The mission: Test and evaluation of helicopters under harsh winter conditions
As homeland defence priorities increase and climate changes make the Arctic more accessible, interest is growing in cold climate testing and winter operations. But testing and evaluating (T&E) helicopters and weapon systems in extreme cold conditions is no easy task.
Our customer was running several modification projects on their combat helicopter fleet, introducing new capabilities to their attack, transport and utility helicopters. An important milestone for their projects was to verify and prove the capabilities of their helicopters and associated weapon systems during cold climate and winter conditions.
In addition to technical verification, the customer also needed to prove operational capabilities such as white-outs, cargo handling, fast roping and maintenance procedures. Other critical test requirements included GPS jamming and live firing with weapon systems ranging from door-gun to anti-tank and air-to-air missiles.
As the customer’s home country lacked both the necessary climate and test ranges large enough to perform these types of rotary trials, FMV T&E provided the ideal answer – without having to find a solution outside of Europe.
Do you need to operate in harsh cold climate conditions?
Watch the video for a look inside the Arctic trial experience at Vidsel:
The solution: Vidsel Test Range
With subarctic conditions and Europe’s largest overland test range, FMV T&E offers an ideal environment for the full range of rotary wing cold climate T&E scenarios. Together with the customer, our experienced staff analysed the test requirements for each project along with helicopter type, which resulted in tailored flight tests and live firing campaigns being designed.
At our Vidsel Test Range, we offered the customer the opportunity to perform all necessary T&E tasks and scenarios in cold, snowy and icy conditions with temperatures as low as -30°C.
Being the largest test range in Europe, Vidsel had all the space required so the customer could fire all weapon systems and perform live GPS-jamming (NAVWAR).
Learn more about the testing possibilities at FMV Vidsel Test Range
The result: A multi-year collaboration for cold climate T&E
This customer has now performed several cold climate campaigns over a number of years at Vidsel Test Range. The helicopters tested were CH-53, LUH SOF H145M, Tiger and NH90, including the associated weapon systems.
The customer experienced straightforward and successful test and evaluation of their helicopters and weapon systems. They not only verified the different capabilities of their helicopters, but also used the range and its comprehensive infrastructure and facilities to train different tactics, techniques and procedures – ensuring a smooth fielding of the new capabilities to the frontline units.
Find out more about our airborne weapon and electronic warfare capabilities
Services delivered
- Project and test management and subject matter expertise support
- Airbase
- Surveillance and tracking radars
- Optical systems (cinetheodolites, HS video)
- Live firing of helicopter-based weapon systems
- GPS-jamming trials
- White-out trial
- Static targets