Sikorsky/AgustaWestland Seahawk AEW.1

[Spey_Phantom]

Back History:

in 1995, the british and spanish ministery of defence was looking at a replacement for the Seaking AEW.2 and SH-3H. Britain wanted to opt for an AEW conversion of the Merlin HM.1, but spain wanted it to be based on an airframe already in use, in order to reduce maintainance and training costs. the spanish option was similar to the one for the AEW converted SH-3H's, only on a more newer airframe.

the RAF was in the meantime also looking for a replacement for the Puma HC.2's, and selected the S-70 blackhawk. so the Royal Navy decided to use the same airframe, but in its maretime version, the S-70B Seahawk. with spain already operating the SH-60 seahawk and the RN now having selected the same frame, both countries could agree on developing an AEW version. Sikorsky teamed up with AgustaWestland in 2006 to develop a conversion for the seahawk, and in 2007, presented a configuration similar to the Seaking AEW.

only difference was that the radar was placed in a lightweight plastic dome, rather then the inflatable ones on the Seaking. the seahawk also took less deckspace then the seaking and was easier to maintain, the Royal Navy bought 26 AEW configured seahawks and designated them Seahawk AEW.1, the Spanish bought 8 and designated them SH-60AEW/E (with the last E standing for spain). Sikorsky also recieved export orders for the AEW seahawk, and over 40 were sold to Japan, Brasil, Taiwan, Singapore, Leutonia and Argentina.

the model:

model is a converted dragon 1/144 UH-60 Blackhawk (cause seahawks were not available at the time) the radar is made from a radome of a 1/72 Seaking Mk41, with a small end of spreu for the hinge and then filled up with putty (still need to paint it over). she is made up in Leutonian markings and is one of 4 delivered to the leutonian navy.
the 2 whisker antennas on the nose are from plasticcard 

[B777LR]

C(dr)oooooooooool