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The Navy’s fleet of helicopters is based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW. Each type of helicopter is assigned to a particular Squadron, who maintain, service and fly the particular aircraft. When operational, the helicopters are located on board ships at sea, so they are built to withstand extreme conditions like heavy rain, strong winds and high seas. Navy helicopters are involved in a range of operations including search and rescue, over sea transport, surface and submarine warfare and delivery of troops and equipment.
The Forward Looking Infrared provides a pictorial representation of the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, as opposed to visible light. FLIR is extremely useful at night and in foggy conditions, as it can detect warm objects against a cold background when completely dark (such as on a cloudy, moonless night). In the Seahawk, infrared (FLIR) detectors are used to track the large plumes of heat a submarine leaves while rising to the surface. FLIR devices are also used to see periscopes or snorts at night, when a submariner might be incautious enough to probe the surface.
The MRH-90 is the first true fly-by-wire helicopter in the world and is equipped with a Forward Looking Infrared system for flight in low light, as well as the same Pilot helmet-mounted sight and display used in the Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. It is an extremely capable helicopter featuring a modern damage tolerant design and a large cabin fitting up to 20 troop seats or, alternatively, up to 12 stretchers.
Active onboard the Anzac and Adelaide Class ships, the Seahawk extends the war fighting capabilities of a ship, by providing reconnaissance, over the horizon targeting and torpedo weapon delivery. Operated by a crew of three, including a Pilot, a Maritime Aviation Warfare Officer and an Aircrewman, the Seahawk utilises a unique sensor suite, which detects targets at a much longer range than surface ships, and an integrated weapons system to find and attack these surface or submarine targets. Its sensors include a Super Searcher radar, magnetic anomaly detector, sonics processing for active and passive sonobuoys and a Forward Looking Infrared, FLIR.
The Seahawk can also perform the secondary roles of search and rescue, troop lift and tactical insertion, utility operations (winching and external load lift) and fire bombing. Its main weapon is the MK46 anti-submarine torpedo and it can also be fitted with a 7.62mm door-mounted general purpose machine gun.
This all-weather twin engine multi role helicopter is known as the workhorse of the Navy Aviation fleet and can carry loads heavier than a Land Rover. With a crew of four, including two Pilots, a Maritime Aviation Warfare Officer and an Aircrewman, its primary role is maritime utility transport. It is also utilised as an anti-submarine weapons carrier, in anti-surface warfare, troop transport and sea and air rescue.
The Squirrel is the lead helicopter for the training of Navy Pilots. This training role includes converting RAN Pilots to rotary wing flying and preparing them for operational flying. It also provides basic utility training for Maritime Aviation Warfare Officers and Aircrewman, as well as limited fleet support in range clearances, flight deck procedural training and some embarked support on major warships. Squirrels are currently on board Navy hydrographic ships.
A Turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine, which is optimised to produce shaft power, rather than jet thrust. At a given power output, compared to the equivalent piston engine, a turboshaft is extremely compact and, consequently, lightweight. The Seahawk’s engines are built to ensure power-take-off is independent of engine speed, using the free turbine stage.
This has two advantages:
1. It allows a helicopter rotor or propeller to spin at any speed instead of being geared directly to the compressor turbine.
2. It allows the engine to be split into two sections, the "hot section" containing the majority of the engine, and the separate power-take-off, allowing the hot-section to be removed for easier maintenance.
