Armed scout
Airbus Helicopters offers three highly capable and efficient rotorcraft for armed scout missions: the H125M, H135 and H145M.
These helicopters build on a company heritage that traces its roots to the Gazelle – the world’s first versatile armed scout rotorcraft.
Two-tonne single-engine H125M
Airbus’ single-engine H125M is the most capable armed scout helicopter in its two-metric-tonne class, tailored for locating and attacking targets of opportunity – with excellent capabilities in high and hot environments.
Powered by Turbomeca’s Arriel 2D engine with a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system, the H125M has a small visual silhouette, reduced radar signature and the agility to perform combat flight – including nap-of-the-Earth profiles.
Armament qualified for the helicopter includes a podded 12.7-mm machine gun, 20-mm cannon pod, 70-mm rockets and air-to-ground guided missiles. Side-mounted weaponry includes a 7.62-mm machine gun and installed sniper rifle. Growth potential is available for guided rockets and air-to-air missiles.
Three-tonne twin-engine H135M
Swiss Armed Force squads aboard 2 H135M during a flight training
In the three-tonne category, Airbus’ H135M is the armed scout’s version of its H135 twin-engine helicopter, enhanced with improved high and hot performance, increased maximum takeoff weight, improved flight envelope and extended range. It can be armed with 12-tube and 7-tube rocket launchers, a 20-mm cannon pod and 12.7-mm machine gun pod, along with growth potential for laser-guided rockets and air-to-air missiles.
Airbus offers the H135M with a stand-alone weapon system (SAWS) that integrates a multipurpose mission computer; an electro-optical system with infrared/TV camera and laser rangefinder; a helmet-mounted sight display; and a ballistic targeting system, among other features.
The H135M has Airbus’ four-blade fibre-reinforced composite bearingless main rotor and signature Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor, which provide increased survivability against ground fire, while also reducing vibration and noise levels.
Four-tonne twin-engine H145M
At the end of August, the H145M performed its first flight with a complete HForce weapon system in Donauwörth. Thanks to this modular weapon system designed by Airbus, the H145M can be equipped with all kind of guided and ballistic armaments such as missiles and laser guided rockets, guns, machine guns and rockets. The qualification of HForce for use on the H145M is planned for 2018.
The H145M is the latest four-tonne-class twin-engine military helicopter in Airbus’ product range, providing a multitude of deployment possibilities with its power, range, endurance and payload capability.
With its open system architecture, the incremental weapon system can accommodate a wide choice of ballistic and guided weapon configurations – from 12- and 7-tube rocket launchers and air-to-ground missiles to a 20-mm cannon pod and 12.7-mm machine gun pod. Growth potential exists for laser-guided rockets.
Fitted with two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines – each managed by a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) – the H145M retains excellent performance throughout the flight envelope, particularly when operating at altitudes of 6,000 ft. and in 95 deg. F. environments – known as “6K/95 high and hot” conditions.
Airbus’ state-of-the-art glass cockpit and Helionix® avionics suite – coupled with a highly capable 4-axis digital autopilot system – ensure the H145M accomplishes the job, no matter how demanding the mission.
