Leonardo, this is how helicopters take off in Japan
Leonardo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a contract for additional MCH-101 naval helicopters and for the start of the program upgrade in Japan. During the Paris Air Show, the group also signed a contract with Mitsui Bussan Aerospace for two AW169 helicopters, strengthening the model's presence in the Japanese market.
At the Paris Air Show, Leonardo's helicopters take flight with Japan.
Leonardo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) have signed a contract for additional MCH-101 naval helicopters and for the start of the mid-life-update (MLU) program of this model in Japan. The group led by Roberto Cingolani communicates it in a note .
The MCH-101 is a license built version of Leonardo's AW101 helicopter. The signing, which follows an order for a helicopter placed in 2022, coincides with 20 years of collaboration between Leonardo, KHI and Marubeni Aerospace Corporation on the helicopter market and for the Japanese AW101 programme.
Furthermore, during the Paris Air Show, the Piazza Monte Grappa company signed a contract with Mitsui Bussan Aerospace for two AW169 helicopters, strengthening the model's presence on the Japanese market.
The helicopters of the Italian group have been in service in Japan since the mid-1980s, involved in many programmes.
All the details.
KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES SIGNED ORDER FOR MORE MCH-101 HELICOPTERS
The MCH-101 is a license-built version of Leonardo's AW101 helicopter used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Specifically, Leonardo, KHI and Marubeni Aerospace Corporation have been collaborating for 20 years on the MCH-101 program. KHI acts as prime contractor, Leonardo provides technical assistance for the platform and Marubeni Aerospace Corporation acts as Leonardo's distributor and is responsible for spare parts, ground support equipment and services.
As the group reports, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has a fleet of ten MCH-101s for demining and transport tasks and three CH-101s for utility transport used in Antarctic research activities, with extensive sharing of technical characteristics between the helicopters.
The upgrade program, launched last year, will involve some of the MCH-101 helicopters by equipping them with a state-of-the-art avionics configuration, in line with that of the new helicopters and thus increasing the operator's mission effectiveness.
THE CONTRACT WITH MITSUI BUSSAN AEROSPACE FOR TWO AW169s
Also during the Paris Air Show, the group led by Roberto Cingolani announced together with Mitsui Bussan Aerospace (MBA), the official distributor in Japan of the AW139, AW169 and AW189 helicopters, new orders for two AW169 helicopters.
Of the two AW169s ordered, one is assigned to a territorial authority's fire department, while the other will be able to meet new requirements resulting from emerging market opportunities. These latest contracts confirm the growing success of the AW169 in Japan, bringing the total number of units in the country to eight.
The newly ordered AW169 for firefighting duties is the second helicopter of this type in Japan for this mission and for civil protection, confirming the appreciation in this market segment for the most modern helicopter in its weight class. This AW169 is expected to arrive in Japan in mid-2024. Delivery to the customer will take place in 2025, after a local customization activity. Its configuration, versatile and multi-role, – indicates the note from the group – includes a range of dedicated equipment, including the LIDAR-type obstacle detection system created by Leonardo, FLIR electro-optical system, search light, weather radar, winch and bucket for fire fighting.
THE PRESENCE OF LEONARDO IN JAPAN
So Leonardo's presence in Japan is not recent: the group has been present in the country for over 40 years with more than 160 helicopters chosen by the Japanese Navy, the Coast Guard, the Police, and departments operating in the fire-fighting and SAR missions (Search and Rescue).
Over the years, Leonardo, which has an office in Tokyo, has built a solid relationship with Japan that goes beyond the simple supply of products and services.
Today there is a close collaboration between the industries of the two countries also consolidated through licensing agreements with local industrial partners such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric, Japan Radio Corporation, Japan Steel Works, to name a few. Finally, Leonardo collaborates locally with repair, maintenance and overhaul centres, distributors and resellers.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/leonardo-ecco-come-decollano-gli-elicotteri-in-giappone/ on Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:45:27 +0000.