By Gary McDonagh, , Danish Aerotech
SubscribeDanish Aerotech is specialized in integrating lightweight ballistic protection into military and civilian operational helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
The Hostile Airspace Environment
In many parts of the world, where NATO, the UN or humanitarian organizations are present in deployed operations, intensive flying activities take place - military as well as civilian.
Hostilities on the ground endanger safe operations of aircraft. Flying in such areas is very risky, and the need for self protection is imminent. Whether flying on military or civilian missions you can expect that the risk of being shot down is present.
Today, most military aircraft are furnished with various protective devices when they leave the assembly line, in order to improve survivability of the crew and passengers. On older aircraft, however, the original ballistic protection is obsolete.
Civilian aircraft have no innate ballistic protection. When flying in hostile environments the integration of modern, lightweight ballistic protection dramatically increases the survivability of both aircraft and crew.
New materials
Danish Aerotech cooperates with a leading manufacturer of ballistic protection. Using state-of-the-art materials and technology new lightweight protective materials with significantly improved ballistic protection are constantly being developed. The greatly reduced weight per square foot improves survivability of crew, passengers and aircraft, reduces the dead weight of the aircraft and improves its range and lift capability.
Better protected for UN mission
Danish Aerotech modernized the ballistic protection on three Danish Army AS550 Fennec helicopters before deployment on a UN peacekeeping operation. The original armour protection around the crew seats was removed, and modern lightweight ballistic protection was designed, tested and installed.
This resulted in a significant 34% weight reduction, allowing for installation of additional protection of the bottom of the helicopters, including the passenger compartments, with new Flexible Aramid Fibre Mats - all within the original weight allowance.
Options
Depending on the task and risk level accepted, a reduction in weight of Protective Armour can be exploited in several ways, such as:
- Enhanced Ballistic Protection
- Enhanced Payload
- Enhanced Flight Safety and Survivability
- Enhanced Performance
