Leonardo HH-101 Caesar

Search and Rescue (SAR) Medium-Lift Helicopter

Italy | 2016

"The AgustaWestland HH-101 Caesar is a dedicated Search and Rescue form of the AW101 Merlin series medium-lift helicopters."

Image courtesy of AgustaWestland marketing material; All Rights Reserved.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Leonardo HH-101A Search and Rescue (SAR) Medium-Lift Helicopter.

3 x General Electric GE CT7-8E turboshaft engines developing 2,500 horsepower each while driving a five-bladed main rotor and four-bladed main rotor.
Propulsion

174 mph
280 kph | 151 kts
Max Speed

10,827 ft
3,300 m | 2 miles
Service Ceiling

870 miles
1,400 km | 756 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Leonardo HH-101A Search and Rescue (SAR) Medium-Lift Helicopter.

4
(MANNED)
Crew

74.9 ft
22.83 m
O/A Length

61.0 ft
(18.60 m)
O/A Width

21.9 ft
(6.66 m)
O/A Height

34,392 lb
(15,600 kg)
Empty Weight

75,839 lb
(34,400 kg)
MTOW

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Leonardo HH-101 Caesar family line.

HH-101 "Caesar" - Base Series Designation.

HH-101A - Initial Production Model; Italian Air Force designation.

AW101 - Original AgustaWestland designation.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/29/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

First flying in October of 1987 and officially adopted in 1999, the AgustaWestland AW101/EH101 "Merlin" has gone on to find top-tier service with several notable military and civilian operators including Canada, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom. These helicopters have been tasked with a variety of roles including general transport, utility and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations at various levels. With its proven pedigree, the AW101 line has been forged into the HH-101 "Caesar", a dedicated Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR)platform of similar form and function - though now outfitted with advanced systems and suites for its given role.

The early recipient of the HH-101 is slated to become the Italian Air Force which, in turn, will give up use of its aged fleet of American Sikorsky HH-3F "Pelican" helicopters. The HH-101 is billed as a more refined and advanced variant of the base Merlin line, installing an electro-optical sensor in a chin fairing as well as featuring an integrated defensive suite to ensure battlefield survival. An optional kit will allow for in-flight refueling to further expand operational ranges of the product. As it stands in April of 2014, the Italian Air Force has on order twelve HH-101 aircraft (as "HH-101A"). The first is expected to be delivered sometime in 2014.

A first flight of an HH-101 airframe was undertaken at the AgustaWestland facility of Yeovil, UK. This showcased the aircraft's lines that are largely similar to the original AW101, save for the chin fairing. The triple engine configuration still drives a five-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor (portside facing). Side sponsons house the retractable main landing gear legs while a twin-wheeled nose leg retracts into the cockpit floor. The standard flight crew will total five crew and include two pilots as well as mission specialists. Supported armament is said to be up to 3 x 7.62mm machine gun systems (including the M134 Gatling) positioned at the side doors and one at the rear-facing loading ramp. All three will be featured atop trainable pintle mountings and afforded ballistics protection. Both cockpit seats will be armored to protect the flight crew.

Beyond its stated CSAR role, the HH-101 is envisioned for civilian-minded SAR sorties as well as special forces insertion/extraction and support. The cabin will allow for configuration to the MEDEVAC role and retains space for up to 20 combat-ready infantry when needed as a general transport. These elements will be well served through the powered rear loading ramp.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

February 2016 - The first HH-101A has entered service with the Italian Air Force. The service maintains a total requirement of 15 of the helicopters.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Leonardo HH-101 Caesar. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 15 Units
Contractor(s): Leonardo-Finmeccanica (AgustaWestland) - Italy

[ Italy ]

1 / 1

Going Further...
The Leonardo HH-101 Caesar Search and Rescue (SAR) Medium-Lift Helicopter appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)