HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Clears High Weather Tests at Himalayas

HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Clears High Weather Tests at Himalayas

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HAL designed and developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) successfully demonstrated high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas. The trials were carried out by the test pilots from HAL, IAF and the Army from August 24 to September 2, 2019.

The LUH has complied with all the requirements of the users and with the completion of hot and high-altitude testing, it is close to operational clearance certification, says Mr R Madhavan, CMD, HAL.

All planned tests were successfully demonstrated. A comprehensive test plan was executed at Leh (3,300m) in temperatures up to International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) +32 degree C which included envelope expansion, performance and flying qualities.

The LUH then lifted off from Leh and demonstrated its hot and high hover performance at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at 5,000m followed by another forward helipad (5,500m at ISA +27degree C). While these extreme weather conditions imposed flight restrictions on all other civil and military aircraft, LUH flights were unhindered as it is designed for such operations.

The helicopter embarked on a 3,000km flight from Bengaluru to Leh over a period of three days traversing many civil and military airfields. During the course of ferrying and trials at high altitude, the chopper revealed high reliability without any service support.

The composite trials team included designers, flight test crew of HAL, the Indian Air Force and Indian Army. Representatives of CEMILAC and ORDAQA witnessed the trials for military and civil certification requirements respectively.

The flights were completed by an HAL flight test team led by Wg Cdr (Retd) Unni Pillai, CTP(RW) and accompanied by Wg Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambani, Gp Capt (Retd) Pupinder Singh, Gp Capt V Panwar, Wg Cdr A Jena, a representative from the Air Force Gp Capt R Dubey and Lt Col R Grewal from the Indian Army.

The LUH completed hot weather trials at Nagpur in 2018, cold weather trials at Leh in 2019, sea level trials at Chennai in 2018 and at Puducherry in 2019.

HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Clears High Weather Tests at Himalayas

HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Clears High Weather Tests at Himalayas

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ASCOD ULAN Armoured Fighting Vehicle

ASCOD ULAN Armoured Fighting Vehicle

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The ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development) armoured fighting vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Spanish General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas (both companies are now divisions of a unit of General Dynamics). In Austrian version is called “ASCOD ULAN”.
The ULAN mounts a 30 mm Mauser MK-30/2 autocannon in a fully traversable electro-mechanical turret. As secondary armament, the Ulan carries 200 rounds of 30 mm and 600 rounds of 7.62 mm rounds in the turret, a further 205 rounds for the 30 mm gun and up to 1,290 for the 7.62 mm machine gun are stored inside the hull.

ASCOD ULAN Armoured Fighting Vehicle

ASCOD ULAN Armoured Fighting Vehicle


The Ulan is fitted with a digital fire control system built by Kollsman. The gunner’s sight is manufactured by Elbit and the integrated thermal imager can be accessed by both the gunner and the commander.
The Ulan has been fitted with MEXAS composite armour, which increases ballistic protection against up to 30 mm APFSDS rounds fired. The Ulan is also fitted with spall-liners in order to decrease casualties in case of armour penetration.
The Austrian Ulan fitted withs a 720 horsepower (540 kW) MTU 8V-199-TE20 engine, Renk HSWL 106C hydro-mechanical transmission, suspension based on torsion bar and rotary dampers; designed and manufactured by “Piedrafita”.

Navantia Launched HMAS Stalwart (A304)

Navantia Launched HMAS Stalwart (A304)

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Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia has launched the second of the two Supply-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) vessels ordered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the future HMAS Stalwart (A304), during a ceremony at the Ferrol shipyard in Spain on August 30, 2019. The ship is due to enter service in 2022. The two 19,500-ton AOR vessels were ordered as part of an AUD642 million (USD432 million) contract signed in May 2016 under Australia’s Project Sea 1654 Phase 3 Maritime Operational Support Capability program. HMAS Stalwart (III) and her sister ship HMAS Supply (II) will replace HMAS Success and HMAS Sirius with a single class of two AOR Ships to sustain deployed maritime forces. The two ships are based on the Spanish Cantabria class and were built at the Ferrol shipyard.

Navantia Launched HMAS Stalwart (A304)

Navantia Launched HMAS Stalwart (A304)

Helicopters Evacuate Naval Station Mayport Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Helicopters Evacuate Naval Station Mayport Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

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MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 48 as they prepare to depart Naval Station Mayport. Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic ordered aircraft at Naval Station Mayport to sortie ahead of Hurricane Dorian. Dorian is expected to bring high winds and heavy rain to the East Coast.
Hurricane Dorian is a strong tropical cyclone currently affecting the East Coast of the United States. The fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, Dorian developed from a tropical wave on August 24 in the Central Atlantic. The system gradually intensified while moving toward the Lesser Antilles, before becoming a hurricane on August 28. On the morning of September 3, Dorian began to move slowly towards the north-northwest. Dorian subsequently completed its eyewall replacement cycle and moved over warmer waters, regaining Category 3 intensity by midnight on September 5.

Helicopters Evacuate Naval Station Mayport Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

Helicopters Evacuate Naval Station Mayport Ahead of Hurricane Dorian


The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modifications are the folding main rotor and a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships. Crews from HSM-48 operate the MH−60R Seahawk, a helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft and equipped with two front-drive T700−GE−401C turboshaft engines manufactured by the General Electric Company. The helicopter has fixed landing gear, an external cargo hook, a rescue hoist, and bomb racks for carrying and launching external stores. In addition, it is equipped with a sonobuoy launch system, a Helicopter In−Flight Refueling (HIFR) system, and the necessary avionics and instrumentation for instrument flight and mission accomplishment. The helicopter can operate from a variety of naval ships.
U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch/Released

TOS-1A Solntsepyok Multiple Rocket Launcher

TOS-1A Solntsepyok Multiple Rocket Launcher

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The TOS-1A Solntsepyok (Blazing Sun) is Russian-made multiple rocket launcher and thermobaric weapon system which is designed for fire support of infantry and tanks, defeating enemy personnel at unconcealed environment and under the shelter in various kinds of offensive and defensive combat action, and also for incapacitation of light armored transport and vehicles. TOS-1A is used in combat formation of supported forces from unconcealed and concealed positions. The TOS-1A is designed and manufactured by the Russian Defence Company JSC of Uralvagonzavod.

The armament of the TOS-1A consists of a block launcher with 24 guide pipes of 220 mm caliber with 3,725 m length for launching unguided missile. The TOS-1A fires an unguided missile via ballistic course after its boosting by solid-fuelled thrust engine. The projectile nose is equipped with special thermobaric explosives. At missile fuse activation at the target area, central initiation – destructive charge destructs thin-walled capsule of the projectile nose and dispenses thermobaric explosives at ground air lair. The TOS-1A uses BM-1 combat vehicle components based on the chassis of the Russian-made T-72 main battle tank. The vehicle is motorized with a V-12 multi-fuel engine V-84-1 developing a power of 840 hp. at 2,000 rpm. The latest version of the TOS-1A uses now the chassis of the T-90 MBT (Main Battle Tank).

Helisling FC 470 - Zodiac Milpro Official

Helisling FC 470 – Zodiac Milpro Official

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The Zodiac Milpro AIRDROP and HELIDROP solutions are developed to deploy rapidly inflatable boats or RIBs from any tactical helicopter or transport aircraft, directly drop with the specific Zodiac Milpro drop packing for the lowest altitudes or using parachute for medium and high altitudes, it ensures the operational state of the boat. These Zodiac Milpro techniques can also be used complementary to UNDERWATER CACHÉ, allowing hiding the boat after the drop. The Zodiac Milpro operational training team course ensures the best knowledge to use efficiently AIRDROP and HELIDROP systems.
Many other specific procedures are also available as helicopter boat recovery or special tactical infiltration.

Helisling FC 470 - Zodiac Milpro Official

Helisling FC 470 – Zodiac Milpro Official


Zodiac Milpro is a French company that manufactures inflatable boats and rigid hull inflatable boats for military and professional users. Headquartered in Paris, France and with manufacturing facilities in Delta, British Columbia, Roses, Spain, and Stevensville, Maryland. Zodiac Milpro used to be a subsidiary of Zodiac Aerospace but was spun off in 2007. Zodiac Milpro has originated most of the major concepts that have driven the development of the modern inflatable boat since the 1930s. Since those early days, it has become the main manufacturer of inflatable and semi-rigid boats for professional and military applications.
Video by Zodiacmilpro.com

Italian Army (Esercito Italiano)

Italian Army (Esercito Italiano)

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The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) is the land-based component of the Italian Armed Forces of the Italian Republic. The army’s history dates back to the unification of Italy in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya, Northern Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, Abyssinia before World War II and in World War II in Albania, Balkans, North Africa, Russia and Italy itself. During the Cold War, the army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east.

Italian Army (Esercito Italiano)

Italian Army (Esercito Italiano)


Since the end of the Cold War, the army has seen extensive peacekeeping service and combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank and among its aircraft the Mangusta attack helicopter, recently deployed in UN missions. The headquarters of the Army General Staff are located in Rome opposite the Quirinal Palace, where the president of Italy resides. The army is an all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel.