Haruko Ha-7 Akisame (Pacifica)

Ha-7 Akisame
Role	Attack helicopter
National origin	Pelinai
Manufacturer	Haruko Project Design Bureau
First flight	January 27, 1997 (1997-01-27)
Introduction	August 2006 (2006-08)
Status	In service
Primary user	Pelinese White Army
Produced	May 1, 1996 – present (1996-05-01 – present)
Number built	1,900+ (as of 2023)

The Haruko Ha-7 Akisame is a Pelinese twin-turboshaft conventional attack helicopter designed and manufactured by Haruko Project Design Bureau as a mobile, medium-range heavy ground strike platform for use by the Pelinese White Army.

Design

Vehicle systems

Armor system

The passive armor system of the Ha-7 consists of a combination of integrally armored fuselage panels, ballistic glass canopy panes, and additional reinforcing material around critical areas of the structure. Heavily protected areas such as the main rotor blades, the crew compartment, and the fuselage surrounding the main transmission gearbox are capable of resisting single impacts of up to 25mm cannon fire, while most of the remaining airframe is resistant to single impacts of up to 14.5x114mm tungsten-cored armor piercing rounds.

The main armor composition used throughout the airframe consists of fiber-reinforced epoxy composite panels, which form the majority of the airframe’s external paneling structure and act as an integral armor against impacts of 12.7mm and smaller rounds. The reinforcing fiber used is a woven fabric of high-performance magnesium oxide-rich aluminosilicate S-glass suitable for rigid armor applications. Armoring panels are made as monolithic as possible to minimize joints and seams while remaining consistent with system interface, maintenance access, and other considerations.

Critical areas of the structure receive additional armor protection to maximize survivability and reduce the likelihood of total system disabling by a lucky shot. These measures include both metal reinforcement, such as titanium flooring in the crew compartment, as well as composite-backed boron carbide ceramic armor tiles shielding areas such as the crew compartment and the main rotor gearbox assembly. Further special protective measures include a layered polycarbonate-acrylic transparent shield between the pilot and CPG compartments within the crew compartment, which significantly reduces the ability of single munition impacts to incapacitate both aircraft operators simultaneously.

Electrical systems

The electrical and power distribution system of the Akisame includes the two accessory drive-mounted AC generators on the main turboshaft engines, their associated generator control units, the auxiliary power unit (APU), the emergency ram air turbine, the main power distribution buses, miscellaneous electrical components such as the aircraft’s lighting systems, and the power distribution wiring.

Propulsion systems

The propulsion system of the Ha-7 includes most vehicle subsystems pertaining to the generation and usage of shaft power, such as its twin nacelle-mounted Yunimashi VD-94T turboshaft engines, as well as the main helicopter rotor assembly, the tail rotor assembly, the combined gearboxes & power transmission system, and the fuel storage & distribution system. Extensive computerization of control over parameters such as engine spool speed, fuel feed, and rotor RPM in the Akisame allows for benefits including reduced pilot workload and improved flight efficiency while simultaneously removing complex and maintenance-intensive hydromechanical valves and other equipment.

Fuel system

The fuel system of the Akisame includes its fuel tanks, fuel distribution hoses, fuel pumps, and miscellaneous equipment such as filters, as well as the fuel control units fitted to the main turboshaft engines. It is designed to be extensively redundant, damage tolerant, and crashworthy, with numerous features intended to prevent fuel leakage through severed connections.

The Akisame utilizes four separate self-sealing fuel tanks; each turboshaft engine is nominally designated to receive fuel from two of the four tanks, though fuel can be transported between each side using a transfer pump; the helicopter’s APU is also connected to both sides. Fuel is distributed in self-sealing fuel hoses wrapped in stainless steel braiding. In order to prevent battle or crash damage from creating fuel leaks and fire hazards, the fuel distribution system is interspersed with one-way valves, frangible connectors, and other fixtures that automatically seal damaged connections and stop leakage of fuel.

In order to prevent ice obstruction of fuel filters and other system components, the fuel system of the Ha-7 is equipped with fuel-oil heat exchangers. In the event that ice does accumulate in the filters as detected by a large pressure drop across them, a diagnostic alert will be issued to the crew interface.

Avionics systems

Diagnostics

The diagnostics system of the Ha-7 includes all equipment used to detect and, where possible, correct mechanical, electronic, and other system faults; this includes the onboard health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), oil system chip detectors, equipment condition monitoring sensors, and other such devices. The Akisame’s central flight control computer is additionally capable of using the diagnostics system to identify flight events such as damaged fuel/oil lines or a one engine inoperable (OEI) condition and implementing corrective measures.

The health and usage monitoring system utilized by the Ha-7 uses vibration, temperature, shaft RPM time since component installation, and other flight system data to monitor the condition of key components such as the transmission components, the rotor blades, and the engines in order to detect the imminent need for overhaul or replacement of subsystems. Though it is primarily used by maintenance personnel to record relevant data and perform appropriate preventative maintenance, the data and parameters that it records may also be checked in-flight.

Armament system

Autocannon

The autocannon subsystem on the Akisame includes the FHE N30L 30x113mmB autocannon, its traversal equipment, and the ammunition storage & feed system; all of these are mounted on the forward ventral side of the helicopter under the crew compartment. The autocannon is intended for ground support fire roles against both dismounted infantry and armored vehicles, with a maximum elevation of 12° and a maximum depression of 58°. Control of the autocannon system is normally assigned to the copilot/gunner station, but may be transferred to the pilot station as with other system controls.

The ammunition storage & feed assembly holds a maximum of 1,000 30x113mmB autocannon rounds for the ventral autocannon. Ammunition types normally loaded onto the Akisame include high explosive, armor piercing incendiary, and armor piercing incendiary tracer; other 30x113mmB ammunition types can, however, be loaded as long as they are compatible with the N30L.

See also

• Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era: