Singapore selected EC120 to replace AS550 helicopter

sgorion737 SG

hi this is my first posting... don't know whether this has been posted....

as shown in Flight International mag dated 1-7Nov 2005

Singapore has selected EC120 to replace AS550 helicopter
helicopter will be maintained by ST Aero

WiNtEr'SkiLL SG

Mr. Green

coolant SG

The Singapore selected EC120B made where? Surprised

tankee1981 SG

The EC120 is a light utility helicopter jointly developed by a few countries, Singapore is one of them. It makes economic sense to choose this over the rest as this will generate jobs in ST aero. I am wondering what sort of weapons or modifications is carried out in the helicopters we are acquiring. By the way can you post the article comfirming this sale? Thanks Very Happy

Pitot SG

Actually the EC120 is manufactured by the same company as the AS550.

EC120

AS550

lionnoisy SG

ha ha we are talking the heli hereMade in Singapore helpcopter

green portion is made by ST Aerospace .

sgFish SG

can the EC 120 be armed? from the official website provided by pitot, it doesn’t say so anywhere..

Pitot SG

According to Flight International, Sg is looking for heli trainer. So I dun think this copters need to be armed.

And threadstarter have not came up with prove of the purchase so i dun no if this is comfirmed.

wonderamazement SG

AH-6 seems to be nicer leh... Sad

lionnoisy SG

Under this contract, worth about $120m, ST Aerospace will provide the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) a fleet of five EC120 Colibri helicopters with full technical and logistic support for the fleet over a period of 20 years.
25 November 2005 -ST Aerospace to Provide RSAF With Training Helicopters Worth About $120M

Under the programme, ST Aerospace lywill own and maintain the helicopters, while pilot training would be performed by the RSAF. Eurocopter Southeast Asia (ESEA), which collaborated with ST Aerospace on this project, will
supply the helicopters as well as the simulators.

Why ST own the heli,instead if SAF?

Pl
note the rear portion in made by ST Aero

LazerLordz SG

Originally posted by lionnoisy:
[b]Under this contract, worth about $120m, ST Aerospace will provide the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) a fleet of five EC120 Colibri helicopters with full technical and logistic support for the fleet over a period of 20 years.
25 November 2005 -ST Aerospace to Provide RSAF With Training Helicopters Worth About $120M

Why ST own the heli,instead if SAF?[/b]

Cheaper to lease these choppers, especially if they will only be used as trainers.It's the same as what the RSAF does with BAE in Tamworth.

kelong70 SG

Agreed. If u do some calculation, it only cost S$1.2 million per helicopter per year. All maintenance will be provided at the price. Bao ka liao Mr. Green ... No need to train technicians to maintain the aircraft also. 20 years later just return the aircraft to ST; if needed, extend the contract loh. It's very cost saving for RSAF loh. ST Aerospace also stands to gain from the contract... Win-win situation for both parties.

Medicated Oil SG

Is there a difference whether who owns the Helicopter ?

The helicopter belongs to Singapore.

You and I pay taxes and GST for it.

KumSioJui SG

I heard sometime back the EC120 was developed to replace the gazalle, I’m sure with the EC120 they can install minigun pods to convert into light gunships.

CuteBeat SG

cos it's ST who develops it.
ST develop machines while SAF develop man.

kelong70 SG

Yaya... Definitely they are built for multi-mission including training. Maybe for armed reconnaissance mission then fix gun pods. But why we need minigun pods when we have the Longbow Apache. Blast our enemy with Hellfire II and 30mm cannon. Shiok Mr. Green

|-|05| SG

Not as cost effective. Why send AH-64's to chase down infantry or tracking small pockets of troops when they should be blasting tanks and IFV's. Besides, only 20 of them not enough to go around.

spencer99 SG

I agree with you....

We need more heli airframes with "attack" capabilities...less capable but much less expensive then the Apache....

specfore SG

Originally posted by lionnoisy:
ha ha we are talking the heli here[b]Made in Singapore helpcopter

green portion is made by ST Aerospace .
[/b]

Correction... the green portion was DEVELOPED , DESIGNED and TESTED, by ST Aero. Originally, the plan was that the green portion was to be built in Singapore (local assy and manufacture). But due to higher costs, the green portion is now mostly built in China !

specfore SG

The EC 120 has a poor external load. Originally, there were no provisions for hardpoints ( i.e. the structural parts designed to absorb the weight and vibration of weapon systems). But this is what I know of the EC 120 in its earlier version. They may have improved the structure now to accomodate a small external payload.