This is interesting, this is part of a large scale cooperation between China and Eurocopter. We are basically looking at 3 separate projects, EC175, EC120 and CMH. I'm hoping this would provide the basis for some real advancement in the utility, transport, multirole and naval helicopters:
China in deal with Eurocopter to develop new helicopter
1 hour, 12 minutes ago
PARIS (AFP) - China signed a cooperation deal with the European helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter for the development of a new civil aircraft.
The deal was signed in Paris during a visit to France by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
The new 16-seater helicopter named the EC175 will go into development in 2006 and production is due to start in 2011, Eurocopter -- a subsidiary of the European consortium EADS -- said in a statement.
Eurocopter and the Chinese company ACIC II will each invest 300 million euros (352 million dollars) to develop the new helicopter, the statement said.
"Production will be shared on a 50/50 basis and each country will have its own assembly line. Sales forecasts for this latest-generation helicopter call for 800 to be sold worldwide over the next 20 years," it said.
Eurocopter factory in Marignane, France. China signed a cooperation deal with the European helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter for the development of a new civil aircraft.(AFP/File/Gerard Julien)
China to manufacture EC120 helicopter
China is expected to manufacture advanced EC120 helicopters in the near future, said a high ranking official with the Hafei Aviation Industry Co., ltd. Tuesday in Harbin.
"It has been approved in principle to let us build a new assembly line to manufacture EC120 helicopter outside France," said Qu Jingwen, general manager of the company.
Qu said the company was discussing with Euro Copter and the China Aviation Technology Import and Export Corporation the detailed technology and the procedure of obtaining airworthiness licenses. A written agreement is expected to be signed by the end of this year and the first aircraft is expected to roll off line by the end of 2004.
The EC120 is a five-seat light helicopter. It was designed jointly by Euro Copter, China Aviation Technology Import and Export Corporation, Harbin Aviation Industry Co. ltd and SingaporeTechnology Airspace Industry Corporation, in 1990.
Making a successful maiden flight in 1995, the aircraft has obtained licenses in more than 30 countries and regions. Beside being used as common passenger and cargo aircraft, the EC120 can be used for rescue, training, patrol and other missions.
The aim of building the assembly line is to cater to the demand of the Chinese market. In the next 10 years, China is expected to need at least 100 such aircraft, according to Qu.
With a design capability to produce 30 aircraft annually, the assembly line will need total investment of 20 million yuan.
So far, some 400 EC120 have been sold in 38 countries and regions.
To meet the growing demands for a medium-weight multirole helicopter from both military and civil sectors, the Chinese helicopter industry is currently developing a 6,000kg class helicopter under the help of international partners. The new 6,000kg class medium helicopter, which has yet been officially named, is sometime referred to as the Chinese Medium Helicopter (CMH) programme.
PROGRAMME
According to the report by Flight International, in May 1997 AVIC II and China National Aero-Technology Import-Export Corporation (CATIC) signed a US$70~80 million contract with Eurocopter France to develop an appropriate rotor system, including the main and tail rotor hubs and blades, for the CMH and possibly the attack helicopter programmes too. In March 1999, Agusta announced that it had signed a US$30 million initial contract with AVIC II and CATIC to develop the gear box and transmission components for the CMH.
At the same time, several Western companies have been competing in providing the CMH with the powerplant. Pratt and Whitney Canada has delivered two of its 1,700hp (1,250kW) PT6C-67C turbo-shafts to China’s Helicopter Research and Development Institute (CHRDI) located at Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. Torbomeca has also offered at least one unspecified powerplant, and its new 900kW-class Ardiden turbo-shafts specifically designed for 5/6t class helicopters. Agusta, which is helping China develop the transmission system for the CMH, is providing design expertises which may include the final choice on the powerplant options.
According to Chinese media, the medium helicopter project was initially set as a 5,500kg class design, but later changed to 6.000kg after reviewing the potential market needs. The CMH programme officially began in 2004. Analysis suggests that the first flight of a CMH prototype could take place in 2005 or 2006. This could lead to Chinese certification on a civil variant by 2007. First delivery of the CMH tactical transport to the PLA Army Aviation could occur by 2010~2012, followed by the naval variant scheduled to replace the Z-9C in current service with the PLA Navy.