KIELCE, Poland, Sept. 4, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- During the MSPO International Defence Industry
Exhibition, PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT)
displayed an S-70i™ Armed Black Hawk® helicopter fitted
with a single-station external stores pylon. Designed at PZL Mielec
as a lighter weight, lower cost alternative to currently fielded
dual-station external wings, a single-station pylon attached to one
or both sides of the aircraft will be compatible with the advanced
weapon system that allows Black Hawk pilot gunners to support
battlefield operations using forward firing guns, rockets and
air-to-ground missiles.
"We're developing the single-station pylon in response to
requests by militaries across Europe, Latin
America and Asia for a
battlefield support helicopter that can be armed for different
types of missions that may not always need four weapons stations,"
said Janusz Zakręcki, president, general director of PZL Mielec.
"Operators can arm the aircraft for suppressive fire, surveillance,
armed reconnaissance, armed escort and air assault missions, and
still carry out other utility roles whenever pylons and stores must
remain on the aircraft."
At a quarter the cost and weight of a dual-station wing, a pylon
can be removed or attached by two people in 15 minutes, produces
less drag during flight, offers a wider field of fire to window or
door gunners, and opens more space to hoist a litter into the
aircraft while in a hover.
For large targets, a pylon will be able to carry HELLFIRE™ or
Spike air-to-ground missile launchers. A pylon also can extend
aircraft range with an 80-gallon external fuel tank.
As a complementary option for the S-70i / S-70M Armed Black Hawk
with dual-station wings, the single station pylon will integrate
with the aircraft's weapons management system that calculates the
range and complex ballistics required for pilot gunners to engage
targets with high accuracy and reliability from stand-off distances
during day and night operations.
PZL Mielec expects to begin airworthiness flight testing of the
prototype pylon design in 2020.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
105,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin