FN, the iconic brand of the FN Browning Group Defense & Security division, is not limited to designing and producing weapons. Today, the company positions itself as a full-fledged integrator of airborne weapon systems, right up to flight certification.
With several thousand integrated weapon systems for aerial applications, FN enjoys the trust of military and security forces worldwide. The company has become the global leader in supplying weapon systems for helicopters and subsonic aircraft.
An exclusive meeting with Quentin Wautier, Product Manager – Airborne Weapon Systems.
Located in the Liège region of Belgium, FN is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of defense and security solutions. The company is owned by the FN Browning Group.
The group has a history dating back to the 19th century and has developed considerable industrial expertise over time. Its origins are in Belgium (FN Herstal), the United States (Browning), France, and Italy (Sofisport). Today, the group operates more than 20 industrial sites across nine NATO countries, including Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Finland, under its Defense & Security division.
Image ©️FN.
The Defense & Security division designs, manufactures, and markets solutions, products, and services for armed forces and law enforcement, primarily under the FN brand.
Focus in integrated weapon systems
“Weapon systems are developed to be integrated onto a carrier, whether it is a vehicle, a ship, a helicopter, or a subsonic aircraft” explains Quentin Wautier “We have been supplying systems for the aerospace sector for nearly 50 years, and today we are qualified on virtually all types of helicopters and many subsonic aircraft.”
Systems compliant with international standards
“When FN Herstal integrates a system onto a specific platform, the first thing we do is make our system flight-worthy, meaning it must comply with very strict standards. For example, our systems must meet requirements regarding temperature, vibration, humidity, and more. These are tested at our test centers, ensuring full compliance with current aerospace standards.”
Once a system is qualified by our test center, it is ready for flight campaigns conducted either by the manufacturers or by local certification centers, with the assistance of the company.
For the aerospace sector, FN Herstal primarily works with two types of weapons: the FN MAG® 58, a versatile 7.62 mm machine gun, and the FN® M3, a 12.7 mm automatic machine gun.
Smart embedded weapons
“For our aerospace products, we follow a preventive maintenance strategy. For example, for the FN M3, we provide spare parts kits that allow the necessary maintenance operations to be carried out at regular intervals.”
Preventive maintenance is scheduled every 5,000 rounds fired. The goal is, of course, to ensure that the weapon operates continuously, since every hour of flight is extremely costly. To facilitate monitoring, FN has designed integrated round counters. “Once the weapon returns to the armory, the data is automatically downloaded, allowing precise tracking of weapon usage and enabling proactive maintenance.”
Types of equipment
Among the equipment are Airborne Crew-Served Weapon System Solutions, which allow weapon systems with machine guns to be installed at doors, windows, or on helicopter ramps. In these cases, firing is controlled by an operator physically positioned behind the system.
For each platform, integration requires specific adaptations. FN teams visit the manufacturer to take measurements of the cabin and propose a system compatible with the aircraft’s configuration, considering existing equipment (seats, fuel tanks, winches, etc.).
“The most challenging aspect of weapon integration is not just the mechanical fit on the aircraft. The real challenge is ensuring that, under any flight conditions, the system is reliably fed with ammunition and that firing residues, such as links, are safely collected” explains Quentin Wautier.
Depending on the weapon’s location on board, different connection and articulation devices are used to allow rotation and handling of the system while ensuring crew safety. These systems must, of course, comply with strict certification requirements. All systems are specifically qualified to crash-resistance standards of up to 20G, aiming to prevent the equipment from breaking apart in the event of an accident and posing a danger to occupants.
These systems can be mounted and dismounted in just a few minutes, allowing the same aircraft to be quickly adapted for different missions.
Pods
Among the equipment are pods – external Airborne Fixed Forward Firing Solutions – for helicopters and aircraft – which carry machine guns, but not only that. This product range has recently been modernized and digitalized to include embedded software and to make it compatible with next-generation helicopters and aircraft. On these systems, the pilot directly controls the firing.
Flex Fire systems
FN has also developed a system for the new “Black Hawk” helicopter of the US Air Force. In this case, the equipment is installed externally on the aircraft, one on each side. The system combines features of a traditional mount and a pod.
In the United States, over 60 helicopters are currently equipped with this system, which has been qualified by the US Air Force and the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
FN: From legendary weapons to airborne systems
While FN Herstal is best known for its firearms and ammunition, its role in airborne systems remains largely unknown to the public. Yet over the past decades, the company has established itself internationally and with major platform manufacturers as a key player in weapon integration aboard aircraft.
Header image ©️Airbus Christian D. Keller.
Text ©️Gate.31
