October 11, 2006
EADS North America’s full range of products for the U.S. Army was highlighted at this week’s annual meeting and exposition of the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) in Washington, D.C.
The company’s AUSA exhibit focused on five programs: the UH-145 Light Utility Helicopter, Team JCA’s C-295 airlifter, the DT-35 aerial target drone, the TBM 850 BAT multi-mission aircraft, and the TransProtec multi-purpose shelter.
A steady stream of Army aviators received their first “checkout” in the UH-145 displayed at AUSA, which was the aircraft used for the Army’s source selection performance demonstration. EADS North America was selected in June to supply the UH-145 as the Army’s next-generation Light Utility Helicopter – with a requirement for up to 322 aircraft and a potential total program life-cycle value of over $2 billion.
Army personnel who visited the UH-145 at AUSA were impressed with the helicopter’s excellent visibility, its ease of access and loading through the sliding side and rear clamshell doors, and the modern glass cockpit.
Also highlighted at AUSA was Team JCA’s C-295, which has been selected by the U.S. Army to proceed to Phase II evaluations for the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. This multi-role airlifter was represented at the AUSA convention by a scale model, and the first C-295 JCA aircraft will participate in the Army’s Early User Survey demonstration later this month.
The C-295 is being offered by the Team JCA partnership of Raytheon and EADS CASA North America, which brings together the companies’ production, mission support and logistics capabilities for the Joint Cargo Aircraft program. It is the only battle-proven and operational military transport aircraft competing for the Army and Air Force’s Joint Cargo Aircraft requirement.
EADS North America’s AUSA exhibit stand also included a scale model of EADS Socata’s TBM BAT –a multi-role version of the company’s six-seat TBM 850 turboprop-powered business aircraft. Equipped with an electro-optical/infrared sensor package, the TBM BAT is a highly cost-efficient platform for applications that include special operations, homeland security, border patrol, drug interdiction and law enforcement.
The TBM BAT’s mission system is based on a fully retractable turret located under the aft fuselage, and a “plug-and-play” operator’s console that is installed in the mid cabin. Its three-axis gyrostabilized turret is fitted with infrared and television cameras, and also can be equipped with a laser range finder and laser marker. The electrically-driven turret is situated between the TBM BAT’s ventral strakes, and fully retracts into the aft fuselage when not in use for discreet operations.
Control of the sensor package is handled with the removable operator’s console, which is easily loaded through the TBM 850’s large cargo door behind the wing. This allows for a quick-change of the aircraft’s cabin from a passenger configuration to a fully operational multi-mission platform.
Another product represented on EADS North America’s AUSA exhibit stand was the DT-35 subsonic aerial target, which was demonstrated this summer to the U.S. Army's Targets Management Office during back-to-back missions at McGregor Range in New Mexico. These flights were part of an Army evaluation of low-cost subsonic, subscale aerial targets that can be used for weapon system training purposes.
Completing the EADS North America display at AUSA was a scale model of the TransProtec multi-purpose shelter, which provides protection in fixed and mobile applications for up to 18-20 soldiers. Shown on the exhibit was the truck-mounted TransProtec shelter, which is used by NATO allies in Afghanistan to transport personnel – shielding them against such threats as IEDs (improvised explosive devices), ballistic fire, anti-tank mines and shrapnel. TransProtec is self-sufficient in operations of up to 10 hours, and is easily transportable by land, sea and air.
