Helibras Successfully Concludes H225M Integration Tests with Exocet Missile

Armed with two AM-39 Exocet long-range anti-ship missiles, the Airbus H225M Caracal is arguably the most powerful naval strike helicopter presently in service, and will give the Brazilian navy an unprecedented anti-ship firepower. (Airbus HC photo)

December 3, 2015 (Issued in Portuguese; unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)

(Source: Helibras; issued December 3, 2015)

Helibras this week concluded the first phase of the integration tests of the AM39 Exocet missiles and the naval mission system developed especially for operational version of the H225M helicopter of the Brazilian navy. During the three weeks of activities in the laboratory, the team successfully completed several simulated firing of the missile.

This phase of testing was performed to validate the connection between the Naval Mission system and the missile launchers, to test different modes of operation, to verify the control logic and check the test instrumentation that will be used during the flight trials.

In early 2016, bench analysis will resume for the missiles to be flight-tested on the prototype aircraft, in Brazil. These activities are being coordinated by teams of Helibras Engineering Center and Airbus Helicopters professionals as well as MBDA, maker of the AM39 Exocet missile, Atech and Airbus Defence and Space.

"This was another stage planned in our schedule of work and shows the commitment of Helibras to the H-XBR program, as well as the increased training of its professionals and its plant in Brazil," said Richard Marelli, Helibras vice president of Operations.

The successful integration of the systems also demonstrates the maturity of the development of H225M and of the Naval Mission Systems for the Navy of Brazil, which has a completely new layout, designed in Brazil by Helibras, together with the customer, Airbus Helicopters and partner companies