Eurocopter EC725 – How fearsome is the Caracal multitasking helicopter? -
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Eurocopter EC725 – How fearsome is the Caracal multitasking helicopter?

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Basically, EC725 is the further development of Eurocopter AS532 Cougar, improving upon the design with a five-blade composite main rotor incorporating a new airfoil shape to reduce vibration levels.

Introduce

The EC-725 Caracal helicopter, with an estimated cost of $ 20 million each, is an Airbus long-range tactical transport helicopter. As the newest member of the Cougar family, the 11-ton helicopter has proven reliability and durability in combat conditions. The modern combat environment promotes the multi-purpose and flexibility of military assets. In the late 1990s, a specialized helicopter project for Search and Rescue operations was developed to meet the requirements of the French Air Force. With experience gained from the Cougar family, Eurocopter designed a new helicopter based on the AS-532 Cougar, later designated EC725. The new helicopter will replace the role of the outdated AS 532 Cougar of the French Air Force.

In addition to its original purpose to carry out the military transport, Combat Search and Rescue operations, when armed, the EC725 is also available for combat missions. EC-725 has seen combat service at the hottest locations in the world, including Lebanon, Afghanistan, Chad, the Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Somalia and Mali, while supporting activities due to NATO leadership in Libya. EC725 made its first flight on November 27, 2000, the first helicopter was delivered to the French Air Force in February 2005. In 2015, EC725 was renamed H225M, to suit with the new brand of Airbus Helicopters.

Design

Basically, EC725 is the further development of Eurocopter AS532 Cougar, improving upon the design with a five-blade composite main rotor incorporating a new airfoil shape to reduce vibration levels. The helicopter can be fitted with removable armour plating to protect the troops and is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A4 turboshaft engines mounted over the cabin, which feature a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control system.

Thanks to the anti-icing system, allows the helicopter to operate in very cold climates. EC725 can be used for land and sea transport missions, as well as other special missions. Other improvements include a reinforced main rotor gearbox and an all glass cockpit. The cockpit is designed for two-person crew, protected by bulletproof glass. The pilots are supported by an integrated display system featuring a digital map and Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays.

Behind the cockpit is the passenger compartment, which takes up most of the fuselage. EC725 can carry 5.67 tons of cargo or 29 soldiers. Above the passenger cabin are the engines, driving a five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor. Overall dimensions of the EC-725 include the length of 19.5m (63.97 ft), height of 4.6m (15 ft). The landing system consists of two main single-wheeled legs and a double tired nose leg. An in-flight refueling probe can be mounted on the starboard side of the aircraft to refuel on the flight, so the range of operation is greatly extended. Many different kits are available for customers to equip EC 725 for the required task roles.

Power plant

Airbus has equipped EC-725 with two turboméca Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, with a capacity of 2,382 horsepower each. The helicopter can reach a maximum speed of 324 km/h, a cruise speed of 285 km/h, a range of 920 km, a service ceiling of 6,000m and a rate of climb up to 7.4 meters per second.

Armament

The helicopter has day and night time search and rescue capabilities by way of a search radar and Forward Looking Infra Red; these allow the EC725 to be flown under visual meteorological and instrument flight rules conditions. Depending on the requirements of the customer, EC725 can be customized with many different military equipment and ωεɑρσռs, such as a pair of 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns mounted within forward left and right windows, or a pair of 68 mm side-mounted rocket launchers, each with 19 rockets, or the MU90 Impact aerial-launched torpedo. Thanks to its flexible modular structure, the EC725 can be equipped with a Helibras-built countermeasures suite, which includes chaff and flares to confuse radar and heat-guided missiles respectively. Recently, Airbus has successfully tested the EC-725 version with the anti-ship Exocet, helping to improve the combat capability of the helicopter.

Operators

Currently, there are about 90 EC-725 helicopters operating with Brazil, France, Mexico, etc. Most recently, the Royal Thai Air Force ordered a total of four EC-725 helicopters as part of the country’s military modernization program. EC-725 will replace the outdated Bell UH-1 helicopter, which has been in service since the late 1960s. In addition to Thailand, several other countries in Southeast Asia are also using and ordering Airbus helicopters. According to the announcement, Singapore has ordered 12 H225Ms, while Malaysia is using a fleet of 12 helicopters.

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5 Fastest Fighter Jets in the World Ever And Still Active Today

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It is undeniable, that ancient or ancient fighter jets have become technology that has been reaping admiration to this day. For example, the F-15 Eagle and MiG-29 were rivals in their time. This of course cannot be separated from how today’s fighter jets are made.

By paying attention to the details and existing technology, a more modern fighter jet was formed. However, unfortunately not all modern fighter jets can satisfy today’s engineers and experts. In fact, in terms of speed, it is known that most of the ancient fighter jets dominated.

So, which are the fastest fighter jets in the world? According to the Bulgarian Military, here is a list of active and fastest fighter jets in the world!

Grumman F-14 Tomcat (2,485 km/h), USA


It is undeniable that the Tomcat is an older generation. In fact, the film Top Gun: Maverick illustrates how this jet lacks the features of today’s era. In this case, in fact the Tomcat is still used by Iran.

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation is the manufacturer of that aircraft. Despite its age, it is known that it is a reliable interceptor that can accompany four targets at once while simultaneously capturing up to 6 targets.

Eurofighter Typhoon (2,495 km/h), Germany


Germany put its Armed Forces “Typhoon” representative into production in 2003. Most of the hull is made of a special coating that blocks electromagnetic waves, while the combat radius of the fighter aircraft is 1,390 km. This fighter jet is also owned by Britain and Italy. There are about 500 such fighters in the world.

Su-35 fighter jet (2,500 km/h), Russia


This aircraft is the most formidable fighter of the Russian Air Force, currently in service. This powerful fighter with two modern engines is a modern Su-27 fighter produced in Soviet times.

The Su-35 can climb to a height of 20,000 meters, perform aerobatics, and carry a sizeable payload. All these tactical and technical characteristics, coupled with advanced electronic equipment and weᴀponѕ, turn the Su-35 fighter into a dangerous foe for any foreign fighter.

Su-57 fighter jet (2,600 km/h), Russia


This aircraft is a Russian 4++ generation fighter. This fighter is characterized by the extensive use of stealth and artificial intelligence technologies. The electronics would take over most of the test work, freeing up pilots to carry out combat missions. The maximum speed of the Su-57 is nearly 200 km/h more than the American F-22 Raptor.

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (2 650 km/h), USA

This aircraft is the perfect leader in its class and is distinguished by excellent speed and maneuverability. The tactical all-weather fighter appeared in 1976, with production scheduled for 2025 to arm America. A total of 1,500 of these items are known to exist and all fighters are in the United States.

That’s the world’s fastest active fighter jet. Now, the fighter jet is still adorning the defense technology industry in various countries.

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B-1 Lancer: This Bomber Is The Ultimate Survivor

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The B-1 Lancer, nicknamed the “Bone,” is the United States’s only supersonic bomber. The B-1 compliments the other US bombers – the workhorse B-52 Stratofortress and the stealthy B-2 Spirit. Unlike the B-52 and B-2, however, the B-1 is capable of breaking the sound barrier. That the B-1 can hit Mach 1.2 is especially impressive given that the bomber also can carry a 25-ton payload.

Despite the B-1’s impressive capabilities, the bomber was canceled before entering service, and actually had to be saved from the scrapheap.

B-1: A History

During the Eisenhower administration, the US Air Force began looking for a new bomber – something that could combine the raw speed of the Convair B-58 Hustler with the hefting ability of the B-52. Initially, the North American B-70 Valkyrie – a bomber featuring six engines, which could reach Mach 3 and a 70,000-foot service ceiling – was selected.

Yet, improvements in the Soviet air defense systems, specifically their surface-to-air missiles, rendered the Valkyrie’s high-altitude flight more dangerous – which forced the Valkyrie to conduct bomb runs at lower altitude. That was a problem, however; at low altitudes, the Valkyrie suffered from higher aerodynamic drag – which limited the bomber to subsonic speeds and a short range. In effect, the Valkyrie was redundant – less useful even – than the already serving B-52. Accordingly, the Valkyrie program was canceled.

Multiple programs were formed to develop a bomber capable of supplementing the B-52 – which was poorly matched for low-level bombing runs. The programs, which hoped to find a long-term fix, included the Subsonic Low-Altitude Bomber (SLAB), Advanced Manned Precision Strike System (AMPSS), and the Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft (AMSA) – neither developed much in terms of a tangible product, and were eventually limited when Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara steered the DoD away from bombers development and towards ICBM development.

President Richard Nixon brought AMSA back from the dead in 1969, however. North American Rockwell won the AMSA contract – edging out Boeing and General Dynamics – and began to develop the prototype which would become the B-1.

Development of the B-1 went smoothly enough through the 1970s – but then something unexpected happened. A Soviet pilot defected, bringing with him a heap of intelligence.

In 1976, Viktor Belenko landed his MiG-25 Foxbat in Japan. Belenko was an extremely valuable source of intelligence; among the tidbits he shared: the Soviets were developing a “super-Foxbat” (most likely the MiG-31) with an advanced radar system that would allow for the easy detection of low-flying aircraft (like the B-1). Belenko’s intelligence suggested that the B-1 would be functionally useless the minute it entered service.

Jimmy Carter, who was then campaigning for president, made responsible defense spending a cornerstone of his policy proposals.

Carter bashed the B-1 program in particular throughout his campaign – and when he was elected president, he ordered a study that resulted in the cancellation of the B-1 program.

THE LANCER MAKES A COMEBACK

It was not until President Ronald Reagan won the 1980 election, replacing Carter, that the B-1 program was renewed. Reagan had campaigned on the premise that Carter was a weak leader, weak on defense; Reagan cited the B-1 cancellation as a primary example of Carter’s weakness on defense-related issues.

So, predictably, when Reagan took office, he reinitiated the B-1 program, and in January 1982, the USAF ordered 100 B-1 bombers from Rockwell.

Politics almost prevented the B-1 from entering service – but the supersonic bomber got there, albeit in a roundabout way. The B-1 is still in service today but plans are in place to have the B-1 phased out by 2036.

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AH-1W Super Cobra Is The First Attack Helicopter In The World – Honestly “Terrible”

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Service: USMC Armament: 20 mm M197 Gatling cannon; Hydra 70 rockets; 5 in Zuni rockets; TOW missiles; AGM-114 Hellfire; AIM-9 Sidewinder. Speed: 170 knots  Range: 58 nm Propulsion: 2x GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines Crew: 2

Originating from a concept demonstrator delivered to the U.S. Army in 1962 based upon a UH-1 Huey, the AH-1W Super Cobra is the world’s first attack helicopter. Marines have been flying the AH-1W Super Cobra since 1986. The last AH-1W was delivered in 1998.

The AH-1W is being replaced by the AH-1Z, starting in 2006 as part of a remanufacture program. The Last AH-1W is expected to be replaced in 2020. AH-1Ws are fielded in Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons, or HMLAs, along with the UH-1N.

Super Cobra helicopters form the backbone of the Marine Corps’ air-ground task force and act as on-call close air support platforms for Marines under fire. Cobras are also used for ground attack coordination, with pilots trained to call in artillery or mortars on positions while orbiting above the battlefield.

The Super Cobra was the first attack helicopter to qualify both the Sidewinder air-to-air missile and the Sidearm anti-radiation missile. Both missiles can use the same LAU-7 rail launcher. Sidearm has a range of more than 15km. AIM-9L Sidewinder is an all-aspect, short-range, air-to-air missile produced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The missile has a range of 15km.

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