Giat Industries gun turrets for RAH-66 Comanche

Giat Industries has been awarded a contract from General Dynamics Armament Systems for the design, development and production of 13 prototype composite turret assemblies that will be a major component of the US Army's RAH-66 Comanche helicopter turreted gun system. General Dynamics Armament Systems is the prime contractor for the turreted gun system. Under terms of this contract, Giat will deliver the turret assemblies to General Dynamics in the 2003 to 2004 timeframe.

Thanks to the advanced composite technologies, this 20mm gun turret is the lightest of its kind ever developed (127 kg) and will provide the Comanche with the accuracy to meet its demanding performance requirements.

The turret gun system consists of four main subassemblies:

• A composite turret assembly A externally-powered 20mm Gatling gun with 3 barrels
• An ammunition supply system (capacity: 500 rounds) reloaded in less than 8 minutes by two crew members
• An electrical subsystem based on the 1553 standard digital bus

Giat Industries has a long standing teaming agreement with General Dynamics Armament Systems on this programme. This agreement covers the composite turret assembly for the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) phase of the programme through the production phase.

The production phase of the programme will include the manufacture of 76 pre-production units (2004-2007) followed by the manufacture of 1,129 series-production units (2008-2025). Export sales of around 400 units are anticipated in addition to the US programme needs.

Jacques Loppion, Giat Industries CEO said, "This teaming agreement demonstrates our ability to participate in innovative programmes with major international partners." This contract is the first one won by Giat Industries with a major American teammate.

The RAH-66 Comanche is being developed by the US Army Aviation and a team of leading aerospace companies headed by the BOEING Company and SIKORSKY Aircraft Corporation, a unit of United Technologies Corporation.

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