A COMBAT VERSION of the McDonnell Douglas Explorer commercial helicopter has been unveiled at the Paris air show. The aircraft could be available as early as 1997, says the company.
"This is a reverse of the normal situation," says McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems (MDHS). "For the first time, we have a commercial helicopter, and we are adjusting it to a military market - not the other way around. We're optimistic of taking advantage of the developed product, and it's basically all ready to go."
The multi-role helicopter dubbed the Combat Explorer, can carry eight troops and can be equipped with a variety of mission-equipment packages. These include a Nighthawk targeting sight, a forward-looking infra red night-piloting system, Hellfire missiles, rockets and .50-calibre machine guns.
The helicopter is being tailored for "...areas of the world where there are burgeoning military requirements for a low-cost multi-role aircraft. There are lots of countries that need military helicopters, but don't need something like the Apache," says the company.
Andy Logan, MDHS commercial programmes vice-president, says: "All the qualities that make it an excellent commercial helicopter make it an extraordinary military helicopter.
"These include the quiet performance of the no-tail-rotor anti-torque system, the lightweight and survivable composite fuselage, energy-absorbing seats, crashworthy fuel-system and one engine-inoperative-performance capability," he says.
Source: Flight International