Paves the Way for Further Development
On 17 April, at DSA 2018 Kuala Lumpur, Thales announced that the FZ220 rocket launcher for 70mm projectiles has been fully qualified on the latest McDonnell Douglas light helicopter, the MD530G. The qualification follows successful trials in Yuma, AZ/USA during March.
This qualification takes place while McDonnell Douglas is helping modernise the light helicopter fleet for a number of armed forces, including the Malaysian Army. A new modern platform can now be equipped with a Thales solution and offers more opportunities to forces around the world.Low mass is of utmost importance in helicopter applications.
Thales’ light-weight rocket launchers, constructed from composite materials, are on average about 50% lighter than comparable metallic launchers and have no corrosion issues. They have been especially developed for helicopters, which often have payload limitations. of payload.Thales is continuously innovating and adapting its systems on light helicopters. This qualification paves the way for further business opportunities for the FZ220 rocket launcher.