Helo News game related.

[Pibwl]

Japan

363 AH-64DJP Apache - ending year should be probably 125 (now it's 109, earlier than corrected starting date)

Japanese Wikipedia says, according to the translator, that DJP was Boeing's designation, but Japanese forces call it just "AH-64D" (https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/AH-64D...83%9C%E3%82%A6, search for "DJP" in text). The same in Polish monographic article. The same for units 364, 951 AH-64DJP Apache.

Czech Republic
It's a detail, but 901 W-3A helicopters are also named Sokol in Czechia (Polish: Sokół).

Poland
I forgot, that since 1/24 Poland uses AW149 https://www.janes.com/osint-insights...for-operations. Italian unit 490 AW139 could do, with an increased carry capacity to 19. An armament as for now are only two 7.62 mm MGs in windows and 2x 7x70 mm rocket pods (not used before in this caliber).

[Pibwl]

I've found and article on Malaysia. Sorry for digging... I wanted to fix only S-61A4 Nuri, but the deeper you dig, the more questions come...

324 S-61A4 Nuri - grounded permanently after a crash in 8/19 due to wear out and lack of spares (now ends 12/25). Unless we assume, that in case of war they would fly somehow.

We have currently (only the 21st century):
325 - Mil Mi-17 Available 01/099 to 12/125;
326 - S-70A Blackhawk - Available 01/097 to 12/104
327 - S-70A Blackhawk - Available 01/105 to 12/125
- but the article doesn't mention any other transport helicopters existing in Malaysian military in last decade or two apart from H225M (unit 664) and S-61A4 Nuri, grounding of which caused problems with transport capability.

Wikipedia doesn't list Malaysia among Mi-8/17 operators either, apart from Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.
There were some rumours, that S-70 were to be delivered by Brunei in 2015, but it is not clear if they were https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_UH-60_Black_Hawk, which links to https://web.archive.org/web/20150322...ce.com/?p=5827

Starting from 12/21, the air force leased 4 AW-139 (we can do without them I think), and the army leased 4 UH-60A expected in 1/24 as a stopgap - but as I read, they were not delivered https://aviationweek.com/defense/air...-fails-deliver

Wikipedia doesn't list any of older helicopters (Bell 205, Agusta 212N, Whirlwind, Belvedere, Wessex) in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...n_Armed_Forces - unless the earliest ones are purely RAF. I have no other knowledge here


As for light helicopters:
We have (in the 21st century only):
307 - Wasp - Available 01/088 to 12/125
308 - Sioux - Available 01/074 to 12/125
310 - Alouette III - Available 01/063 to 12/110
311 - Chetak - Available 01/081 to 12/125
312 - Fennec - Available 01/103 to 12/125
313 - A-109 - Available 01/090 to 12/125
314 - A-109R - Available 01/103 to 12/125

Wasps were used by the navy until 2000 only.
Alouettes were withdrawn from 2009 from the army, but in 2017 from the airforce.
Fennecs are used indeed by the navy.
A109 were bought by the army only in 2005/2006.
There is no mention on any other light helos in recent period (and it is doubtful if Sioux survived that much).

However, in 3/23 MD 530G were introduced to service, as light scout/attack helicopters. They have observation devices and can be armed with 7.62mm or 12.7mm MGs and 70mm rockets.
https://www.mdhelicopters.com/malays...ning-complete/
https://fl360aero.com/detail/malaysi...ters-texas/818

Armed helicopters are in class 221 Light Attack Helicopter
540 - Ranger - Available 01/074 to 12/088 (?)
541 - Ranger - Available 01/074 to 12/088 (?)
542 - Gazelle - Available 01/078 to 12/083 (Wikipedia doesn't list Malaysia among users in Gazelle nor List of aircraft of the Malaysian Armed Forces articles)
544 - Wasp - Available 01/088 to 12/103 (until 2000, as above)
546 - Fennec - Available 06/103 to 12/125
548 - Super Lynx - Available 06/099 to 12/125 (used by the navy indeed)

[Pibwl]

Portugal

275 SA330 Puma - according to https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A...le_SA-330_Puma used only from 1970 until 2009 (now 1969-2011) (first operational flight in Angola in 10/70, probably available a bit earlier)

280 EH101 Merlin - better icon is 1904, since they are camouflaged https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...101_Merlin.jpg

[Pibwl]

Brazil

903 - AH-2 Sabre - Available 04/110 to 12/125
904 - AH-2 Sabre - Available 04/110 to 12/125
- withdrawn in 8/22 https://www.aeroflap.com.br/fab-esta...ultimos-mi-35/

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

First "NOT SO FAST" the last post provides for one Squadron of the AH-2 SABRA.

However, from that same reference further down we have the following...

"The retirement of the attack helicopters also leaves an uncertain fate for the Poti Squadron (2nd/8th GAV), which operated the Mi-35s in Porto Velho (RO). The same source added that there is a possibility that the unit will be deactivated or continue in operation with H-60 ​​Black Hawk helicopters but says that so far there is no guarantee of this. "

I recommend leaving them in there UFN.

Trying to avoid someone chasing ghosts at this time.

Digging into this after I post this.

The reason I'm here is to post the following on HIMARS getting 4 helicopter kills behind Russian lines. The warheads are larger than I thought they are 200lb fragmentation rounds versus what I thought were 150lbs.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...11e14f45&ei=46

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

BRAZIL AH-2 SABRA UNITS 903 and 904 The following is I believe would serve as a good and viable END for this helicopter and allow a little "swag" for the other squadron I noted in my last post.

I recommend END JUN 2022.
https://www.aviacionline.com/brazili...licopter-fleet
(This is saying the last were retired just before the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. Dated 04 March 2024.

Other sites are saying Mar/Apr of 2022 of the retiring.

I'm still very comfortable with the END as just submitted.

It certainly covers all the "ambiguity" with these various dates on the web concerning the AH-2 SABRA retirement date.

ALSO... Brazil is to receive UH-60M Black Hawk (TI/GSR 40) helicopters to arrive by 2027.
https://en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/...gthen-defense/

Regards,
Pat

[RC4]

Originally Posted by Pibwl

Portugal

275 SA330 Puma - according to https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A...le_SA-330_Puma used only from 1970 until 2009 (now 1969-2011) (first operational flight in Angola in 10/70, probably available a bit earlier)

280 EH101 Merlin - better icon is 1904, since they are camouflaged https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...101_Merlin.jpg

IN 02/08/1969
OUT 14/04/2011
https://altimagem.blogspot.com/2014/...ira-parte.html

Thanks

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Concerning Post 185 Poland AW-149 weapons, don't know about the machine guns or rocket pods (They do make sense though.) unless they are the ones the Italians have on theirs?

But those weapons are not listed in your ref. What is however in your JANES ref is the following...
"The AW149 is replacing the Mil Mi-2 ‘Hoplite' and some PZL-Świdnik W-3PL Głuszec multirole battlefield helicopters and will be armed with Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles. Deliveries are scheduled to run until 2029."

Also, according to JANES the START should be JAN 2024 as the article (Dated 8 JAN 2024.) clearly states the first 3 received were formally cleared and are fully operational and fielded by that date.
https://www.janes.com/osint-insights...for-operations

Recommend two UNITS one as submitted in Post 185 and a second with the MG's and HELLFIRE II missiles.

If Poland is receiving them from Italy with HF II capability you can be sure that Italy has theirs equipped with them as well as those missiles would require an advanced FCS.

More on them...
"The AW149s, in a configuration corresponding to the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, will be equipped with observation systems, small arms, guided missiles, unguided rockets, and self-defense systems. The helicopters will also be armed with the Hellfire missiles, 800 of those have been requested by Poland to the U.S. via a Foreign Military Sale (FMS). The armament, depending on the type and the helicopter’s configuration, may be installed in the cabin or externally on the stub wings."
https://theaviationist.com/2023/08/0...9-polish-land-
forces/

HELLRIRE II Missile: Was introduced in 1992 and has been continually updated since. Latest version as also used on APACHE the system uses a common launcher the M299 which holds 4 of these missiles. I expect the AW-149 should be able to carry 2 launchers fully loaded. APACHE-64E can hold 4 launchers or 16 missiles. We primarily use the "LONGBOW" version and the more recently the R9X HELLFIRE has become available sort of an "assassins' bullet" some refer to it as the "NINJA BOMB" suited more for operations using a UAV.
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/conte...uct-Card-1.pdf
https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/0...missile-video/
(It deploys 6 blades and essentially "chops and dices" it's way to the target. It's a non-explosive weapon.)

Regards,
Pat