FN Herstal has developed a new Airborne Digital Suite to meet challenging market demands and expectations on integrating machine guns into modern platforms.
The FN Airborne Digital Suite provides military forces with the highest level of operational capability. This new fully digital ITAR-free suite is fully in line with FN Herstal’s strategy to further develop its customizable Integrated Weapon Systems for Airborne applications.
It is comprised of three complementary and interconnected components. The first is a D-HUD (Digital Head-Up Display), a modern and cost-effective targeting solution to improve precision in firing. It enhances accuracy and situational awareness and reduces the pilot workload using optics technology and ballistic computation solution. The D-HUD offers capability to retrofit in-service helicopters to the latest advances in targeting technologies.
The second is a Digital Pod Controller (D-PC). This armament management system controls digital pods and rocket launchers. The D-PC is installed on the platform and is connected to the pods via MIL-STD-1760 compliant protocol.
The third is the D-Pod: a self-contained fixed-forward pod system, featuring the well-known .50 cal M3P machine gun, now with digital communication.
Variants are:
Q .50 cal D-HMP250 Pod (ammo capacity: 250 rounds)
Q .50 cal D-HMP400 Pod (ammo capacity: 400 rounds)
Q .50 cal D-RMP Pod (ammo capacity: 250 rounds and 3 x 2.75" rocket launcher tubes)
The FN D-Pod can be operated by either D-PC or on-board non-FN armament management systems. It allows rapid reconfiguration of helicopters or subsonic aircraft between missions.
The FN Airborne Digital Suite will be on show at Farnborough International Airshow, Hall 1, Belgian Pavilion, booth 1395, between July 16-21.