Armed scout
Airbus Helicopters offers three highly capable and efficient rotorcraft for armed scout missions: the H125M, H135M and H145M.
These helicopters build on a company heritage that traces its roots to the Gazelle – the world’s first versatile armed scout rotorcraft.
Two-tonne single-engine H125M
Airbus’ single-engine H125M is the most capable armed scout helicopter in its two-metric-tonne class, tailored for reconnaissance and attack missions with excellent capabilities in high and hot environments.
Powered by Turbomeca’s Arriel 2D engine with a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system, the H125M has a small visual silhouette, reduced radar signature and the agility to perform combat flight – including nap-of-the-Earth profiles.
Equipped with HForce, the crew benefits from a high-end electro-optical system (EOS) and helmet-mounted sight display (HMSD) for improved reconnaissance and identification, and reduced workload onboard.
HForce can accommodate a wide set of armaments qualified on this helicopter including a podded 12.7-mm machine gun, 20-mm cannon pod, 70-mm rockets. Side-mounted weaponry includes a 7.62-mm machine gun and installed sniper rifle. Growth potential is available for guided rockets and air-to-ground missiles.
Three-tonne twin-engine H135M
In the three-tonne category, Airbus’ H135M is the armed scout’s version of its H135 twin-engine helicopter, enhanced with improved high and hot performance, increased maximum takeoff weight, improved flight envelope and extended range. It can be armed with 12-tube and 7-tube rocket launchers, a 20-mm cannon pod and 12.7-mm machine gun pod, along with growth potential for laser-guided rockets and air-to-air missiles.
Airbus offers the H135M equipped with a weapon system that integrates a multipurpose mission computer; an electro-optical system with infrared/TV camera and laser rangefinder; a helmet-mounted sight display; and a ballistic targeting system, among other features.
The H135M has Airbus’ four-blade fibre-reinforced composite bearingless main rotor and signature Fenestron® shrouded tail rotor, which provide increased survivability against ground fire, while also reducing vibration and noise levels.
Four-tonne twin-engine H145M
The H145M is the latest four-tonne-class twin-engine military helicopter in Airbus’ product range, providing a multitude of deployment possibilities with its power, range, endurance and payload capability.
The H145M is equipped with HForce, which allows the crew to utilise a high-end electro-optical system (EOS) and helmet-mounted sight display (HMSD) for better reconnaissance and identification, and reduced workload onboard.
With its open system architecture, the HForce incremental weapon system can accommodate a wide choice of ballistic and guided weapon configurations – from 12- and 7-tube rocket- and guided-rocket launchers to a 20-mm cannon pod, 12.7-mm machine gun pod and air-to-ground missiles.
Fitted with two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines – each managed by a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) – the H145M retains excellent performance throughout the flight envelope, particularly when operating at altitudes of 6,000 ft. and in 95 deg. F. environments – known as “6K/95 high and hot” conditions.
Airbus’ state-of-the-art glass cockpit and Helionix® avionics suite – coupled with a highly capable 4-axis digital autopilot system – ensure the H145M accomplishes the job, no matter how demanding the mission.
