UK Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy Sea King HC Mk4 support helicopters, currently being deployed on operations in Afghanistan, are benefiting from greatly improved performance thanks to new composite rotor blades increasing carrying capacity and speed.
The new modified Carson composite blades, together with a new AgustaWestland five-bladed tail rotor, enable the aircraft to operate far more effectively in the demanding conditions prevailing on Operation HERRICK, providing a welcome additional capability in a theatre where helicopters are always in great demand.
The modified US-designed Carson blades were selected following an extensive testing and evaluation programme, conducted by the MOD's Joint Test and Evaluation Group Aircraft Test & Evaluation Centre (ATEC) and QinetiQ on behalf of the Sea King Integrated Project Team (IPT). The work supported an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) to enable the Sea Kings to be deployed.
Trials carried out in “hot and high” conditions in Colorado were followed by operational training in Cyprus, in which 846 Naval Air Squadron tried out the modified aircraft. Hover performance was demonstrated to have increased by 2,000lb (907kg) and forward speed by up to 49 knots (91km), confirming real performance improvements.
The ten-month timeframe within which the project moved from UOR declaration to delivery won praise from the Sea King IPT. Lieutenant Commander Dave Maude commented:
“Within the MOD, the Carson blades programme is recognised as being demanding with regards to the short timescales involved, and there has been a lot of admiration for the way that prime contractor QinetiQ has tackled the programme and the amount of hours and effort that have been put in.”
Overall the programme has demonstrated real performance improvements through a very cost-effective £5.25M upgrade programme, delivered very rapidly. It means that the long-serving Sea King can undertake a wider range of tasks in a demanding operational environment, proving a great asset to UK and other NATO forces conducting operations in Afghanistan.
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