U.S Navy LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System). I have just discovered that the U.S Navy's LAMPS competition was responded too by the following: Boeing – Modified and assessed a prototype Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm (MBB) Bo-105, and entered it into the LAMPS II competition. The U.S Navy would evaluated three modified in-production helicopter designs to meet their LAMPS II requirements: Kaman HH-2D Westland WG.13 (Lynx) Bell UH-1N Also of note is the Bell Model 608 (I think it was a modified Model 206L Long Ranger?), equipped with folding rotor, MAD and a torpedo. Can anyone verify these contenders? Has anyone got pics or technical data of these LAMPS contenders? Note: The LAMPS II requirement was cancelled by the US Navy in favour of LAMPS Mk III.
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Hi Pioneer and all friends, searching my archives I found some pictures of the various LAMPS II and III proposals. Unfortunately, I remember a sketch (perhaps from an ad appeared on 'Aviation Week') of a Bell proposal different from the AB-212/UH-1N derivative and vaguely resembling Model 222, but I was unable to retrieve it. I found the mock-up of the Boeing LAMPS MK.II (a dedicated version of the MBB, former Boelkow, Bo 105) and the subsequent LAMPS MK.III, based on the V-179/YUH-61A losing UTTAS proposal, the mock-up of the Kaman LAMPS MK.III (in folded and unfolded configurations) and an artist's impression of the Hughes LAMPS MK.III proposal. Enjoy
Wow, half of these LAMPS entries I never knew existed! Specifically the Sikorsky SeaLynx, the joint Boeing-MBB aircraft and the Hughes proposal. Great finds!
The Kaman proposal is called "Sealite", a basic scaled-down and lighter version of the Seasprite. Would have two 900 h.p. UAC PT-6-400 engines rated at 670kW. Intended to carry the Sparrow missile and Mk. 46 torpedoes.
Sikorsky and the SH-60, of course! The rest were too small and had unsuitable powerplants.
The Sealite was a close choice for LAMPS II but that part of the program was abandoned for LAMPS III.
Another thing is that the Navy wanted it's own engine in the program rather than one developed by the Army, so Lycoming developed the PLT-27 as a competitor to General Electric's T-700. Thing is, it lost three times to the GE engine, and a T-700-fitted SH-60B prototype won in 1977.
One thing that puzzles me, is the connection of the "SeaLynx" between the SH-60B... could just be an early proposal.
-- Edited by Gunship on Wednesday 13th of July 2011 06:24:38 AM
As you all probably know, Sikorsky's rival on the LAMPS III competition was Boeing Vertol. Just like Sikorsky was offering the S-70B Seahawk, a navalized S-70A Black Hawk (H-60), Boeing was offering the BV-237, a navalized BV-179 (H-61) (itself the unlucky competitor of the Black Hawk). Needless to say, Sikorsky won the day and gave Boeing a fatal blow in its attempt to diversify its rotorcraft activity.
Hughes also entered the OH-6A in the competition and flew a prototype with Mk. 46 torpedoes in 1969. If all the other losers were too small for the program, then the fate of this OH-6A proposal is no mystery.
Hughes also entered the OH-6A in the competition and flew a prototype with Mk. 46 torpedoes in 1969. If all the other losers were too small for the program, then the fate of this OH-6A proposal is no mystery.
555, you're right about the markings and the hardpoints, but they do not carry the torpedoes! They have the same armament configuration as the proposed LAMPS model, so its obvious where the confusion came from.