AEH-91 Sagittarius

ÆH-91 Sagittarius
Sagittarius in flight
Role	Attack helicopter
National origin	Ventismar Union
Manufacturer	Aerobus
First flight	27 April 1991
Introduction	2003
Status	In service
Primary users	Royal Lindian Air Force ?
Produced	1991–present
Number built	135 as of October 2017
Program cost	$14.5bn
Unit cost	$27.4m
Variants	ÆH-91C Sagittarius

The ÆH-91 Sagittarius (sometimes written as AEH-91), often referred to it by its designation name Sagittarius, is a twin engine multirole attack helicopter produced by the Ventismarien Aerobus consortium.

The helicopter was designed with an anti-tank role in mind, to be equipped with Bouwer's THOR anti-tank guided missile as its main armament. The end of the Cold War however meant that such an anti-tank role was no longer a priority, leading to design changes that would allow the helicopter to also assume reconnaissance, infantry support and other multirole capabilities. Militarise can choose to equip the helicopter with surface to air missiles, such as the Bouwer LIAM-4, which allows the Sagittarius to assume air defence roles as well.

In 2008 a C-variant was released for use on naval vessels. It was designed to be an anti-naval platform, and can carry torpedoes, anti ship missiles and can deploy depth charges and sonobuoys.

The Sagittarius is the first Ventismarien helicopter to feature a glass cockpit and to be constructed completely out of composite materials. The helicopter's high agility, multirole capabilities and stealth features have made it a successful attack helicopter.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: Two: pilot and weapon systems officer
• Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)
• Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
• Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
• Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
• Loaded weight: 5,090 kg (11,311 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb)
• Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Dekkers A47-1D turboshafts, 958 kW (1.303 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 290 km/h with mast, 315 km/h without mast (157 knots, 181 mph with mast, 170 knots or 196 mph without mast)
• Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) combat (with external tanks in the inboard stations: 1,300km)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
• Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) Dekkers RK-30D cannon in chin turret, with up to 450 rounds.

On each of its two inner hardpoints and two outer hardpoints the Sagittarius can carry a combination of the following weapons:

• Inner hardpoints:
  • 1x 20 mm (0.787 in) autocannon pods, or
  • 22x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod, or
  • 19x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod or
  • 4x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or
  • 4x Spike-ER missiles or
  • 4x PARS 3 LR missiles or
  • 4x HOT3 missiles
• Outer hardpoints:
  • 2x Mistral air-to-air missiles, or
  • 2x FIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles, or
  • 12x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod or
  • 7x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod