LifePort, a Sikorsky company, has been granted an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) to equip the Bell 412EP aircraft with a Ballistic Protection System (BPS).
System benefits include:
- 30 percent lighter weight than other systems;
- NIJ Level III multi-hit ballistic protection;
- Combat proven in harsh environments;
- Various durability levels to accommodate even the most challenging missions;
- Passes both 12-second and 60-second vertical burn tests; and
- Complies with MIL-STD-810 Rev. G.
LifePort provides standard Bell 412 armor configurations for the cockpit floor, crew seats, cabin floor, and crew side wall areas. BPSs can be customized to meet ballistic threat levels, areas of vulnerability, and mission profiles.
“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 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 specializes in the design, integration, and certification of lightweight armor solutions for both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. LifePort armor systems maximize mission safety while limiting the impact to aircraft weight and capability.
From local and federal law enforcement to the armed forces, including special operations missions, LifePort armor systems provide protection for both military and public service personnel worldwide.
