HForce completes first firing
Airbus Helicopters has completed a first round of test firings with its HForce weapon system, which is being developed for its helicopter range, the company announced on 13 June.
The firing campaign tested an HForce-equipped H225M long-range tactical transport military helicopter at a range in Belgium. The system's performance was tested with ballistic weapons, including 20mm cannons, 70mm rockets and 12.7mm guns.
HForce is an incremental, plug-and-play weapon management system that is designed to be fitted onto any military variant of an Airbus Helicopters commercial model, such as the H125M, H145M and H225M helicopters, for light attack missions.
The system features gunner armament weapon grips and weapon pods, an electro-optical system (EOS) from Wescam, Thales’ Scorpion monocular helmet mounted sight display (HMSD), and a central core unit.
Jean-Luc André, HForce program manager, said: ‘This important milestone, achieved on time, demonstrates that HForce achieves excellent results above specifications, and that it provides a real added value in terms of target tracking and acquisition for day or night missions, thanks to the EOS and HMSD.’
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