Helibras has successfully concluded a certification campaign for a new weapons mount for the AS550 Fennec light helicopters operated by the Brazilian army.
The Airbus Helicopters subsidiary performed design, engineering and installation work for the dorsal mount at its Itajubá facility as part of a modernisation effort for the rotorcraft. It also integrated the machine guns used in the effort with the helicopter’s systems.
Helibras
In-flight firing tests were carried out at the Aghulas Negras test range near Resende, it says, using a pair of podded .50cal guns.
Helibras says the mount is designed to accommodate a variety of NATO-standard weapons but declined to offer further specifics.
Helibras
The flight campaign lasted around a week, says the company, and included operations in daylight, at night, and using night vision goggles.
Previous upgrade work on the platform has included the addition of a glass cockpit and ballistic protection.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
