With the Heeresfleiger (German Army Aviation) planning to acquire 54 Airbus H145M LKH (Leichter Kampfhubschrauber, light attack helicopter) to replace its fleet of EC665 Tigers by 2031, weapons integration on the light twin-engine helicopter is underway
The armed H145M programme got a major momentum boost, when the German Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge und Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr (WTD)- 61, the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Centre for Aircraft based at Manching near Munich took delivery of its first H145M (75+03) on May 28 and is now on display in Hall D.
The Airbus H Force weapons management system package now installed on the helicopter will play a significant part in the weapons trials, which until now has used Airbus Helicopters rotary wing aircrafts.
This will allow the rapid integration of both ballistic and guided missiles, which cover the Thales 70 mm (2.75 inch) rocket pod, KNDS NC621 20 mm gun pod and Diehl Defence Eurospike ER2 anti-tank missile system. All three weapons are on display with the WTD 61 H145M.
Work on the Thales 70mm rocket pod has been underway for some time now. Airbus carried out a two-week firing campaign last year involving both unguided and laser guided rockets. Attention is now switching to the 20mm KNDS gun, with live firing trials expected to commence in mid-June. Next up will be the laser guided Diehl Defence EuroSpike ER2 anti-tank weapon.
Targeting will be met by the L3Wescam MX-15 EO/IR sensor for precision strike, while integration of the monocular helmet-mounted sight and display (HMSD) has been ongoing since 2024.
All the H145Ms now come off the production line will have fixed provisions, with the HForce avionics so no subsequent hardware upgrades will be needed.
A 7.62mm Gatling gun has been integrated on the Luftwaffe’s special operations H145Ms.
Self-protection will be met with the Bird Aerosystems ‘featherweight protection systems.’ This includes MicroEye, a new generation electro-optical missile warning systems and a lightweight DIRCM (Direct infra-red countermeasures) that will give 360° coverage in the most dangerous environments
The first of 62 H145M LKHs ordered in December 2023 and increased to 82 in December 2024 will be delivery to the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) in mid-2026. Ten are for the Luftwaffe’s special operations unit based at Laupheim, 72 are destined for the Heeresflieger, the Army Aviation, with 18 of them set to serve the Army Aviation Helicopter Training Center at Buckeburg. All should be delivery by late 2029.
Photo by A. Warnes
