After 20 years of service the 13 CH-149 currently in service with the National Defense will get a huge Mid Life Upgrade with renewed avionics, more powerful engines and top notch sensors including the one able to locate cell phones.
The existing fleet will be expanded with another 3 helicopters bringing the total to 16, with an expected operational life up until 2042.
https://www.wireservice.ca/leonardo-awa ... n-program/
It seems that with this upgrade they will get very close to the Norwegian ones.
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- ThePointblank
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Re: Canadian CH-149 getting new life through MLU program
I guess that means 903 is officially a write off...
Re: Canadian CH-149 getting new life through MLU program
ThePointblank wrote:I guess that means 903 is officially a write off...
Out of the 15 delivered one was lost in 2006 when it crashed into the waters in Nova Scotia.
Another one crashed a few months ago in Gander, with the helicopter eventually landing on her side as a consequence of tail boom mishap.
The article makes reference to 13 existing helicopters so I guess you are right.
Even if it wasn’t looking that bad, the consequences of the second accident on the helicopter were probably judged not worth the effort (while the first accident was clearly a write off as the helicopter was basically broken in half).
Re: Canadian CH-149 getting new life through MLU program
Unclear if the three extra aircraft are new frames or refurbished/remanufactured e.g. the VH-71s?
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- ThePointblank
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Re: Canadian CH-149 getting new life through MLU program
Elshad wrote:Unclear if the three extra aircraft are new frames or refurbished/remanufactured e.g. the VH-71s?
From what I understand, new build. The VH-71's are just too different from a structural point of view to make it worthwhile. No rear ramp, the side doors are on the wrong side of the aircraft, and many other aspects of the VH-71's structure are also different.
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