Feature story

The Armed Scout 645 is outfitted with a Mission Equipment Package for its aerial armed scout role

October 19, 2009

The Armed Scout 645 program demonstrator aircraft has been outfitted with a representative Mission Equipment Package that underscores the helicopter’s capability to support a full spectrum of military operations. This package incorporates a mix of armament, sensors, and data link/communications systems – including new capabilities for real-time streaming battlefield video and metadata from unmanned aerial systems.

EADS North America exhibited the demonstrator aircraft at this month’s AUSA (Association of the U.S. Army) 2009 annual meeting in Washington, D.C., where the Armed Scout’s low-risk solution and world-class industry team were highlighted.

The Armed Scout 645 is based on the EC145 rotary-wing aircraft’s robust airframe, which also is used for the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter that EADS North America is supplying to the U.S. Army. Recent flight tests with the same demonstrator aircraft exhibited at AUSA validated the Armed Scout 645’s ability to meet the Army’s demanding high altitude/high temperature mission profiles for a new aerial armed scout helicopter equipped with a 2,300-pound Mission Equipment Package (MEP).
	The Armed Scout 645 demonstrator aircraft’s Mission Equipment Package incorporates full capabilities for target detection and designation, as well as interoperability with unmanned aerial systems. Located on the demonstrator helicopter’s nose is a Tri-band Omni-directional Mast Mounted Assembly (TOMMA) for Lockheed Martin’s VUIT (Video from Unmanned Aerial Systems for Interoperability Teaming) system. Lockheed Martin is the Armed Scout 645’s Mission Equipment Package integrator, and the company’s VUIT system is now operational in U.S. Army combat missions. A typical sensor complement on the Armed Scout 645 demonstrator was represented by the chin-mounted L3 Wescam MX-15 turret – the same as selected for UH-72A Lakotas to be operated in the Army National Guard’s Security and Support (S&S) mission.
A mix of air-to-ground weapons for the Armed Scout 645 was shown on the demonstrator aircraft’s left-hand pylon, which was outfitted with a Lockheed Martin HELLFIRE semi-active laser missile on the outboard position and two 2.75-inch guided rockets fitted with the Lockheed Martin DAGR semi-active laser guidance kit.
	The Armed Scout 645’s compact profile enhances survivability, provides excellent maneuverability and allows the helicopter to move in close – all while retaining a functional, unobstructed main cabin that is easily re-configurable to maximize mission flexibility. The helicopter’s large rear clamshell doors and high-set main/tail rotors optimize loading and unloading, even while the blades are turning.
A three-barrel GAU-19 50-caliber Gatling gun was installed on the Armed Scout 645’s right-hand pylon, demonstrating the helicopter’s capability to deliver firepower from powerful mini-gun weapons.
	The Armed Scout 645’s modern, integrated glass cockpit enables sensor data, imagery and other information to be displayed – providing maximum situational awareness while reducing pilot workload. Included on the Armed Scout 645 demonstrator helicopter exhibited at AUSA is a left-hand instrument panel display for FLIR data from the chin-mounted sensor turret. The cockpit also has the capability to show the Lockheed Martin VUIT system’s real-time streaming battlefield video and metadata from unmanned aircraft vehicles, allowing Level 4 control of UAVs.