Seen next to an older four-bladed H145M helicopter (Ireland will get the latest five-bladed version), the HForce package provides the operator with a fully integrated weapons system. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The Republic of Ireland is to receive the HForce weapons management system as part of a recently announced deal to acquire the Airbus Helicopters H145M light-medium rotorcraft.
Airbus Helicopters UK, which is managing the deal, said on 10 January that its contract to deliver four helicopters to the Irish Air Corps, which was announced on 30 December, will include the HForce system that was launched in 2016.
“The Irish Air Corps signed a contract for four H145M [helicopters] configured with Airbus' weapon management system, HForce. They'll be used for tasks including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), training, and light attack,” Airbus Helicopters said on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
As noted in this Airbus announcement, and as announced by Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin in his initial announcement of the H145M procurement, the helicopters would be delivered with equipment for ISTAR and light attack duties. HForce was not named in the minister's announcement, so it was unclear at that time if the Irish Air Corps would adopt the Airbus system or if it would choose to integrate its own weapons package.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
