Danish AW101s to get MX-15 sensor fit

Sep. 2, 2013 –by Craig Hoyle – FG

London - Denmark is to perform an equipment upgrade on some of its air force AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters, with the aircraft to be fitted with L-3 Wescam's MX-15 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor.

Announced by the supplier on 2 September, Copenhagen's acquisition and sustainment contract will provide "a minimum of eight MX-15 imaging systems". Deliveries should conclude by 2014, it adds, with the new sensors to be installed by Denmark's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation. Certification activities will be managed by AgustaWestland.

"The newly equipped AW101s will then be deployed to the Royal Danish Air Force's 722 Sqn in tactical troop transport operations, training exercises within Denmark and possible future use in mission theatres globally," L-3 Wescam says.

The Royal Danish Air Force operates 14 AW101s, which Flightglobal's Ascend Online Fleets database records as having been built between 2005 and 2009. Part of the service's fleet is tasked with providing search and rescue cover from its Karup air base, with these aircraft having been delivered with FLIR Systems Star Safire II EO/IR sensors.