NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland. An engineering team here recently redesigned and tested a UH-1Y helicopter weapons...
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland.
An engineering team here recently redesigned and tested a UH-1Y helicopter weapons mount which will provide extended ground-firing capabilities to US Marines in Afghanistan.
In response to a Marine Corps Urgent Universal Needs Statement, the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office (PMA-242) Crew Served Weapons Integration team redesigned the UH-1Y’s weapons mount, which is used to secure crew-served weapons to the aircraft.
While the redesign’s original intent was only for the GAU-17 mini gun, PMA-242 expanded the request to include the GAU-21 and M240 machine guns since the UH-1Y helicopter can carry any combination of two GAU-17, GAU-21 or M240 weapons. The new mount brings the UH-1Y increased capability that puts its field of fire on par with other aircraft, such as the legacy UH-1N helicopter, Corey said. Field of fire refers to the range, elevation and azimuth of a weapon when firing.
During the tests in May, engineers evaluated the redesign of the top bushing of the Defensive Armament System, which holds the weapon-specific mount and the weapon-specific mount stops. The component was redesigned to elevate upward enough to fire weapons farther while the aircraft is on the ground.
The UH-1Y utility helicopter provides command & control and assault support under day/night and adverse weather conditions.
Testing will continue at Pax River for approximately six more months to validate the new design’s functionality. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) in Afghanistan will be the first squadron to receive the redesigned UH-1Y mount later this year.
An engineering team here recently redesigned and tested a UH-1Y helicopter weapons mount which will provide extended ground-firing capabilities to US Marines in Afghanistan.
In response to a Marine Corps Urgent Universal Needs Statement, the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program Office (PMA-242) Crew Served Weapons Integration team redesigned the UH-1Y’s weapons mount, which is used to secure crew-served weapons to the aircraft.
While the redesign’s original intent was only for the GAU-17 mini gun, PMA-242 expanded the request to include the GAU-21 and M240 machine guns since the UH-1Y helicopter can carry any combination of two GAU-17, GAU-21 or M240 weapons. The new mount brings the UH-1Y increased capability that puts its field of fire on par with other aircraft, such as the legacy UH-1N helicopter, Corey said. Field of fire refers to the range, elevation and azimuth of a weapon when firing.
During the tests in May, engineers evaluated the redesign of the top bushing of the Defensive Armament System, which holds the weapon-specific mount and the weapon-specific mount stops. The component was redesigned to elevate upward enough to fire weapons farther while the aircraft is on the ground.
The UH-1Y utility helicopter provides command & control and assault support under day/night and adverse weather conditions.
Testing will continue at Pax River for approximately six more months to validate the new design’s functionality. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) in Afghanistan will be the first squadron to receive the redesigned UH-1Y mount later this year.
