A WEAPON INTEGRATION APPARATUS FOR USE IN MILITARY AIRCRAFT

Technical Field

The invention relates to a weapon integration apparatus that connects the weapons associated with the transportation section of military aircraft such as helicopters to openings such as doors, windows, etc. of the transportation section.

State of the Art

Today, the rapid execution of military operations gradually increases the use of aircraft during these operations. One of the most important examples of aircraft used for this purpose is helicopters.

Helicopters can be used for attack, defense, and transportation to react quickly to the fluid tactical conditions of modern warfare against threats in air, land, and sea.

The most common use of military helicopters is the transportation of troops, but the use of transport helicopters to perform other tasks such as combat search and rescue (CSAR), sanitary evacuation (MEDEVAC), and air command center is also common.

Helicopters can contain a wide range of weapon types such as machine guns, grenade launchers, automatic cannons, etc. in their structures to resist threats during such missions.

One of the examples of weapon systems used by helicopters is the weapons that can be connected to openings such as doors, windows, etc. of the transportation section of the helicopter. These weapons are mostly intended to be used by military personnel carried by helicopter. For this reason, they are connected to the sides of the transportation section of the helicopter and operated.

Military personnel can use the weapon by using helicopter openings such as doors, windows, etc. Similarly, remotely operated weapon systems are also known within the current art.

Such systems can be given M-134 weapon systems that can be mounted on the window of M23 and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk/Cougar helicopters that can be mounted on the door of UH- 1D.

Such weapons are adapted to the aircraft using different integration apparatuses. Existing apparatus can be associated with the doors/windows of the helicopter, helping the user to direct the weapon to the target.

During the use of the helicopter, it is advantageous to collect the weapon in the inner part when the weapon will not be used. The collection of the weapon system into the helicopter body will be preferred if the weapon is not used, as it will provide an advantage in terms of both the flight dynamics of the helicopter and the safety of the personnel.

In the integration apparatus currently used, it is possible to take the entire weapon with the apparatus into the helicopter and close the doors/windows.

However, in existing systems, in cases where the weapon system is taken into the helicopter since the electricity supply to the system continues, there may be unintentional ignition that may cause an accident crash.

Since the movement of the weapon system is provided by the integration apparatus, the freedom of movement provided to the weapon by the integration apparatus allows the weapon to be used efficiently. However, the existing integration apparatus may be inadequate due to the very narrow use of rising and sweeping angles.

Weapon systems aim to be installed in the door or window of the helicopter. However, these openings belonging to the transportation area of the helicopter can also be used for the entry and exit of military personnel. Since the existing integration apparatus closes these openings, it is either not possible for military personnel to enter or exit the window during the use of these apparatus. The patent application FR2963670 refers to a weapon integration apparatus suitable for use with Lynx helicopters having a connecting device comprising an intermediate arm wherein the arm ends are provided with rotation units rotating around the rotation axis and connecting the two interfaces.

It is understood that the apparatus is an apparatus that can be positioned and collected in the helicopter door.

The patent application EP3254049 (Al) refers to the window support that will ensure the integration of Ml 34 MINIGUN machine guns to AS 532 AL/UL Cougar type and similar helicopters, ensuring the use of the weapon from the helicopter's window, and the positioning of the auxiliary equipment such as the cartridge box and batteries required for the operation of the weapon in a way that does not interfere with the structure of the platform.

Technical Problems Aimed to be solved by the Invention

The object of the invention is to create a weapon integration apparatus that can be taken into the aircraft and prevented from firing with a switch mechanism when taken into the vehicle, especially connecting the weapons associated with the transportation section of military aircraft such as helicopters to the openings such as doors, windows, etc. of the transportation section.

In cases where a weapon system is not needed by using the said apparatus, the weapon system will be able to be collected into the aircraft body. When the weapon system is collected in the aircraft body and the weapon is not used, both the driving dynamics of the aircraft will be preserved and the security risks of the personnel transported inside will be reduced.

With the invention, the weapon system contains a switch mechanism that will prevent the weapon from firing when the weapon system is collected inside. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch on the apparatus prevents fire by cutting the power supply to the weapon system when the weapon is collected in the body.

In this way, when the weapon system is collected in the body, unwanted situations such as accidents, breakage, etc. that may occur in case of unintentional firing can be prevented since it cannot perform the weapon firing function. With the use of the integration apparatus of the invention, the rising and sweeping angles of the weapon have been increased. With the use of the apparatus of the invention, an advantage has been provided since the targeting capabilities of the weapon system have been increased.

With the use of the integration apparatus of the invention, it will be possible for military personnel to enter and exit the aircraft using the window.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1. Weapon-mounted view of the aircraft

Figure 2. Detailed view of the weapon integration apparatus

Description of References in Figures

1. Transportation area opening

2. Weapon

3. Weapon integration apparatus

4. Vertical arm

5. Support carrier arm

6. Connection element

7. Lock arm

Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a weapon integration apparatus (3), which can be rotated in a horizontal/vertical plane to direct the weapon (2) to the target by being connected to the transportation area opening (1) of military aircraft and can be taken into and out of the aircraft from the transportation area opening (1).

The said integration apparatus (3) is provided with at least one switch mechanism that prevents weapon (2) from firing when a weapon (2) is taken into the aircraft. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aircraft is a helicopter. More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the invention aims to connect to Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopters.

In this application, weapon (2) can be connected to the window section, which is one of the transportation area openings (1) of the helicopter.

Within this application, the weapon (1) connected to the helicopter can be an M134 Miniguntype machine gun. Considering that the M134 Minigun is operated with an electric motor, the switch mechanism that prevents ignition can be in a switch structure that can cut and open the electric supply to the electric motor.

When the weapon (2) system is taken into the helicopter, the switch on apparatus (3) cuts off the power supply to the system. In this way, in case of accidental ignition that may cause an accident-crash, safety is established when the weapon is taken into the helicopter.

The integration apparatus (3), which is the subject of the invention, can be mounted on Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopters without any change on the helicopter for the integration of the Ml 34 Mini gun-type weapon (2).

The weapon (2) may be used directly or indirectly by military personnel. While direct use defines the condition for military personnel to fire the weapon at the head of the weapon, indirect use may include the use of the weapon by an autonomous and/or human with a remote control module.

During the use of the weapon (2), the helicopter is taken out of the windows with transportation area openings (1) and can be used with a high degree of freedom. After use, the windows can be taken back into the body in a way that they remain closed.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the weapon (2) is provided to be used by being ejected from the helicopter window (1).

In this application, the weapon (2) is connected to the helicopter window with the vertical arm (4), the support carrier arm (5), and the connection element (6). The support carrier arm (5) defines the main carrier element carrying the weapon (2). The support carrier arm (5) is connected to the transportation area opening (1) through the connection element (6). The support carrier arm (5) is designed to move circularly about the axis of the connecting element (6). In this way, it will be possible to move the weapon (2) inside and outside the aircraft.

In case weapon (2) is used outside the aircraft, the position of the support carrier arm (5) carrying the weapon (2) is fixed by using the lock arm (7). The lock arm (7) prevents the aircraft from moving by locking the support carrier arm (5) to the transportation area opening (1) such as the window.

In the event of the weapon being taken in, the lock arm (7) is opened and allows the movement of the support carrier arm (5) to allow the weapon (2) to be taken in.

The vertical arm (4) defines the section formed at the end of the carrier arm (5) for attaching the weapon (2).