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Dubai Air Show

BLACKEAGLE

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Dubai Airshow 2015: Light strike turboprops centre stage in the UAE
Gareth Jennings, Dubai - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
10 November 2015
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One of the first of 24 IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft to the delivered to the UAE air force at the Dubai Airshow 2015. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings

The Dubai Airshow 2015 is featuring three light attack turboprop types that are each looking to secure as big a slice as possible of what promises to be a lucrative regional market.

The IOMAX Archangel, Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, and Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine are each being featured at the event which runs from 8-12 November, in the hope of securing further sales for the former two and a maiden sale for the latter.

While the Middle East has traditionally been associated with sales of the latest high-tech fighter jets, light strike turboprops are increasingly coming into vogue as the advanced air forces of the region look for the most suitable and effective means of waging the low-intensity counter-insurgency campaigns that they are increasingly being asked to fight.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) in particular has led the way in fielding this kind of capability in the Middle East, having introduced the IOMAX AT-802 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) into service some years back. The UAE has since donated a number of these aircraft to Jordan and Egypt, which is in the process of replacing the Archangel.

The new Archangel has been developed from the AT-802 to carry Paveway II GBU-12/58 precision-guided bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and CiRit guided rockets on its six underwing hardpoints. IOMAX is also looking to integrate the Thales FreeFall Lightweight Multi-role Missile, the Turkish-made Teber 250 lb and 500 lb laser-guided bombs, and the UMTAS long-range air-to-surface anti-tank missile. A podded GAU-19 12.7 mm Gatling gun is also an option. In addition to the weapons it can carry, the Archangel is also equipped with an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) turret housed on a pod that can be modified to carry a synthetic aperture radar, ground-moving target indicator radar, and datalinks.

Deliveries of the first of 24 Archangels to the UAE began in mid-2015 and are set to conclude in January 2016.
Dubai Airshow 2015: Light strike turboprops centre stage in the UAE | IHS Jane's 360
 

BLACKEAGLE

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Dubai Airshow 2015: Bell nears completion of 407GX deliveries to NorthStar for MRH conversion

Gareth Jennings, Dubai - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
10 November 2015
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One of the NorthStar Aviation MRH light attack and armed reconnaissance helicopters delivered to the UAE military. Bell Helicopter is nearing completion of 56 'green' 407GX platforms to NorthStar ahead of conversion into the MRH configuration. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings

Bell Helicopter is nearing completion of deliveries of the 407GX utility helicopters to NorthStar Aviation for conversion into the Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) light attack and armed reconnaissance platform, it was announced at the Dubai Airshow 2015.

To date, 48 of 56 407GX helicopters have been handed over to Abu Dhabi-based NorthStar ahead of conversion into the MRH. This conversion work includes integrating new avionics and a night-vision-goggle-compatible Garmin G1000H cockpit, military communications and navigation equipment, a chin-mounted FLIR Systems Star Safire 260-HLD electro-optic/infrared sensor turret, and a combination of AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, 70-mm rocket pods, GAU-19 12.7-mm chain guns, and 7.62-mm M134 miniguns.

NorthStar first revealed its MRH at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. While the company has not commented publicly on customers for its platform, it is understood that it was awarded a contract for 30 MRH helicopters for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Indeed, UAE-operated MRHs were recently pictured operating in Yemen, and at least two examples were on static display at the Dubai Airshow. It is not clear if all of the 56 helicopters referenced by Bell are earmarked for the UAE or whether a second customer has been signed up but not announced.

Along with Bell's own 407GT armed helicopter, the MRH is aimed at those customers who are looking for an armed rotary-wing capability at an affordable price. The estimated unit cost of the MRH is USD9 million, compared with about USD40 million for a Boeing AH-64E Apache (for a non-US customer).
Dubai Airshow 2015: Bell nears completion of 407GX deliveries to NorthStar for MRH conversion | IHS Jane's 360
 
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