The French Ministry of Defense has decided to expand the use of a rather interesting system that enables sniper fire from helicopters - the Strike system developed by Cose. This is a specialized stabilizer that fully compensates for the helicopter's vibrations.
Although Strike was introduced back in 2016, it has only been in service with the 4th Special Operations Helicopter Regiment (RHFS) on light Gazelle helicopters. However, as reported by Opex360, the Technical Department of the army has evaluated the Strike system on the heavier AS532 Cougar, and it is expected to also be integrated into the newer NH-90 helicopters in the future.
From the perspective of Defense Express, it should be noted that the decision to use a turret-stabilizer for sniper rifles might have been inspired by technologies long utilized in the film industry, known as steadicam, which first appeared in the late 1970s. By the 2010s, it became accessible at a semi-professional level, and by the 2020s, it has firmly established itself in the consumer market with smartphone solutions.
In light of this, it is once again worth mentioning the extremely limited integration of established civilian technologies into military applications, even considering that military stabilizers require a recoil dampening system.
Nonetheless, the use of such stabilizers presents a unique opportunity to significantly enhance the effectiveness of fire from helicopters overall. Specifically, according to the developer's claims, Strike allows for precise sniper fire from a helicopter at a range of 1.2 km. The only alternative to this solution is a strap system, which is used by American military forces.
One might also question the potential use of similar stabilizers, not for helicopters and sniper rifles, but for turrets on ground vehicles for machine guns, as an alternative to more expensive and heavier combat modules.