wire-strike protection system

wire-strike protection system (WSPS)

Cable cutter in Apache helicopter acts as wire strike protection system.A system meant to protect helicopters from high wire strikes. The WSPS was developed to reduce the severity of a wire obstacle collision by diverting the wire into the cutter blade assemblies. The cutter blades affixed to the top and bottom of the frontal area of the aircraft will usually cut the wire and eliminate the hazard. On some helicopters the system ensures that a set of bars will carry the wire over external parts of the windshield. On others, the center section of the windshield has an abrasive cutting strip (built into the windshield deflector) to score the wire and weaken it before it comes in contact with the WSPS cutters.