A ballistic development test of an HForce weapon system on an Airbus H145M helicopter has been completed on Pápa Airbase in Hungary.
The tests on the system, which included guns (FN Herstal HMP400), unguided rockets (Thales FZ231) and canons (Nexter NC621), as well as an electro-optical targeting system by Wescam (MX15) and a helmet-mounted sight display by Thales (Scorpion), were performed to a tight and demanding time schedule.
“This is an important milestone toward the qualification of HForce on the H145M, which is planned for end 2018,” commented Axel Humpert, H145 program head. “The positive results of this first ballistic development test are the outcome of a very good and professional cooperation between all parties involved, especially with the Hungarian Ministry of Defence.”
Development testing of laser-guided rockets will take place in Sweden before the end of the year as well as additional live-firing trials in summer 2018.
HForce is an integrated high-performance weapon system that can be fitted (plug-and-play) into Airbus Helicopter’s military platforms such as H125M, H145M and H225M for military operations where flexibility of mission equipment is a vital criterion.
It is designed to meet the requirements of defense agencies seeking light attack mission capabilities or a complement to their existing fleet of specialized attack helicopters. Meanwhile, qualification of the core HForce system is on track to be achieved by the end of 2017, following an extensive flight-test campaign carried out on an H225M testbed.
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November 9, 2017
Images: Anthony Pecchi.
