As a major operator of the H145M, the German armed forces could benefit from a raft of enhancements proposed by the manufacturer Airbus. (Airbus)
Airbus Helicopters has highlighted the latest enhancements it has rolled into the D3 standard of its H145M medium-twin rotorcraft, and is proposing a raft of additional improvements in an effort to attract new operators to the type.
Speaking to Janes and other defence media ahead of ILA 2022, Constance Pinsdorf, senior programme manager H145 governmental business, said that with the current D3 standard of the H145M providing superior capabilities over the upgraded D2 and original C2 standards,improvements that are earmarked will provide further capabilities.
“Due to the fact we are based on a civilian version, which is really successful and really mature, we have a long history [of developing this type], and I am confident that we have a mature system that is working for the customer,” Pinsdorf said. “We have come from the C2 and D2 versions to the D3 version, [and] we are now taking the D3 evolution to the next stage.”
With the first H145M military version of the H145 launched in 2015, the latest D3 standard in production (and offered as a retrofit) today is the five-bladed main rotor assembly, in place of the previous four blades.
In terms of future improvements, Airbus is looking at new radar/laser warning systems, a new precision-strike capability, an enhanced cockpit for the HForce weapons system and/or manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), greater connectivity in general and datalinks in particular, and is also touting an experimental smoke-screen device that could be suited to special operations forces (SOF) missions.
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