- Source: Eurocopter AS532 Cougar
The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar (now Airbus Helicopters H215M) is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by Eurocopter. The AS532 is a development and upgrade of the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma in its militarized form. Its civilian counterpart is the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma (Later called the Airbus Helicopters H215, note the lack of M suffix). The AS532 has been further developed as the Eurocopter EC725.
Design and development
The AS332 Super Puma, designed as a growth version to replace the SA 330 Puma, first flew in September 1977. It was fitted with two 1,330 kW Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines, composite rotor blades, improved landing gear and a modified tailfin.
In 1990 all military Super Puma designations were changed from "AS 332" to "AS 532 Cougar" to distinguish between the civil and military variants of the helicopter.
Canada had considered purchasing the Cougar to replace their CH-113 Labrador, but opted in the end to purchase the CH-149 Cormorant. In 2012 France began a €288.8m project (€11.1m/unit) to upgrade 23 Army Cougars and 3 for the Air Force to address obsolescence issues and to deliver similar avionics to their EC225 and EC725 helicopters.
Variants
AS532 UL/AL
The AS 532 UL/AL is the long version of the Cougar family and is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines. It carries a crew of 2 and up to 29 troops or 6 injured passengers on stretchers plus 10 others. As with the other versions of the Cougar, the AS 532 UL/AL can lift 4.5 tons by means of a sling. The Horizon battlefield ground surveillance system can be installed on the AS 532 UL (utility version). The AS 532 AL (armed version) can also be fitted with a variety of weapons, including pod-mounted 20 mm cannons, 68 mm rocket-launchers, and side-mounted rapid fire machine-guns.
AS532 SC
The AS 532SC is the naval version of the Cougar family and is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines. This version is mainly used for Anti-surface unit warfare (ASUW), fitted with AM 39 Exocet missiles; Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), fitted with a variable-depth sonar and torpedoes; Search and rescue; and Sea patrols. For deck landing, securing at high sea states, maneuver and traverse this variant can be fitted with ASIST.
AS535
It was variant offered to cover the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR or RESCO in French) needs of the French Army. The military preferred to acquire the improved version of the aircraft, the Eurocopter EC725 instead to fulfill this gap.
Operators
Albania
Albanian Air Force
Brazil
Brazilian Army
Bulgaria
Bulgarian Air Force
Chile
Chilean Army
Chilean Navy
France
French Army
Germany
German Air Force
Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Romania
Romanian Naval Forces
Saudi Arabia
Royal Saudi Air Force
Royal Saudi Navy
Slovenia
Slovenian Air Force
Spain
Spanish Army
Switzerland
Swiss Air Force
Turkey
Turkish Air Force
Turkish Army
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Air Force
Venezuela
Venezuelan Air Force
= Former operator
=Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe
Accidents
On 4 June 1997, 11 military personnel were killed in Turkey when a Cougar helicopter was shot down with a 9K32 Strela-2 during an operation against the PKK near the Zap region, near Turkey's border with Iraq.
On 29 April 2003, 4 military personnel were killed when a Cougar helicopter crashed into power lines during a training flight, in Isparta Turkey.
On 25 July 2012, a Cougar helicopter during test flight has crashed in Southeastern France in a region called Verdon Gorge. The aircraft was bordered with test pilots and engineers of the manufacturer. The tragic incident killed 6 company personnel. The aircraft crashed was destined to the Albanian Armed Forces.
On 1 June 2017, 13 military personnel were killed in Turkey when a Cougar helicopter crashed into power lines shortly after take-off from a base near Turkey's border with Iraq.
On 25 November 2019, 13 French military personnel were killed in northern Mali when a Eurocopter Tiger helicopter collided with a Eurocopter AS532 Cougar.
On 15 April 2020, a Cougar helicopter operated by the French Army crashed during a training exercise. The crash caused the death of 2 military personnel on board and injured other 5.
On 4 March 2021 a Cougar helicopter crashed during severe weather conditions in eastern Turkey, killing 11 military personnel on board and injuring two others. The victims included Lt. Gen. Osman Erbas, a highly ranked army corps commander. Nine of the victims died at the crash site, while two died of their injuries in hospital.
Specifications (AS532 UB)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems DirectoryGeneral characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 20 troops / 4,650 kg (10,251 lb) payload
Length: 15.53 m (50 ft 11 in)
Height: 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in)
Empty weight: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 9,000 kg (19,842 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines, 1,357 kW (1,820 hp) each
Main rotor diameter: 15.6 m (51 ft 2 in)
Main rotor area: 206 m2 (2,220 sq ft)
Performance
Maximum speed: 249 km/h (155 mph, 134 kn)
Cruise speed: 239 km/h (149 mph, 129 kn)
Never exceed speed: 278 km/h (173 mph, 150 kn)
Range: 573 km (356 mi, 309 nmi)
Service ceiling: 3,450 m (11,320 ft)
Rate of climb: 7.2 m/s (1,420 ft/min)
See also
Related development
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma
Eurocopter EC725
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Mil Mi-38
Mil Mi-17
NHIndustries NH90
Sikorsky S-92
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Related lists
List of rotorcraft
References
= Citations
== Bibliography
=External links
Airbus Helicopters AS532 ALe page
AS 532 U2/A2 Cougar Helicopter, Search and Rescue Variant Details
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
- Eurocopter AS 532
- Angkatan Bersenjata Swiss
- Angkatan Udara Turki
- Eurocopter AS532 Cougar
- Eurocopter EC725
- 2021 Turkish Air Force Eurocopter AS532 Cougar crash
- Cougar (disambiguation)
- Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
- Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma
- Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
- List of active Turkish Air Force aircraft
- Kamov Ka-31
- Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
