
missions.
(viii) Four S-92TM helicopters are currently
performing search and rescue missions for the Maritime and Coastguard
agency as part of Interim SAR, the final stages of which are to
be adjudicated later this year.
6. Sikorsky believes these commonalities
provide a strong understanding of the U.K.'s military helicopter
capabilities—past, present and future.
HELICOPTER REQUIREMENTS
FOR TODAY'S
MISSIONS
7. With today's global war on terrorism,
high value is placed on helicopter capabilities that provide mission
flexibility, effective tactical response, multi-climate operability,
supportability, and economic value, all in a single platform.
8. Conflicts can spark up in any of the
world's troubled spots and escalate into regional, continental
and global crises, a possibility recognized by virtually every
government today and consistent with the fundamental planning
outlined in the newly updated U.K. Strategy for Countering International
Terrorism (March 2009) as well as the U.K's counter-insurgency
strategies.
9. Additionally, counter-insurgency wars
such as in Afghanistan are likely to become prolonged and resource-consuming,
which means helicopters must meet demanding standards for durability
and reliability. Thus, platforms best-suited to serve today's
military needs are those with:
(a) Multi-mission capability: Able to deliver
troops and supplies in diverse geographies and climates, to perform
in combat, search and rescue, and Special Operations missions,
and to support the "hearts and minds" operations vital
to counter-insurgency success, such as delivering medical supplies
and food to indigenous populations.
(b) Interoperability: Able to communicate and
team with other friendly nations' aircraft in joint operations.
Multi-government military and intelligence alliances are vital
to combating terrorism. As stated in the U.K.'s updated Strategy
for Countering International Terrorism, "We recognize that
partnerships in this country and overseas are essential to our
success …"
(c) Proven ability to perform in many climates,
with high availability, survivability, and reliability
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
FOR TOMORROW'S
MISSIONS
10. History shows that military capability
standards must rise, necessarily and continually, as threats become
more lethal. The growing threat of insurgents obtaining chemical,
biological or nuclear weapons is often cited as tomorrow's greatest
risk.
11. Future helicopter capability must provide
for operability in the most extreme situations, as well as magnify
all current capability for maneuver, speed, stealth, weapons delivery
and survivability. Near-term future technologies that will enable
this include:
(a) Full, fly-by-wire control and pilot training
to use it to maximum advantage
(b) Safer, all weather operating systems for
extreme environments ranging from deserts, where brownouts now
present serious risk to aircraft upon landing, to frigid terrains
where rotor icing and other complications pose high danger.
(c) Much greater speed for increased strike force
effectiveness, survivability and rapid reaction
(d) Aircraft control systems that require less
human involvement. Aircraft that can be flown with equal effectiveness
by one crew member versus several, as conditions require, will
enable greater human focus on the actual mission versus on flying
the helicopter.
12. Longer-term future capabilities should
include:
(a) Systems and components that automatically
adjust to changing conditions without any need for human intervention
(b) Aircraft that are completely "self-actualized,"
meaning they can complete missions without any onboard crew, while
making any course adjustments and taking any defensive or offensive
measures that are necessary to accomplish the mission.
6 April 2009
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