At a press conference today in Schwartzgarten, Martin Trembecht, founder and CEO of Schwyz Defense Systems (Schwyz Deferung Systemas), broke the news that his company, along with NEDI, would be working with Blackstone Aviation of
Port Ember on a joint project to develop a new line of helicopters for the Neu Engollian and Port Emberian militaries.
Trembecht stated:
“While, we have had joint projects in the past with many international companies that have worked with us to create some of our signature products, this is a major step in a new direction, as it will open up a whole new line of products, in an area that is not as oversaturated as was once thought.
I have always hesitated to develop something like a heavy armored, tracked vehicle, or next generation fighter aircraft, because the market is simply oversaturated with solid, quality models of such key pieces of military hardware. I thought the same was true of military attack and utility rotorcraft, but upon further research, we were wrong. There are just not a lot of quality options out there in the defense industry and we aim to change that with this new line.”
Along with Trembecht, also in attendance at the press conference were the Neu Engollian Minister of Defense, Marshal Jacques Fernand; NEDI (Neu Engollian Defense Industries) President Yves D’artolli; CEO & President of Blackstone Aviation Pty Ltd., Varrick Blackstone; and Marshal Fernand’s counterpart in Port Ember, Defense Minister Jan Breytenbach. All stood to make their own statements about the agreement.
Minister-Marshal Fernand, who announced earlier this year that he would be retiring at the end of the year, had this to say about the project:
“This will put Neu Engollon further along in our goal to strengthen our military by relying on quality defense suppliers closer to home, if not entirely domestic. We have an aging wing of rotorcraft from far overseas that are quite expensive to obtain parts to maintain, with no domestic source for parts and updated expertise. This new joint project will close that gap for both our nations…”
The Neu Engollian Defense Air Force currently relies on the UH-1Z Vipers for gunships and V-22 Ospreys as VTOL transports/ground support from a North American supplier (re-designated as the NEH-1Z Viper and NEV-22, respectively) and AS332 Super Pumas from Europe as the main utility and transport helo, re-designated as the NEH-332 Super Puma.
“Furthermore, this will strengthen our bond with our friends in Port Ember, as three of our premier defense suppliers work together to create a line of rotorcraft that will meet the needs of missions much farther into the 21st Century.”
Trembecht, D’artolli, and Blackstone all commented on what each company was bringing to the project, with NEDI developing the armoring and some ordnance, SDS providing much of the electronic systems, and Blackstone providing a lot of the mechanical, and hydraulic systems, as well as the airframes.
BASD-1 Gunship Blackstone revealed the prototype plans with basic schematics shown on a nearby screen:
“There will be four different series of airframes in the project, in order to serve all the rotorcraft needs of both militaries, with three of the airframes having lots of practical use for the civilian sector, excepting the BASD-1 gunship airframe, which is only applicable to the military sector, of course. The gunships will have variants depending on climate operational needs, while there will be transport, utility, naval/ASW, and a ground support variant in the BASD-2 series. The BASD-3 series will be a very large frame, capable of heavy lifting, and bulk transporting, with variants for mobile headquarters, and medical/mobile hospital models. The BASD-4 series will be small compact airframes, suitable for recon, rescue, and other civilian and military needs.”
Trembecht added later,
“It should be noted that while we may be officially announcing the commencement of production of the prototypes soon, we have been in the planning and development stages with NEDI and Blackstone Aviation for some time now on this project, greenlighted by both governments.”
This confirmed rumors of the partnership which have surfaced over the last few months.
NEDI and Schwyz Defense Systems, the two primary domestic defense suppliers to the Neu Engollian military, have had a strong partnership for some time, with NEDI supplying its expertise in ordnance, rocketry, firing, targeting and missile guidance systems to SDS products like the LIRCAS/LIRAT planes, and Akua series UUVs.
Additionally, NEDI produces the AM-203 mobile mortar platform under license from QAR of
Riysa, which partnered with SDS and NEDI on that project.
Similarly, NEDI will have a hand in producing the first domestic variants of the BASD helicopter series, with BA and SDS engineers on hand, while Blackstone handles those duties in conjunction with SDS engineer teams in Port Ember.
Fernand elaborated on the Neu Engollon Defense Force’s plans to introduce the new helos.
Eventually, the NEH-1Z Vipers, NEV-22 Ospreys, and NEH-332 Super Pumas will be cannibalized for parts as they will no longer order more, phased out due to attrition or, least likely, sold off, as BASD helicopters enter full mass production after finishing testing stages.
Asked if and when the BASD series would be available for wider international sale beyond the two partnered nations, Trembecht fielded the question, remarking:
“Almost immediately after NEDF and PESF initial orders are fulfilled, however, both governments will have a heavy hand in selecting which clients will be allowed to purchase the new aircraft, especially the BASD-1 gunship series. As Marshal Fernand mentioned, this is all dependent on rigorous testing before we can fulfill orders.”
Most testing in the Confederacy occurs around Semnoz, at secure government facilities, with test flights mostly observed over the lower half of the country.
Another dual conference is expected to happen in the Gold Coast Borough of the
Port Ember Megalopolis in the next few days, with many of the same officials in attendance.
[Ed: Due to security concerns, they won’t release this exact date and time out to the public.]
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