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L’MH-169A (AW169M) e il suo sistema di missione.
Gli MH-169A della Guardia di Finanza sono dotati di una speciale configurazione comprendente verricello di soccorso, galleggianti e scialuppe di salvataggio, tagliacavi, avanzati sistemi di prossimità con il suolo e anticollisione, cockpit compatibile con l’uso del visore notturno Night Vision Goggles (NVG), avanzati sistemi di comunicazione, sistemi di diagnostica, faro di ricerca, rilevatore della presenza di ghiaccio, comunicazioni satellitari, rilevatore di telefoni cellulari, predisposizione al sistema iperspettrale per telerilevamento. Inoltre, gli elicotteri sono equipaggiati con un’ampia gamma di sistemi e sensori forniti dalla società Leonardo, tra i quali il sistema di missione Rotary Wing - Airborne Tactical Observation System (RW - ATOS), il radar di sorveglianza Gabbiano, il sistema elettro-ottico LEOSS, il transponder per identificazione amico/nemico IFF M428, il sistema anticollisione basato su tecnologia laser Obstacle Proximity Lidar System (OPLS), sistemi di comunicazione V/UHF, pannelli di controllo e sistemi di illuminazione. Nelle ultime versioni dell’MH-169A sono state introdotte delle funzionalità avanzate dell’autopilota per svolgere al meglio il compito di ricerca e soccorso (SAR Mode - Search and Rescue). Le funzioni di ricerca e soccorso permettono di pilotare l’elicottero in modalità automatica lungo una rotta predefinita, riducendo così il carico di lavoro del pilota durante questa fase critica della missione. Attualmente, l’MH-169A è l’unico elicottero nella sua categoria di peso ad avere la funzionalità SAR Mode così avanzata.
Il cuore del sistema di missione dell’MH-169A è l’RW-ATOS, simile a quello imbarcato sugli ATR 42/72, è un apparato in grado di interagire con la strumentazione di bordo e con i sistemi di rilevamento, consentendo di eseguire missioni di sorveglianza terrestre/marittima ad ampio spettro, in ambienti sia diurni che notturni, riducendo così i tempi di analisi dello scenario tattico agli operatori.
Il sistema si compone di:
• Radar “Gabbiano T20N”, è un radar multifunzione a impulso doppler, con portata da 0.5 NM a 160NM.
• Sistema Leoss MKII, che racchiude diverse telecamere: TVC, IR, SWIR, con zoom sia ottico che digitale.
• Laser: LRF (1M), LI (4), LM(3B).
• Faro di ricerca “TRAKKABEAM 800”.
• Radio: SRT700-1, SRT700F, VHF/FM, Telefono Satellitare IRIDIUM (SAT+4G).
• IMSI Catcher: NESIE(2G/3G/4G), FFIII (SAT).
Le sue funzionalità sono:
- il controllo e la gestione integrata dei sensori radar e AIS trasponder ed elettro-ottico, che permettono la visualizzazione delle informazioni (video e dati) provenienti dai diversi sensori sui display con possibilità di abilitare o disabilitare eventuali layers in modo autonomo e progressivo da parte dell’operatore;
- la correlazione delle informazioni dei diversi sensori (radar, sistema elettro-ottico, AIS) con la cartografia terrestre / nautica mediante la generazione di una tactical situation di volta in volta definita dall’operatore, con possibilità di tracking di un target e modifica costante in volo;
- la registrazione e la gestione digitale di immagini e video originati dai diversi sensori (radar, sistema elettro-ottico);
- la creazione e gestione di un database di missione in cui inserire tutti i target acquisiti durante l’attività, che contenga i relativi dati cinematici e caratteristici (comprese immagini/video), per la successiva generazione di un report di missione;
- Il sistema IMSI-IMEI Catcher (CELL/SAT), che sostituendosi a un’antenna permette di ingaggiare una cella telefonica e individuare l’esatta posizione del telefono cellulare, è utilizzato principalmente per missioni di ricerca e soccorso;
- la visualizzazione dello status dei sistemi.
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English translation
Two flight lines for the Mountain Sezione Aerea of Varese
The Sezione Aerea of Varese (Venegono Superiore) is one of the few Sezioni Aeree of the Servizio Aereo della Guardia di Finanza's (Italian Custom Police Air Service) to have both versions of the new Leonardo AW169 and AW169M helicopter on line on a regular basis. The civilian-derived AW169 version is called UH-169A (Utility Helicopter) by the Guardia di Finanza, while the AW169M version, designed specifically for the military sector, is called MH-169A FOC-LUH (Military Helicopter - Full Operational Capability - Light Utililty Helicopter).
The AW169 helicopter is a light twin-engine helicopter with a maximum take-off weight of 4,800 kg. In the panorama of helicopters produced by Leonardo SpA (AgustaWestland), the AW169 ranks between the AW109 (3,400 kg) and the more powerful AW139 (7,000 kg).
The helicopter was unveiled at the Farnborough Show on July 19, 2010, while the first prototype flew at Cascina Costa on May 10, 2012, with the first deliveries taking place in 2015. Right from the start, the AW169 enjoyed widespread success in the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) helicopter market, which continues to this day.
In the defence and security sector, to date, it has been purchased by the Guardia di Finanza, the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) and the Carabinieri (Military Police), while the largest contract abroad was with the Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte (Austrian Air Force). The first Italian military operator to commission the MH-169A was the Guardia di Finanza. This version is equipped with skids instead of a wheeled undercarriage and other specific equipment, such as a mission system. The Servizio Aereo of the Guardia di Finanza commissioned six UH-169As and 18 MH-169As from Leonardo SpA - Helicopter Division in 2018, in a large project to modernise the Corps' air fleet. These are “machines” intended to replace the “stainless” NH-500MC/MD and AW109Nexus. In some Sezioni Aeree, they also replaced the AB-412HP, particularly in the Varese and Bolzano Mountain Sezioni Aeree. The first versions of the UH-169A, in fact, were directed to these Units to replace the AB-412HP type B and partly the NH-500MD.
The Sezione Aerea of Varese received the first UH-169A (Volpe501 MM81962) on June 12, 2020, while the first MH-169A FOC-LUH (Volpe517 MM82098) was delivered on July 18, 2024. The generational change of the fleet was completed when the last AB-412HP (Volpe218 MM81506) left the Sezione Aerea of Varese on November 15, 2023 with a transfer flight to the Centro di Aviazione (Aviation Centre) of Pratica di Mare (Pomezia). Volpe 2018, in the first ten days of March, carried out its last flights, for the press, to sanction the closure of the AB-412 line from the Servizio Aereo of the Guardia di Finanza, on March 13 the helicopter was transferred to the Leonardo plant in Anagni (Frosinone), effectively closing an era.
The first UH-169As destined for the Sezioni Aeree of Varese and Bolzano, in basic operational configuration, were mainly used for the conversion of flight crews and for initial search and rescue activities in cooperation with the Soccorso Alpino Guardia di Finanza (SAGF - Mountain Rescue) personnel.
The use of the UH-169A in Search and Rescue activities often proved decisive thanks to the use of the Flight Nesie search system (IMSI-IMEI Catcher). This instrument, by creating a so-called “fake-cell”, allows the position of the signal emitted by the missing person's mobile phone to be detected to within a few metres.
Further benefits were derived from the arrival of the first MH-169A, equipped with an IMSI-IMEI Catcher and electro-optical sensors operating in the visible and infrared spectrum, which can also be used at night. The infrared camera detects differences of just a few degrees above the ambient and ground temperature, thus allowing a human body to be scanned in forested environments and dispersed subjects within lake basins.
The MH-169A (AW169M) and its mission system.
The Guardia di Finanza's MH-169A is equipped with a special configuration including a rescue winch, lifeboats, cable cutters, advanced ground proximity and anti-collision systems, cockpit compatible with the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVG), advanced communication systems, diagnostic systems, searchlight, ice detector, satellite communications, mobile phone detector, and hyperspectral system readiness for remote sensing. In addition, the helicopters are equipped with a wide range of systems and sensors supplied by Leonardo, including the Rotary Wing - Airborne Tactical Observation System (RW - ATOS) mission system, the Gabbiano surveillance radar, the LEOSS electro-optical system, the IFF M428 friend/foe identification transponder, the laser-based Obstacle Proximity Lidar System (OPLS) anti-collision system, V/UHF communication systems, control panels and lighting systems. In the latest versions of the MH-169A, advanced autopilot features were introduced to better perform the search and rescue (SAR Mode) task. The search and rescue functions allow the helicopter to be flown in automatic mode along a predefined route, thus reducing the pilot's workload during this mission-critical phase.At present, the MH-169A is the only helicopter in its weight class to have such an advanced SAR Mode functionality.
At the heart of the MH-169A's mission system is the RW-ATOS, similar to the one embarked on the ATR 42/72, it is an apparatus capable of interacting with on-board instrumentation and detection systems, allowing it to perform wide-ranging land/sea surveillance missions, in both day and night environments, thus reducing the operators' time to analyse the tactical scenario.
The system consists of:
- Radar ‘Gabbiano T20N’, is a multifunctional Doppler pulse radar, with a range from 0.5 NM to 160NM.
- Leoss MKII system, which includes several cameras: TVC, IR, SWIR, with both optical and digital zoom.
- Lasers: LRF (1M), LI (4), LM(3B).
- TRAKKABEAM 800 searchlight.
- Radio: SRT700-1, SRT700F, VHF/FM, IRIDIUM Satellite Telephone (SAT+4G).
- IMSI Catcher: NESIE(2G/3G/4G), FFIII (SAT).
Its functionalities are:
- integrated control and management of the radar and AIS transponder and electro-optical sensors, which enable the display of information (video and data) from the various sensors on the displays with the possibility of enabling or disabling any layers autonomously and progressively by the operator;
- the correlation of information from the various sensors (radar, electro-optical system, AIS) with the terrestrial/nautical cartography through the generation of a tactical situation defined by the operator, with the possibility of tracking a target and constant in-flight modification
- digital recording and management of images and videos originating from the various sensors (radar, electro-optical system);
- the creation and management of a mission database in which to enter all the targets acquired during the activity, containing the relevant kinematic and characteristic data (including images/videos), for the subsequent generation of a mission report;
- The IMSI-IMEI Catcher (CELL/SAT) system, which, by replacing an antenna, makes it possible to engage a telephone cell and locate its exact position, is mainly used for search and rescue missions;
- systems status display.
Pilots‘ and technicians’ conclusions
From the conversations held with the pilots and technicians of the Sezione Aerea of Varese, it is clear that the piloting and maintenance differences between the two helicopter models are minimal compared to the capabilities of the mission system.
Pilots already in possession of operational capability on the UH-169, in order to be able to operate the newer “MH” version, must undergo a qualification course of a total of five missions, aimed primarily at familiarising themselves with the cockpit and mission system equipment. During the course of the missions, Crew Rescoruce Managment (CRM) principles are emphasised by integrating the pilots with the RW-ATOS on-board systems operator.
The MH-169A has a higher empty weight than the UH-169A version (around 300 kg) due to the presence of the mission system. The higher weight is inevitably a limiting factor for high-altitude operations and the lower payload capacity.
It goes without saying that the presence of two helicopters that complement each other allows the Sezione Aerea to have a peculiar capacity to transport and carry out missions in the high mountains with the UH-169A, and a capacity to carry out all-round institute operations with the MH-169A.
To conclude with the possible merits/disadvantages of the MH-169A, in its favour is an obvious greater flight stability due to the presence of the skids, which provide better aerodynamics than the non-retractable undercarriage of the UH-169A. The skids also famously allow greater stability for approaches/landings on uneven and uneven terrain, especially in the mountains.
As far as maintenance aspects are concerned, the engineers' voice reports no obvious difference in the operations that are carried out. The checks at 25 - 50 - 100 flight hours and the downloading of the flight and operating parameters of the “machine” at the end of the daily operational activity remain unchanged. These are transmitted directly, via special networked PCs, to the processing centres of Leonardo SpA to draw up reports of correct operation or requests for further checks or, in the event of system inefficiencies, for specific maintenance work.
Technical specifications UH-169A
Dimensions:
Length 14.65 mt
Width 4.65 mt
Rotor diameter 12.12 mt
Weights:
Maximum 4,600 kg extendable to 4,800 kg
Propulsion:
2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A Turboshafts with FADEC
Performance:
Maximum speed 267 km/h
Reachable tangent altitude 4,572 mt
Cruising altitude 4,075 mt
Range 785 km
Maximum flight time 4 hours 14 min
Crew
2 pilots
1 flight engineer
7 transportable persons
Technical specifications MH-169A
Dimensions:
Length 14.65 mt
Width 4.30 mt
Rotor diameter 12.12 mt
Weights:
Maximum 4,800 kg extendable to 5,100 kg
Propulsion:
2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A1 Turboshafts with FADEC
Performance:
Maximum speed 261 km/h
Reachable tangent altitude 4,572 mt
Cruising altitude 3,611 mt
Range 701 km
Maximum flight time 3 h 46 min
Crew
2 pilots
1 on-board technician
1 systems operator
4 transportable persons
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