- Yes
- No
Introduction:
During 2009, Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopters) partnered with the South African defence firm ATE (Advanced Technologies & Engineering) to create a new Stand Alone Weapons System (SAWS) for light and medium helicopters, due to an increasing demand for multi-role military helicopters. ATE was chosen as a partner due to its unrivalled expertise in weapon system development and sub-system integration on fixed and rotary wing aircraft at the time. The first iteration of the add-on modular system was equipped on an EC635 helicopter and tested at a test range near Murrayhill in South Africa. The add-on modular system allowed for the installation of helmet-mounted display, electro-optical turret, a mission display, GPS receiver, air data, attitude and heading reference system (ADAHRS), mission computer, computers and weapons, including 12.7/20mm gun pods, 70mm unguided rockets, and Mokopa or Ingwe anti-tank missiles. Eurocopter and ATE would also go on to equip the SAWS on the AS550 helicopter, which was revealed at the 2009 Paris Airshow. However, in 2013 another South African defence firm called Paramount Group would acquire ATE and its joint SAWS project. Paramount Group would then proceed to further develop the SAWS (Stand Alone Weapons System) and rename it to FLASH (Flexible Light Armaments System for Helicopters), which it revealed at the 2014 AAD (African Aerospace and Defence) Expo being equipped on a SA.341 helicopter. It’s also worth mentioning that Paramount Group (formerly ATE) is known for other helicopter modifications such as the Super Hind and the Super 17. However for this forum post we will focus on the AS550 FLASH.
Specifications:
Gun/Cannon Armament: FN HMP400 Pod (12.7mm), Nexter NC-621 Pod (20mm)
Rocket/Missile Armament: FZ unguided rockets (70mm), ZT-3 Ingwe anti-tank missile,
Sight/Optics: ARGOS II HDT
Optic Zoom: 4x Electronic Zoom
Auto-tracking: Yes
Night Vision: MWIR Camera
Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 2D
Speed: 287 km/h
Crew: 2
Sources:
FLASH: https://www.paramountgroup.com/media/1161/paramount-flash-2015.pdf
ARGOS-II HDT: https://dam.hensoldt.net/m/2e939965d83790e4/original/ARGOS-II-HDT-English.pdf
AS550 C3e Technical Data: https://latin-america.airbushelicopters.com/website/docs_wsw/RUB_33/tile_128/AS550_C3e_14-100-01E.pdf
FN® HMP400 Pod: FN® HMP400 Pod | FN® Firearms
Works 11: 20 mm Gun Offered for the Helicopters: Works 11: 20 mm Gun Offered for the Helicopters | Defence24.com
Paramount highlights FLASH helicopter weapons kit; upgrades: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/paramount-highlights-flash-helicopter-weapons-kit-upgrades/
Eurocopter, ATE SAWS on track: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/eurocopter-ate-saws-on-track/
Eurocopter & ATE Begin Firing Tests: Eurocopter & ATE Begin Firing Tests | Al Defaiya
Additional Sources:
