Kawasaki OH-1

Last updated
OH-1
OH-1 (4).jpg
A Kawasaki OH-1 in flight
Role Scout/observation helicopter
National originJapan
Manufacturer Kawasaki Aerospace Company
First flight6 August 1996
Introduction2000
StatusIn service
Primary user Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Produced1996–2013
Number built38 as of 2013 [1]

The Kawasaki OH-1 (nickname: "Ninja") is a military scout/observation helicopter developed and manufactured by the Kawasaki Aerospace Company. The primary operator is the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), who originally procured the OH-1 as a domestically produced successor to their existing OH-6D Loach fleet. The OH-1 has the distinction of being the first helicopter to be entirely produced in Japan. [2]

Contents

In addition to its use as an observation helicopter, it can also be armed to directly participate in combat; such weapons include a limited quantity of air-to-air missiles for self-defense purposes. Several variants of the OH-1 have been proposed, these have included derivatives of the type to serve as an attack helicopter as well as an aborted project to develop a utility helicopter. As of March 2014, a total of 38 OH-1s have entered service with the JGSDF; so far these complement the existing OH-6Ds rather than replace them. [3]

In December 2022, the Japanese government decided to replace 33 OH -1, 12 AH-64D, 47 AH-1S, and 26 U-125A with unmanned aerial vehicles. Japan plans to increase its defense budget from 1.24% of GDP in fiscal 2021 to around 2.0% within 10 years, and has decided to retire these helicopters and aircraft as part of an effort to spend its defense budget efficiently. [4]

Development

Origins

During the late 1980s, the JGSDF developed a requirement for a new scout/observation helicopter to replace its Kawasaki license-built OH-6Ds, which became the OH-X programme. [5] In June 1989, the JGSDF announced their intention to pursue the development of the OH-X. [1] Several proposals to meet the OH-X requirement were submitted by Kawasaki, Fuji and Mitsubishi. In 1991, Kawasaki's proposal was selected by the JGSDF's Technical Research and Development Institute as the prime contractor for the OH-X programme. [1] On 18 September 1992, the Kawasaki design formally appointed by the Ministry of Defense as the winner. [2] [5] Kawasaki was made responsible for producing 50 percent of the airframe, as well as coordinating development of the rotor system; the remaining airframe elements were manufactured by Mitsubishi and Fuji. [1] Development was formally launched in October 1992. [1]

A JGSDF OH-1, 2012 JGSDF OH-1 20120108-02.JPG
A JGSDF OH-1, 2012

In early 1996, the first OH-1 prototype was rolled out. [1] On 6 August 1996, the first of four OH-1 prototypes (designated XOH-1) performed the type's maiden flight. All four prototypes were flying by March 1997. [1] The four prototypes were delivered to the Japanese Defence Agency for service testing from June to August 1997. [6] By April 1998, flight testing of the prototypes was reportedly around half way complete, having accumulated a combined 400 flight hours during testing, further tests focused on flight validation, operational evaluation, and mission equipment functionality. [7] These four prototype aircraft were all later remanufactured to conform to production standards and redelivered under new serial numbers to the JGSDF. [1]

In June 1998, in response to the finalising of a production contract and an initial order for two OH-1s having been placed earlier that year, the manufacture of production OH-1s formally commenced; [6] [7] By the late 1990s, the JGSDF had announced that it had planned to procure between 150 [5] and 250 OH-Xs to meet its requirements. [1] [6] This figure was significantly fewer than the 297 OH-6Ds that were in active service by March 1995, and there were repeated concerns that numbers could be further curtailed as a result of the impact of defense budget cuts. Procurement, and thus production, of the OH-1 was of a slow pace; each year, only a handful of rotorcraft would normally be purchased, such as a pair of OH-1s being the only units procured in 2004. [8] [9] By 2013, production of the OH-1 was reportedly as presumed to have been terminated. [1]

Further development

During the 1990s, the JGSDF was interested in procuring a new attack helicopter during the following decade, seeking to replace the Fuji-built Bell AH-1 Cobra fleet. Amongst the proposals produced by Japanese industries was a derivative of the OH-1, tentatively designated as the AH-2. [10] [11] In 1999, it was revealed that the JGSDF was actively studying the modification of the OH-1 into an attack helicopter suitable to their requirements. [12] [13] The OH-1 had been intentionally designed with additional margin to accommodate such growth of scope, the main limiting factors being its transmission and engines. The AH-2 proposal would have involved installing uprated engines and the addition of new unspecified armaments for anti-tank combat missions; Boeing in particular was dismissive of the value of the proposed rotorcraft, claiming that it "cannot fulfill the attack requirement". [14] Kawasaki's proposal was ultimately rejected in favour of a locally-built variant of the Boeing AH-64 Apache. [1]

A pair of OH-1s in formation flight OH-124.01.10 Dong Fang Hang Chu Fei Xing R Zhuang Bei 56.jpg
A pair of OH-1s in formation flight

In 2005, Kawasaki proposed the development of a utility-orientated derivative of the OH-1 in response to the fledgling UH-X programme, which intended to replace the JGSDF's outdated fleet of Fuji-built Bell UH-1J Iroquois helicopters. [15] This variant, which would have used the OH-1 as a base, would have featured a new cabin, avionics, transmission and engines, but would have also retained a high level of commonality between the observation and utility models. In 2006, the Japanese government approved a request to fund development of a more powerful variant of the OH-1's Mitsubishi TS1-10 engine. [16] In March 2007, Kawasaki was reportedly close to finalizing its plans for the utility-orientated OH-1 derivative of the OH-1. [17] In 2012, a refreshed proposal for the UH-X requirement was made by Kawasaki, emphasizing its use of OH-1 technology. [18] In July 2015, the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced its decision to accept a rival bid made by Fuji/Bell to domestically produce a modified version of the Bell 412 to meet the UH-X requirement instead. [19]

In early 2007, Kawasaki confirmed that it was studying several capability improvements for the OH-1 in terms of adaptability, maneuverability and stability; industry sources also claimed that improvements to the range of the OH-1 along with significant power output increases from the type's TS-1-10 engines. [17] Alternative powerplants for the OH-1 have also been suggested, such as the LHTEC T800 and the MTR MTR390. [7] In late 2008, Kawasaki was considered implementing a series of improvements aimed at increasing the payload of OH-1; this proposed modification was dependent upon demand from the Japanese defense ministry. [20]

Design

The electro-optical sensor on upper fuselage of an OH-1 JGSDF OH-1(32622) electro-optical sensor turret.JPG
The electro-optical sensor on upper fuselage of an OH-1

The OH-1 Light Observation Helicopter is a tandem-seat, twin-engine scout helicopter. It has a narrow fuselage fitted with small stub wings and a non-retractable tail wheel undercarriage. The OH-1 is suited to armed scout, light escort, and observation duties. [1] It is equipped with an automatic pilot system with flight holding functionality, while the cockpit features a multi-display system to lower workloads on its two-man crew. [2]

The OH-1 is powered by a pair of Mitsubishi TS1 turboshaft engines, equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC), which drives a four-blade composite main rotor with a bearingless rotor hub along with a Fenestron-type anti-torque tail rotor (an enclosed tail-fan unit). The Fenestron uses eight asymmetrically spaced blades to reduce both noise and vibration. [1] [5]

A roof-mounted electro-optical sensor turret is located forward of the rotor head, containing a forward looking infrared sensor, a laser rangefinder and a colour TV camera. A total of four hardpoints are fitted under the rotorcraft's stub wings to allow the carriage of external stores, these have a total capacity of 132 kg (291 lb). The outer pylons can carry four Type 91 guided surface-to-air missiles, while the inner pylons are capable of carrying external fuel tanks for additional range or endurance. [5] No additional armament is typically fitted. [5]

Operational history

In January 2000, the first production standard OH-1 was delivered to the JGSDF. [1] The OH-1 is slated to replace the Hughes OH-6D, which remains in service as the primary aircraft in this role.

Variants

Operators

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan

Specifications (OH-1)

Cockpit of an OH-1 JGSDF OH-1(32634) cockpit right rear view at Maizuru Air Station July 27, 2014.jpg
Cockpit of an OH-1
Fenestron tail rotor, note the asymmetrical blades JGSDF OH-1(32634) Fenestron-type rotor-in-tail fan 20140727.JPG
Fenestron tail rotor, note the asymmetrical blades

Data from Kawasaki Aerospace [2]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Kawasaki OH-1 Public Flight Demonstration
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg OH-1 Performing Maneuvers and Landing

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References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Forecast International: Intelligence Center". Archived from the original on 2016-08-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "OH-1 Light Observation Helicopter." Kawasaki, Retrieved: 26 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "第II部 わが国の防衛政策の基本と防衛力整備" (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  4. ↑ 空自捜索機や陸自戦闘ヘリを廃止、無人機で代替へ…防衛予算効率化 Yomiuri Shimbun. 9 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Aoki 1999, pp. 37–44.
  6. 1 2 3 Taylor 1999, p. 305.
  7. 1 2 3 Lewis, Paul. "First OH-1 scout helicopters poised for series production." Flight International, 29 April 1998.
  8. ↑ Sobie, Brendan. "Defence cuts force Japan to slow helicopter output". Flight International , 13–19 January 2004. p. 18.
  9. ↑ "Reality check." Flight International, 28 September 2004.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Paul. "Japan eyes attack helicopter." Flight International, 31 July 1996.
  11. ↑ "Japan ready to flight test attack helicopter." Flight International, 7 October 1998.
  12. ↑ Jeziorski, Andrzej. "Japan's anti-tank OH-1 study heralds further delay to AH-X." Flight International, 4 August 1999.
  13. ↑ "AH-X bidders await end-of-year request." Flight International, 28 March 2000.
  14. ↑ "Japan rethinks helicopter needs." Flight International, 16 March 2004.
  15. ↑ "KHI prepares bid for UH-X." Flight International, 14 June 2005.
  16. ↑ "Kawasaki to develop new version of OH-1 helicopter." Flight International, 11 April 2006.
  17. 1 2 "Kawasaki to upgrade OH-1 for utility role." Flight International, 13 March 2007.
  18. ↑ Osborne, Tony. "Kawasaki to leverage OH-1 technology in new utility helicopter." Shepard Media, 29 May 2012.
  19. ↑ Grevatt, Jon. "Japan selects Fuji/Bell option for UH-X programme." IHS Jane's Defence Industry, 19 July 2015.
  20. ↑ Govindasamy, Siva. "Kawasaki talks civil." Flight International, 23 September 2008.
  21. ↑ "World Air Forces 2014". Flightglobal Insight. 2014.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  22. ↑ Jackson 2007, pp. 395–396

Bibliography

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