Airbus Helicopters has completed a ballistic development test of an HForce weapon system on a H145M on Pápa Airbase in Hungary.

The tested system included guns (FN Herstal HMP400), unguided rockets (Thales FZ231) and cannons (Nexter NC621) as well as an electro-optical targeting system by Wescam (MX15) and a helmet mounted sight display by Thales (Scorpion).

Next steps prior to the qualification of HForce on the H145M are the development testing of laser-guided rockets in Sweden before the end of the year as well as additional live-firing trials in summer 2018.

HForce is an innovative, incremental and integrated high performance weapon system that can easily be fitted into Airbus Helicopter’s military platforms such as the H125M, H145M and H225M for ambitious and smart military operations where flexibility of mission equipment is a vital criterion.

It is designed to meet the requirements of defence 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 for end 2017, following an extensive flight-test campaign carried out on a H225M testbed.

Customers for the H145M include Germany – which received its 15th and final H145M Light Utility Helicopter / Special Operations Forces (LUH SOF) machine in June – as well as Serbia and Thailand.