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TH-300 Lakota
Overview
The TH-300 Lakota is a medium-lift utility helicopter, designed as a multi-mission aircraft meaning that it can fulfill a wide variety of roles. The TH-300 can seat as many as thirty-six fully equipped soldiers on crash-worthy seats in it's capacious cargo compartment, or as many as sixteen stretchers making this a compelling argument for a MedEvac helicopter. The TH-300 also has the capacity to be armed with a variety of weaponry available to the purchaser including swivel-mounted machine guns and air to ground missiles mounted among others on stub-wings which gives the Lakota a limited gunship ability.
The TH-300 was also made to be one of the fastest utility helicopters available, in order to be able to keep up with possible helicopter escorts including Gemballa's own RH-77 Attack Helicopter.
Avionics & Systems
The TH-400 features a sophisticated digital fly-by-wire system. The computers "read" position and force inputs from the pilot's controls and aircraft sensors. They solve differential equations to determine the appropriate command signals that move the flight controls in order to carry out the intentions of the pilot.
The programming of the digital computers enable flight envelope protection. In this aircraft designers precisely tailor an aircraft's handling characteristics, to stay within the overall limits of what is possible given the aerodynamics and structure of the aircraft. For example, the computer in flight envelope protection mode can try to prevent the aircraft from being handled dangerously by preventing pilots from exceeding preset limits on the aircraft's flight-control envelope, such as those that prevent stalls and spins, and which limit airspeeds and g forces on the airplane. Software can also be included that stabilize the flight-control inputs in order to avoid pilot-induced oscillations.
Since the flight-control computers continuously "fly" the aircraft, pilot's workloads can be reduced. . The primary benefit for such aircraft is more maneuverability during combat and training flights, and the so-called "carefree handling" because stalling, spinning. and other undesirable performances are prevented automatically by the computers.
The T565 also features the Cervelo SDH-5 threat detection radar encompassing a Radar Warning Receiver and a Missile Approach Warning System. This alerts pilots to when a radar lock is engaged, and also allows the pilots to track enemies with a very narrow radar wave, which can be as focused as precisely to 1° by 1° in azimuth and elevation, making the system extremely accurate and can increase the chance of a succesful evasion. The SDH-5 can also communicate to other allied fighters in the area and alert them to the possible threat if the are not already, likewise the SDH-5 can receive this information. This is not featured on civillian versions of the aircraft.
Cockpit
The cockpit was designed from the outset to be a fully glass cockpit wihtout any tradtional analouge instruments. This gives and advantage of having accurate and fail-safe data displays that are often much easier to read than analouge instruments. The cockpit itself is surrounded by kevlar plating, offering a high degree of protection to the pilots. Each pilot has a small compartment to store a 'go-bag' which will contain anything the pilot needs during the case of a forced landing.
The main features of the TH-300 cockpit include a simple and rapid start-up procedure, a highly developed Human-Machine Interface, a lightweight crew helmet designed from automotive racing helmets incorporating carbonfibre and kevlar, large anthropometric accommodation and highly integrated threat warning system. The cockpit of the TH-300 is large enough for a crew of two or more, with ample room provided for the two pilots, the defensive suite operator and the the load masters. A small compartment directly behind the cockpit houses a lavatory and basin, which may become necessary on long flights.
Defensive Systems
The TH-300 also employs a DAS. A defensive aids system (DAS) is a military aircraft system which defends it from attack by surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles and guided anti-aircraft artillery. A DAS typically comprises chaff, flares, and electronic countermeasures combined with radar warning receivers to detect threats. On the TH-300, the entire system is integrated and computer-controlled, allowing an aircraft to autonomously detect, classify and act in an optimal manner against a potential threat to its safety. The engines have extremely intense insulation and cooling, significantly reducing their heat signature and hindering enemy heat seeking missiles' ability to track the TH-300.
In addition to the MAWS system fitted standard is the "Blinder" system. When a missile approaches the TH-300, the MAWS, through a seperate countermeasure system, will "blind" the missile with a powerful beam of infra-red light. This causes the missile to lose the track on any target due to its receiver seeing only heat surrounding it and not the pin prick from the engines that it was originally chasing.
Offensive systems
Although no offensive systems are fitted standard to the utility variant, other specialized variants are fitted with various levels of weaponry as well as a powerful avionic additon allowing the TH-300 a full offensive capability. Because of the wide range of weaponry available and the fact that no two combat situations are ever identical, regardless of similarities, customers of the TH-300 are free to "pick and choose" exactly what with to adorn their helicopter.
The first addition onto the TH-300 is the Cervelo S5 Terrain following radar. The system works by transmitting a radar signal towards the ground area in front of the aircraft. The radar returns can then be analysed to see how the terrain ahead varies, which can then be used by the aircraft's autopilot to maintain a reasonably constant height above the earth. This technology enables flight at very low altitudes, and high speeds, avoiding detection by enemy radars and interception by anti-aircraft systems. This allows the pilot to focus on other aspects of the flight besides the extremely intensive task of low flying itself.
Another optional addition is the feature of the ATAS, the same system as featured on the RH-77. ATAS is made up of several stabilized electro-optical sensors, a laser rangefinder and laser target designator. The TADS assembly can rotate +/- 140 degrees in azimuth, +60/-90 degrees in elevation, giving the pilots an excellent view of the surroundings, and can even allow the pilots to see what is below the aircraft. The movements of ATAS can be slaved to the head movements of the helicopter crew to point in the direction that their head is facing. Images from the camer to be projected onto the crew helmet-mounted optical sights, overlaid upon their view of the cockpit and battle space. ATAS also contains a thermal imaging infrared camera and a full colour daylight television camera, with 1280x1040 resolution.
The crews optical sights are mounted to their helmet and give the impression of an overly large sun visor. In reality, it is actually a complex screen which acts as a HUD to the pilot and co-pilot. When the system is not in use, the screen can be selected to clear, so the pilot can see the surroundings. The screen automatically polarizes to keep sun glare to a minimum. The screen can also display images from the night vision/thermal imaging camera or the ATAS when selected.
The ATAS system is blended in to the main body of the aircraft, as so to preserve its stealth capabilities and enhance aerodynamics. This of course does make the aircraft more difficult to service, but greatly improves battlefield performance.
Two mounts are provided aft of the cockpit which can mount a minigun or other large calibre weapons up to 12.7mm NATO rounds, these can include the M240, M60 and right up to the M134 minigun. These 'sweeper' weapons can provide added aerial support for when the TH-300 is executing an insertion or a extraction and should be considered for all nations intending to use the TH-300 within hostile environments.
The TH-300 can also mounted a range of guided and unguided missiles and rockets on two stub wings located either side of the fuselage. Guided missiles are controlled by the Cervelo SH-2 millimetre wave Fire Control Radar which also has the capacity to share information through the Battlespace network. This allows the TH-300 to communicate with all other radar-equipped aircraft within the air space, permitting target sharing.
In addition, stub wings can also mount fuel tanks for longer range missions and unguided gravity bombs.
Thrust and Rotors
The TH-300 employs a five blade main rotor and a four blade tail rotor. The four blade design was selected due to its superior lift and noise supressing ability. The TH-300's five blades slice cleanly through the air instead of hammering it like helicopters of years gone by; this greatly reduces noise and boosts fuel efficiency, by allowing the rotors to turn at a slower speed. The rotors are made from composite materials which greatly improve 'hot and high' performance.
The rotor blades, being of composite design themself, are primarily made from Magnesium-aluminium alloy, a material which is extremely resistant to heat yet still quite light and able to have significant amounts of force placed upon. Mg-Al is primarily seen on wheels of sports cars, hence the name 'Mag wheels.' To give the rotors added strength, heat resistance and durability, all five blades of the main rotor were covered in a carbon-fibre skin. This carbon fibre is an epoxy not only reinforced by carbon fibres, but also by Kevlar fibres making this a very strong material.
The TH-300 also has an 'auto yaw' feature, keeping the aircraft straight without the crew members needing to keep their foot on the rudder constantly. This is part of the fly-by-wire system.
Thrust is provided by three Kintech GZ-1100 Turboshaft engines mounted either side of the fuselage, with heat suppressing devices to control heat emissions. The engines are rated at 2000kw each, providing an enourmous amount of power for lift.
The turbine itself and the compressor fan are made from a carbon-ceramic blend, which is enourmously strong and able to resist the extremely high temperatures inside the engine. Other parts of the engine are made from Aermet 100 which is a steel blend designed to cope with high temperatures and offer a high compressive and tensile strength.
The cruise speed of the TH-300 is 320 kmh and the maximum speed possible is 350kmh. Pilots are never to exceed 375kmh, after which they will experience significant rotor stall which will cause the TH-300 to fall from the sky. These comparitively high speeds are made possible by a low drag airframe, and advanced rotor technology, such as the composite materials previously discussed.
Airframe
The TH-300 was designed to be as light as possible in order to maximise payload, however because many of the possible roles of the TH-300 may involve placing the helicopter in situations where it may come under fire, designers decided to opt for a composite material set up which would provide enough resistance to offer some protection against bullets and other projectiles, yet would still be light enough so as not to impact too heavily on payload.
To keep the weight of the fuselage to the bare minimum, large swaths of the fuselage which were originally intended to be made with aluminium were replaced with composite materials. Composite construction is a generic term to describe any building construction involving multiple dissimilar materials, in this case carbon-fibre reinforced polymers are used. CFRPs are comprised of a polymer, in this case epoxy, which is a thermosetting polymer formed from reaction of an epoxide "resin" with polyamine "hardener", is re-inforced with fibres of carbon which give the material it's strength. CFRPs have an extremely high strength to weight ratio which makes them ideal for use on aircraft. The downside of CFRP's is that they can be extremely expensive to replace and require much more mantinence than more typical aircraft materials such as aluminium would. Therefore, these CFRP's have been made into panel forms allowing them to be easily removed and replaced should they be damaged, as well as being covered by a layer of outer aluminium.
Al-Li or Aluminium-Lithium alloy was also used extensively as a cover for the CFRP's body. Lithium is the least dense elemental metal, much less dense than alumiunium which is in itself less dense than most other metals, therefore when the two are alloyed together, the density and weight of the resulting material is less than that of the alloy while being stiffer at the same time and more resisitant to strain. Al-Li was a perfect choice to act as a cover for the damage and mantinence-prone CFRP's which are layed under it.
If this still isn't enough protection, a 5mm layer of Aermet 100 steel is placed over the Al-Li covering on the entire underside of the fuselage which is most likely to be damaged. Aermet 100 is a very strong steel which is particularly resistance to compressive forces, making it a perfect choice for the under armour.
The TH-300 retains a retractable landing gear operated electronically. In event of an engine failure, pilots may execute a 'gravity drop,' where the gear uses it's own weight to fall into place and lock.
Cargo
Entry to the cargo bay can be done via the large rear cargo door, or through the two side doors which permit direct access to the cargo bay. The TH-300 is somewhat of a rarity for offering a cargo bay door on a class of utility helicopter, however this door allows the ease of access of much larger, heavier and bulkier cargo in shorter loading times for objects that would not fit well through the side door.
For civillian or humanitarian aid missions, a winch cable and harness can be mounted on the rear fuselage to allow air rescue missions to occur from a much safer place rather than the side of the fuselage.
The TH-300's fuselage has a volume of 32 cubic metres and the cargo compartment itself is 6.5 m in length, 2.4 m wide and 2 m high. The military version of the TH-300 can accommodate up to 24 seated or 50 standing combat troops and their equipment. Alternative loads include a medical team and 16 stretchers, and cargo pallets. The cabin floor and rear ramp are fitted with flush tie-down points, a semi-automatic cargo release unit (SACRU). The ramp (2x2.4 m) can accommodate a three tonne load, allowing it to carry vehicles such as light army vehicles. A cargo hook under the fuselage can carry external loads of 5,440 kg via the use of a SACRU. A rescue hoist and a hover trim controller are fitted at the cargo door.
Specifications
Crew: 2 Pilots
Capacity: 24 seated troops, 50 standing personel, 16 stretchers
Length: 21.2 metres
Rotor diameter: 18.6 metres
Empty Weight: 9,900 kg
Useful Load: 8,000kg
Max takeoff weight: 18,000 kg
Powerplant: 3x GZ-770 (2000kw each)
Rotor systems: 5 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor
Performance
Maximum Speed: 350 km/h
Cruise Speed: 320 km/h
Never exceed speed: 375 km/h
Maximum combat range: loaded: 600km
Ferry Range: 1200km
Purchasing the TH-300
The TH-400 is availabe for $20,000,000 per unit
The Domestic Production Rights are available for $400,000,000,000