CONCEPTUAL BELL HUEY II
GUNSHIP
(Specialized Intimate Close Air
Support Helicopter)
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HUEY II OVERVIEW
Huey II embraces upgrading of UH-1H
engine, transmission, rotor system; tailboom/tailrotor drive assembly
replacement and complete airframe refurbishment/rewiring. Some armour
plating, infra red suppression, avionics suite upgrade and GPS nav system
installation are available options.
Over 5,000 UH-1H remain in service
worldwide (Y2007) with long term supportability of the Huey II envisaged
due to common usage of Bell commercial aircraft components. Direct
operating costs are reduced by over 30 percent. The USAF ordered 24
Huey II in 2005 with a glass cockpit option.
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Characteristics
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UH-1H |
Huey II |
Powerplant (Lycoming) |
T53-L-13 (1,400 shp) |
T53-L-703 (1,800 shp) |
Maximum Operating Weight |
9,500 pounds |
10,500 pounds |
Service Ceiling |
12,700 feet |
16,000 feet |
IGE Hover MOW at ISA+20 |
4,000 feet |
11,000
feet |
Cruise IAS doors open |
90 knots |
100 knots |
Endurance with nil reserves |
130 minutes |
170 minutes |
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GUNSHIP VERSION ARMAMENTS
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Australian UH-1H Version |
Conceptual Huey II Version |
2 x 7.62mm fixed forward firing
miniguns each
with rate of fire set at 4,500
rounds per minute,
minigun ammo stowage 9,000
rounds |
2 x 7.62mm fixed forward firing
miniguns each
with rate of fire set at 4,500
rounds per minute,
minigun ammo stowage 9,000
rounds |
2 x 7 tube 70mm rocket launchers
armed with 14 M229 17
pound HE warheads |
2 x NC621 20mm low recoil
cannon pods each
with rate of fire set at 500
rounds per minute,
max ammo load 500 rounds
HEI (250 per pod), effective against light armour and personnel |
4 x GPMG M60 7.62mm machine guns
with 3,000 rounds
ammunition (1,500 rounds each twin doorgun station) |
4 x GSMG MAG58/L7A2 7.62mm
machine guns with 3,000 rounds ammunition (1,500 rounds each
twin doorgun station) |
Refuel & full re-arm turnaround
in 10 minutes |
Refuel & full re-arm turnaround
in 15 minutes |
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A
‘new’ very versatile Huey II costs US$2million with superior combat
capabilities in most respects to Tiger and MRH90 which each cost upwards
of A$45million.
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