The UK Ministry of Defence has acquired a new modular armour system to protect its Royal Air Force Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC2 transport helicopters from small arms fire while participating in Operation Telic in Iraq.
Produced under a collaborative venture between UK and Israeli industry, the ballistic protection system was developed under an urgent operational requirement issued shortly after seven UK personnel were injured when their Chinook came under fire near the Iraqi city of Basra in June 2003.
Permali Gloucester of the UK was awarded the deal last August and developed the armour package with Israel's Plasan Sasa, which has previous experience in providing armoured protection for helicopters and transport aircraft. The companies supplied their first aircraft set to the MoDin January, with this comprising both floor and side armour constructed of thermoplastic composite material throughout the aircraft hold.
The UK Defence Logistics Organisation confirms that RAF Chinooks deployed as part of Operation Telic have been equipped with the armoured protection equipment since February. The modular system can be installed and removed within a few hours, according to its manufacturers, which describe the contract timescale as having been "tremendously challenging".
The UK is understood to have had no requirement to equip its Chinooks with cabin armour before the incident last June. However, the Royal Netherlands Air Force had been looking to acquire such a system and rapidly followed the UKin ordering it for its Chinooks deployed on international commitments. The companies are now seeking additional customers for their ballistic protection system.
Plasan Sasa has previously supplied cockpit floor armour for Israel defence force helicopters, including the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, and to an undisclosed overseas user of the Lockheed Martin C-130 transport, providing protection against threats of up to 0.50 calibre.
CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON
Source: Flight International
