Story ID: 398
AW149 Demonstrates Weapons Firing Capability
By: David Donald
Caption: Weapon capability is one element of a four-pronged approach to making the AW149 a highly survivable rotorcraft platform over the battlefield.
Word Count: 443
Leonardo’s contender for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter requirement, the AW149, has undertaken weapon firing trials as part of the effort to optimize the type for military operations. In this first round of trials, unguided and laser-guided 2.75-inch (70mm rockets) were fired, although the helicopter’s open architecture system facilitates the integration of other weapons.

The trials took place in an undisclosed European country in the final quarter of 2021. More than 200 rockets were fired in the course of around 70 flight hours. Taking place by day and night, the trials involved weapons launched in level forward and diving flight, while hovering, singly and in salvoes, and at varying target distances out to 4 km.

Leonardo fit test instrumentation to the helicopter’s engines, airframe, and weapon pylons, backed up by cameras. Testing generated a wealth of data, confirming clearance between weapons and platform and permitting the expansion of the weapon flight envelope. The data has also allowed enhancements in the pre-launch algorithms and weapon solutions within the mission system computer.

“It was great to test the integrated mission and weapon systems that give the AW149 a true multi-role battlefield capability,” said Lee Evans, experimental test pilot at Leonardo Helicopters UK, who piloted and conducted some of the firings. “The AW149’s tactical radar and EOD [electro-optic/laser turret] enable rapid and efficient acquisition and subsequent prosecution of the target. Furthermore, the AW149 is ideally suited as a weapon platform as its agility allows rapid ‘turn to target’ maneuvering. The precise handling qualities allow the pilot to rapidly achieve pre-launch constraints and ultimately to successfully engage a target.”

The ability to accurately shoot back is one of four areas being addressed by Leonardo to make the AW149 highly survivable over the battlefield. At a basic level, the airframe incorporates a high degree of crashworthiness and resistance to battle damage, with multiple load paths in the airframe, separated systems, ballistic protection for the cabin and cockpit, self-sealing fuel tanks, infrared suppression, and a 50-minute/100-nm ‘run-dry’ capability in the case of complete oil loss from the main, intermediate, and tail rotor gearboxes.

Sophisticated computer modeling has been used to analyze the survivability in a crash at numerous impact angles and attitudes, demonstrating that the AW149 meets the most stringent requirements. The rotor blades have been demonstrated to retain their structural integrity for at least 90 minutes after a strike from a 12.7mm (0.5-inch) round.

The AW149 will also feature Leonardo’s Modular Advanced Platform Protection System, which combines laser, missile, and radar warning receivers with various effectors, including the Miysis-directed infrared countermeasures.