PAS 2025 – FN introduces new and improved machine gun pintle mounts for helicopters

by Paolo Valpolini

The Belgian company, well known for its small arms as well as for crew-served weapon systems solutions and remote weapon station, presented for the first time on the global market its External Mount Gun System, purposely developed for US Air Force Special Forces helicopters, as well as a lighter variant of its MDP Turning

In 2017 FN was selected by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to design, produce and deliver a new family of airborne flex-fire weapon system solutions, known as EMGS (External Mount Gun System). This can host different types of weapons, GAU-21, the US definition for the FN M3M 12.7×99 mm machine gun, GAU-18 in the same calibre, which acquisition is now discontinued, and the GAU-2, the M134 Minigun in 7.62×51 mm calibre. The peculiarity of the EMGS is that it can be either installed at the window, manned by a machine gunner, or in the fixed forward configuration, being manned by the pilot or co-pilot. Initial production started in 2022, and now over 60 EMGS shipsets are installed on USAF HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters, the US which reached IOC in October 2022. These are replacing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, the programme of record calling for 113 aircraft.

The EMGS features a motorised firing mechanism and has been thoroughly tested to check links ejection in all flight situations, an ejection hose being visible on the system. The configuration is validated and frozen, and the system Intellectual Property is owned by FN, Sikorsky providing cabling and fixation. The USAF EMGS has a mass of around 200 kg; its ammo box can host up to 600 12.7 mm ammunition or 2,500 7.62 mm rounds. At the Paris Air Show the EMGS was fitted with an Aimpoint MPS™ 3 2 MOA red dot reflex sight with MGMount .50 coupled to an FN Elity Lite that ensures accurate firing up to the range of the system.

FN proposes the EMGS as a retrofit for existing UH-60 helicopters in various models, and is also proposing its system to European OEMs, namely Airbus and Leonardo, to equip their military choppers. A new adaptation plate has to be developed.

The second new system on show at Le Bourget was the lighter variant of the Medium Door Pintle (MDP) Turning. The new version is fitted with a composite polymer materiel connection plate, which replaces the original aluminium one, reducing the plate mass by 50%; the original one being at around 80 kg, the 40 kg saving is equivalent to around 300 12.7 mm rounds.

Finally, the new Light Door Pintle (LDP) Turning has also been presented, with the adoption of a new arm providing increased ergonomy for retrieving the system inside the helicopter is more ergonomic. The LDP Turning has a mass, fully loaded, of approximately 70 kg, the ammo box containing 250 7.62×51 mm rounds.

Photos courtesy FN and P. Valpolini