HForce

HForce is a unique and flexible weapon system designed to meet the requirements of defence agencies looking for light attack mission capabilities to complement their existing fleet of specialised attack helicopters.

It is the latest generation of Airbus' weapon system. Modular and incremental, HForce can be fitted onboard military versions of Airbus’ commercial helicopter range (H125M, H145M, H225M).

HForce offers a wide range of modern weapons, and is easy to operate – with a level of targeting accuracy that formerly was reserved for high-end attack helicopters.

Drawing on experience with the Tiger attack helicopter, Airbus developed an off-the-shelf solution to address a large scope of customers’ armament needs.

Designed as a modular and incremental system, HForce offers a multi-purpose mission computer that is interchangeable from one helicopter to another, along with a large choice of weapons (air-to-air, air-to-ground, ballistic and guided) to comply with any operational needs. This technically advanced solution takes into account the different aspects of firing accuracy: weapon recoil, the center-of-gravity, ground clearance and vehicle separation.

Specifications

HForce is composed of:

• One central core unit for firing computation
• Monocular helmet-mounted sight and display
  (HMSD) for pilot and gunner targeting
  and ballistic firing
• Electro-optical system (EOS) for target
  identification and firing
• Armament grips for armament management
• Weapons pods with the following armament: 

- Ballistic: machine gun, cannon, rocket
- Guided: laser-guided rockets, air-to-ground missile, air-to-air missile (with growth potential)

Full operating spectrum

HForce covers the full operational spectrum of missions:

Air-to-ground

• Tanks, armoured vehicles, troops, fire support for troops in contact:

Air-to-air

• Aircraft, drones and attack helicopters:

Air-to-surface

• Maritime counter terrorism and counter piracy speedboats

Ballistic:

• 20 mm Cannon
• 12.7 mm Machine Gun
• 68 and 70 mm rockets

Guided:

• Laser-guided rocket
• Air-to-ground missile
• Air-to-air missile (with growth potential)

Addressing today’s requirements for many types of operations, HForce equips helicopters for a wide range of mission.

Armed scout

• Intelligence
• Surveillance
• Reconnaissance
• Attack
• Deep operations (depending on helicopter type)
• Fire support
• Attack
• Escort

Utility

• Air movement
• Combat recovery
• Casualty evacuation (casevac)
• Fire support

Maritime security:

• Maritime counter-terrorism

Parapublic:

• Law enforcement

Incremental and modular

HForce is offered with different options and armaments:

Option 0: Fixed parts and capabilities; structural parts and harnesses

Option 1: Ballistic armed scout (pilot/gunner firing with HMSD)

Option 2: Ballistic light attack (captain/gunner firing with EOS or pilot firing with HMSD)

Option 3: Ballistic and guided light attack (captain/gunner firing with EOS or pilot firing ballistic with HMSD).

HForce’s flexible architecture permits aircraft to be retrofitted with any available armament.