ATK and the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) have delivered the first modified CN-235 light gunship aircraft to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The completed aircraft re-designated AC-235 will be unveiled at the 10th Special Operations Conference and Exhibition (SOFEX) exhibition taking place in in Amman, Jordan next week.
ATK has equipped the aircraft with an electro-optical targeting systems, a laser designator, aircraft self-protection equipment, and an armaments capability that includes Hellfire laser-guided missiles, 2.75-inch rockets, and a M230 link-fed 30mm chain gun. ATK’s M230 family of guns serves on the Apache helicopter.
The AC-235 will be fitted to carry Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser guided rockets; on that accord, the, U.S. Navy has signed an agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on April 14. The initial Foreign Military Sale (FMS) includes procurement of the weapons as well as logistics and engineering support for integration on the Jordanian CN-235 gunship. The Navy and industry partner BAE Systems plan to deliver APKWS to the Jordanian Kingdom in 2016.