Nine years after the last purchase of helicopters, the Air Force from Peru began the evaluation of model that will replace the old units dedicated to search and rescue (SAR) operations.
The General Directorate of Logistics of the FAP (DIGLO) and the user unit of the aircraft, the Air Group No. 3, based in Callao, they studied the AW 139M, from the Italian company Leonardo; the H 145, of the French Airbus; and the Bell 412 EXP, American made.
The purpose of the FAP is to replace the Bell 212 and Bolkow BO 15 LSA3 specimens. and modernize and upgrade the fleet of units for search and rescue (SAR) operations.
According to La República military sources related to the acquisition process, the AW 139M model from the Italian company Leonardo has achieved the highest score.
Now the process will pass into the hands of the Purchasing Agency of the Armed forces, which will be in charge of requesting additional technical and economic information from the construction companies to draw up the contracts.
North American. The old model Bell 412 that uses the PNP. Photo: diffusion
The latest helicopter purchases were made in the second government of Alan García (6 Mi-171Sh units and 2 Russian-made Mi-35 units, for US$107 million) and in the mandate of Ollanta Humala (24 Mi-117Sh-P units for US$528 million). They are all combat aircraft.
Also in the Humala regime, 5 EC145 Airbus units were purchased for SAR operations, assigned to the National Police of Peru.
On this occasion, According to the Plan Shield 2 of the Peruvian Air Force, the acquisition consists of 12 helicopter units for SAR operations. The operation has assigned a financing of 735 million 911 thousand 327 soles, according to the Multiannual Investment Plan (PMI), of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In exchange, it represents around US$193.6 million. This year the acquisition of a batch of 6 units would be completed.
In the most important technical requirements demanded by the FAP, the Italian model AW 139M, from the Italian company Leonardo, leads the score. In second position was the H 145, from the French Airbus, and in third place, the North American Bell 412 EXP.
For example, a relevant technical requirement that was applied was the maximum height that the machine reaches in high mountain operations. The AW 139M was credited with reaching 16,000 feet, the H 145 up to 13,500 feet, and the Bell 412 EXP, 13,000 feet.
Regarding the range of the helicopters (route that the aircraft is capable of achieving with two crew members, 500 kilos of cargo and without auxiliary tanks), the technical committee found that the range of the AW 139M is 520 nautical miles (963 kilometers), that of the H 145 is 425 nautical miles (787.1 kilometers) and the Bell 412 EXP a total of 332 nautical miles (614.8 kilometers).
In relation to cruising speed, the positions were as follows: AW 139M (150 knots), H 145 (133 knots) and Bell 412 EXP (122 knots).
At the end of the evaluation of the three aircraft regarding the 25 technical requirements of the FAP, they reached the following percentage of satisfaction:
- AW139M: 92%
- H145: 89.9%
- Bell 412 EXP: 82%
And, regarding the price, the manufacturers presented the following offers (unit price):
- AW139: $16.4 million.
- Bell 412: $13.4 million.
- H145: $11.9 million.
The French H 145 helicopter appears above the American Bell 412 EXP, and very close to the Italian AW 139M, when in another similar process that the armed institutes of Colombia developed this year, the H 145 was placed in third position and was recommended for police operations in the cities. The Colombians favored the Leonardo helicopters.
The unit value of the Leonardo AW 139M is higher compared to its competitors because, unlike the other models, it can fit weapons and intervene in combat rescue operations (CSAR), according to FAP sources.
Competitor. The French model H 145 of the Airbus company. Photo: diffusion
The purpose of the investment is to acquire an aircraft that meets the demanding technical requirements, purpose for which the necessary budget exists.
Modernization and standardization
The war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine affects the Peruvian Armed Forces that they used to contract with companies from both countries, where a large part of the defense material comes from.
Neither the Russians nor the Ukrainians are in a position to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. AA. From Peru, which implies a renewal with teams from other countries. The eventual purchase of the Leonardo AW 139M helicopter would represent an extraordinary turnaround, after almost 50 years of acquisitions of Russian origin.
The renovation of the helicopters represents an opportunity for the armed institutes to modernize and standardize with equipment of new origin.
The data
Recommendation. The technical studies of the FAP highlight that the evaluation focused on determining if the helicopter is capable of fulfilling the required missions.
Process. The cost of the aircraft is important in terms of meeting the demands of the users.
