Unionlet has been awarded a contract by the South African Air Force (SAAF) to procure kits to weaponise the AgustaWestland A109 light utility helicopter (LUH).

Under the R398 218,34 ($5.7m) contract, the company will convert four Fabrique National 7.62m MAG machine guns from the model MAG 58 infantry type to model MAG 58m mounting type.

The kits will allow an air crewman to put down suppressive fire when landing or recovering troops.

SAAF bought 30 unarmed AgustaWestland A109 light utility helicopters as part of the 1999 strategic defence package (SDP).