Light And Medium Helicopters To Test A Variety of Weapons Systems

Eurocopter and Advanced Technologies & Engineering have commenced flight test firing of a new Stand-Alone Weapons System (SAWS) for light and medium helicopters.

Initial test flights using the SAWS-equipped Eurocopter EC635 took place at the Murray Hill Test Range, near Pretoria. This flight is the first in a series of future testing to validate a variety of weapons systems suitable for similar airframes.

“Eurocopter’s partnership with ATE on SAWS is a joint response to an increasing market demand for helicopters equipped with a suitably credible weapon system able to counter evolving threats and both current and future conflict mission scenarios," explained Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President Sales and Customers Relations in a press statement. "While we have pr oven capabilities producing multi-role military helicopters, ATE is unrivaled in weapon system development and sub-systems integration on fixed and rotary wing aircraft. This venture and our partnership make perfect sense,”

Also in the press statement, the two companies describe the firing trials as  successful.

Eurocopter says the EC635 used in the testing trial is fitted with a Belgian FN Herstal HMP–400 12.7mm machine gun and a French Nexter NC-621 20mm cannon. The first phase used the Herstal machine gun and the second, used the Nexter.

 
Eurocopter With Weapons System/Photo Used With Permission

The initial EC635 SAWS configuration for International Customers will also feature Denel’s Ingwe Anti-Tank Missile. Integration of the missile is currently in its design and development phase at ATE’s state-of the art facilities in Midrand. Future weapons to be integrated on these helicopters include missiles and guided rockets of various international suppliers.

When asked to describe the program's impact, ATE CEO, Jean-Marc Pizano said, “The successful completion of this major international project will position ATE and South Africa as the world’s leading integrator of a variety of weapons on foreign aircraft. It also has the potential to place ATE and its South African suppliers as part of an international supply chain at systems level with the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer.”

The SAWS will allow light and medium helicopters to perform  surveillance and armed reconnaissance, airborne command and control, close air support, maritime patrol, anti-piracy, counter insurgency, anti-terrorism, and is a potential for light ASuW and ASW.

FMI: www.eurocopter.com  www.ate-aerospace.com