Paris Le Bourget: A new pilot Helmet Mounted Systems (HMS) will be installed in the Israeli airforce (IAF) Eurocopter AS 565 SA (Atalef) helicopters operated on board Israel Navy missile corvettes, i-HLS reports.
Sources at the Paris airshow said that the selection process in underway. The Atalef is the last IAF helicopter to be equipped with such a system. The IAF’s CH-53’s and Blackhawks are already equipped with such helmets. The Eurocopter AS 565 SA are operated for the navy operational needs.
The HMS will make it easier to operate the helicopter conjunction with with the Heron-I unmanned air system (UAS) maritime version.
This operational requirement has evolved as the navy and airforce are tightening cooperation and planning on joint missions to protect offshore oil and gas facilities located off the Israeli coastline in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israeli airforce (IAF) is operating Heron-I (Soval) UAS with maritime patrol sensors, in support of the Israeli navy.
The maritime Heron is operated parallel to the Israel aerospace industries (IAI ) Westwind 1124 ‘Seascan’ maritime patrol jets, that have been operated since 1978. The maritime UAS are equipped with a similar payload carried now by the Seascan. This includes an Elta search radar with and a Tamam stabilized long range optical observation system. In addition, the drone can also carry Electronic Support Measures and radio-electronic emitter locators capable of detecting, localising and monitoring radio transmissions. The Heron-1 has an endurance of over 40 hours at an altitude of 30,000 feet. It can carry multiple payloads with a total weight of 250kg.
