Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BK 117 A-3M - The path to greater things

Godvana · February 26, 2025, 9:31pm

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Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BK 117 A-3M

The BK 117 is a twin-engine multi-purpose utility helicopter built by a partnership between Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and Kawasaki and based on the Bo 105, with which it shared many parts and design similarities, with development costs being shared equally between the two companies. During the 1985 Paris Air Show, a combat version of the helicopter was unveiled by MBB called the BK 117A-3M. Unlike other variants of the BK 117, this variant was not associated with Kawasaki and was developed solely by Germany due to restrictions on the Japanese export of military equipment.

The A-3M featured a Lucas turret which housed a 12.7mm Browning heavy machine gun with 450 rounds of ammunition. Pylons on either side of the helicopter could carry four anti-tank missiles for a total of eight, typically the HOT 2, though the pylons could also carry TOW missiles. Air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, and forward-firing cannons could also be carried on these pylons. well as an additional mast-mounted sight and digital weapons controls avionics.

Other systems include an infrared jammer (can be seen mounted just behind the rotor) and chaff/flare dispenser system (I believe this is located on the bottom rear of the aircraft), a Racal Prophet radar warning system and a Racal RAMS 3000 Series avionics management system which uses a dual MIL-STD-1553B databus and multi-function cockpit displays.

Ultimately, MBB would drop the project in 1988 due to a lack of interest, however, the BK 117 would have several other helicopters derived from it. These include India’s HAL Dhruv and the H-135M and H-145M from MBB’s successor company Airbus with even just recently, the H-145M LKH being selected as the replacement for the German Army’s Eurocopter Tiger fleet.

Specifications

Engines: Two Lycoming LTS 101-650B-1 turboshafts producing 592-shp (441-kW)

Maximum speed: 250 km/h at sea level

Initial climb rate: 450 m per minute

Service ceiling: 4,570 m

Range: 495 km

Empty weight: 2,560 kg

Maximum take-off weight: 3,200 kg

Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m

Length overall: rotors turning 13.00 m

Height: 3.38 m to top of rotor head

Main rotor disc area: 95.03 m2

Armament: one 12.7-mm machine gun with 450 rounds and two hardpoints mounting a combination of four HOT 2 and/or TOW anti-tank missiles, air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, and forward firing cannons

Avionics: Roof and mast mounted optics, infrared jammer, flare and chaff launchers, radar warning receiver

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