Orbital ATK’s HAPS granted patent
Orbital ATK has been granted a patent for its Helicopter Active Protection System (HAPS) by the US Patent and Trademark Office, the company announced on 10 December.
HAPS is designed to protect helicopters against airborne threats by dispensing a kill vehicle from either aerial or ground platforms.
The company recently performed a live-fire demonstration validating the kill vehicle component’s ability to launch, perform pitch manoeuvres and fly to a detonation point that simulated the location of an incoming rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).
Helicopters are particularly vulnerable to attacks by RPGs, especially when hovering at low altitude. The HAPS system is designed to detonate an incoming warhead at a distance far enough away from the helicopter that crew and aircraft are not harmed by fragments of the destroyed RPG. The system can also serve as a last line of defence against advanced man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS).
Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager, Orbital ATK’s Defense Electronic Systems division of the Defense Systems Group, said: ‘Orbital ATK is dedicated to maturing the development of this first-of-a-kind active protection system for helicopters and to put it into the hands of our armed forces.
‘Using advanced technologies to help protect our armed forces is a key focus for our company and our innovative design will fill a critical gap in technology, addressing a real problem.’
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