Eurocopter signs order to retrofit six more Bundeswehr CH53Gs

On May 28, at the ILA International Aerospace Exhibition, the German Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) and Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH signed a contract for the retrofit of six more CH53G transport helicopters operated by the German Army to convert them to mission helicopters fitted with ballistic self protection and specific mission equipment. The order is worth approximately €24 million, a large proportion of which will go to medium-sized German equipment manufacturers. The German Army will take delivery of the urgently needed transport helicopters between May and November 2009.

The order aims to close some of the operational gaps that currently exist in part of the German Army’s fleet of CH53G helicopters, in particular to the defensive mission equipment for protecting the crews and helicopters while flying missions. The centerpiece of the retrofit is the integration of an EloKa (electronic warfare) defence system, the addition of an internal fuel tank system to extend the helicopter’s range and equipment to prepare the helicopter for flying night missions.

“With this project we are providing rapid response to the German Army’s requirements for mission-capable transport helicopters to guarantee their national and international mission capability in the long-term”, said Ralf Barnscheidt, Senior Vice President Helicopter Support Center German Armed Forces, of the new contract signed today.

Eurocopter Deutschland was chosen as the main contractor for this task. The six helicopters covered by the contract will be upgraded and delivered over the next 16 months. At the same time, these helicopters will also be equipped with further improvements to ensure their continued mission capability, which will extend their service life by an additional 4,000 flight hours. The very short timeframe for completing this order will once again serve to demonstrate the capabilities of the German Army Helicopter Assistance Center in Donauwörth.

Eurocopter’s German Army Helicopter Assistance Center in Donauwörth also has an order for the retrofit of a total of 82 medium-heavy CH53G transport helicopters to ensure continued mission capability. This involves fixing airframe fatigue caused by use and aging to increase the helicopters’ design life from 6,000 to 10,000 flight hours. In addition to this, the retrofit will involve replacement of the entire electrical system, which is now about 35 years old.

The Eurocopter German Army Helicopter Assistance Center has already completed major orders for the CH53G transport helicopter working with the BWB in the past. One contract was for measures to maintain airworthiness for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight, another for the retrofit of 20 of these aircraft to extend their range, night low-level flying capability and electronic defensive countermeasures for missions with the UN and rapid reaction forces. Last year a contract for the retrofit of 40 CH53G transport helicopters was signed, forming the core of a "Midlife Upgrade" for this helicopter type to close existing gaps in operational capability and prepare the CH53G for missions it will perform jointly with the Tiger and the NH90.

The CH53G has been in service for over 35 years and will continue to form the backbone of the German Army’s missions abroad, where it is subjected to extreme conditions, for the foreseeable future. Since entering service it has not only been the cornerstone of flexible troop and material transport by the German Army as part of its missions under Germany’s NATO defense obligations, but has also been the central pillar for all out-of-area operations by the German Army as well as for other NATO forces in conflict zones from Kosovo to Kabul since the early 1990s. It has also seen considerable service combating national and international disasters such as forest fires and floods.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52% percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30% percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,500 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

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