HForce
A platform-interchangeable, onboard weapon system
HForce is a unique, exhaustive and flexible weapon system designed to meet the requirements of defence agencies seeking light attack mission capabilities or a complement to their existing fleet of specialised attack helicopters.
HForce is the latest-generation Airbus weapon system. It is modular and incremental, and can be fitted onto any military version of Airbus’ commercial helicopter range (H125M, H145M, H225M).
HForce offers a large array of weapons, modern and easy target acquisition and a high level of targeting accuracy, formerly reserved for high-end attack helicopters.
Drawing on experience with the Tiger attack helicopter, Airbus has developed an off-the-shelf solution to address a large scope of customers’ armament needs.
Conceived as a modular and incremental system, HForce offers a multi-purpose mission computer interchangeable from one helicopter to another and a large choice of weapons (air-to-air, air-to-ground, ballistic or guided) to comply with any operational need. The technically-advanced solution takes into account the different aspects of firing accuracy: weapon recoil, centre of gravity, ground clearance or vehicle separation.
Specifications
HForce is composed of:
- One central core unit for firing computation
- Monocular helmet-mounted sight and display (HMSD) for pilot and gunner targeting and ballistic firing
- Electro-optical system (EOS) for target identification and firing
- Armament grips for armament management
- Weapons pods with the following armament:
- Ballistic: machine gun, cannon, rocket
- Guided: laser-guided rockets, air-to-ground missile, air-to-air missile (with growth potential)
Full operating spectrum
- HForce covers the entire operational spectrum:
Air-to-ground
- Tanks, armoured vehicles, troops, fire support to troops in contact:
Air-to-air
- Aircraft, drones, attack helicopters:
Air-to-surface
- Maritime counter terrorism and counter piracy speedboats:
Ballistic:
- Cannon 20 mm
- Machine gun 12.7 mm
- Rocket 68 and 70 mm
Guided:
- Laser-guided rocket
- Air-to-ground missile
- Air-to-air missile (with growth potential)
Addressing today’s requirements for many types of operations, HForce outfits helicopters for a wide array of missions.
Armed scout
- Intelligence
- Surveillance
- Target acquisition
- Reconnaissance
- Attack
- Deep ops (depending on type of helicopter)
- Fire support
- Attack and defence
- Escort
Utility
- Maritime counter terrorism
- Air movement
- Combat recovery
- Casualty evacuation (casevac)
- Fire support
Maritime security:
- Maritime counter-terrorism
Parapublic:
- Law enforcement
Incremental and modular
HForce is offered with different options and armaments.
Option 0: Fixed parts and capabilities; structural parts and harnesses
Option 1: Ballistic armed scout (Pilot firing with HMSD)
Option 2: Ballistic light attack (Gunner firing with EOS or pilot firing with HMSD)
Option 3: Ballistic and guided light attack (Gunner firing with EOS or pilot firing ballistic with HMSD)
HForce’s flexible architecture permits aircraft to be retrofit with any available armament.
Crew resource management
HForce enables a significant reduction of workload thanks to experience gained from crew resource management on Tiger helicopters. With the HForce system in place, the gunner manages the helicopter’s weapons while the pilot flies, exactly like in an attack helicopter.
Making the most of Airbus Helicopters’ experience, HForce offers easy cooperation among the crew in service of target identification and acquisition, and a firing computation for drastic improvements in firing accuracy.
A competitive solution
Aircraft retrofitted with the basic “Fitted for but not with” capability (option 0) can become potential light attack helicopters, ready for weapons installation at any time.
With HForce, multi-purpose helicopters are armed with the entire operational spectrum, allowing militaries that cannot invest in specialised helicopters to complete light attack missions.
Defence agencies gain more flexibility in the management of their weapon stock because weapon pods allow arms to be interchanged from one aircraft to another.
Infographics
For the full complement of airborne law enforcement missions – including those performed with city, state or highway police; carried out by customs, border patrol, and coast guard units; and implemented by drug enforcement, SWAT or search teams – Airbus provides the helicopters, capability and special equipment to get the job done – no matter how complex the task.
