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LifePort approved for armor for Bell 412EP helicopters

LifePort, a Sikorsky armor company, has been approved to to provide armor solutions for Bell 412EP helicopters.

By Richard Tomkins
A Bell 412, a member of the Huey family of rotorcraft, flown by the Chilean Air Force. Photo by Hippocamelus/Wikimedia
A Bell 412, a member of the Huey family of rotorcraft, flown by the Chilean Air Force. Photo by Hippocamelus/Wikimedia

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A company that designs and integrates armor for aircraft has been granted an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate to equip Bell 412EP helicopters.

The LifePort armor for the Bell 412EP, a member of the Huey family of rotary aircraft, is 30 percent lighter in weight than other systems, provides NIJ Level III multi-hit ballistic protection and comes in various durability levels, according to the manufacturer.

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LifePort said its armor passes both 12-second -- complying with FAR.29.853 -- and 60-second vertical burn tests and complies with MIL-STD-810 Rev. G.

"We are pleased to once again work with Bell Helicopter to successfully design and certify a ballistic protection system for one of their platforms," said LifePort General Manager Noah Zuckerman. "LifePort's lightweight BPS for the Bell 412EP provides operators with a high level of protection while not compromising the aircraft's operational capabilities."

"This FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] STC is yet another example of successful collaboration between LifePort and Bell Helicopter. It continues our collective track record of innovation and capability enhancement for those flying into harm's way."

LifePort provides standard Bell 412 armor configurations for the cockpit floor, crew seats, cabin floor, and crew side wall areas.

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LifePort is a Sikorsky company, now owned by Lockheed Martin.

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