- Eurocopter AS532 Cougar
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AS532 Cougar 
Eurocopter AS532 AL of the Bulgarian Air Force Role Medium Utility Helicopter Manufacturer Eurocopter and Turkish Aerospace Industries (Under Licence) [1] First flight September 1977 Developed from Eurocopter AS332 Variants Eurocopter EC725 The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by France. The AS532 is a development and upgrade of the Aérospatiale Puma in its militarized form. (Its civilian counterpart is the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma.) The AS532 has been further developed as the Eurocopter EC725.
Contents
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 1330 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.[2]
Variants
Chilean Navy Cougar - UNITAS 47-06
- 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
- French Army Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR or RESCO in French) version.
Operators
AS-532 of Brazilian Navy.
An Ecuadorian AS532 Cougar
Eurocopter Cougar of French Air Force.
Eurocopter Cougar of Slovenian Army.
The Turkish Military (Türk Kara Kuvvetleri) uses several Cougars as a combat search and rescue helicopter.- Albanian Air Force 5 AS 532 AL on order
- The AS 532 is licenced built by Helibras factory in Brazil.[3][4] The Brazilian Armed forces will use the Super Cougar with the Brazilian licenced version of EC-725.[5]
- Brazilian Army
- Brazilian Navy
- Brazilian Air Force
- Bulgarian Air Force - All 8 AS 532 AL tactical transport helicopters now delivered and in service with the Bulgarian Air Force and additional 4 in CSAR-configuration to be delivered by the end of 2009.[6]
- Chilean Navy 5 AS-332F1 Super-Puma modified and called "SH-32 Cougar" ASW/ASuW. Can carry 2 AM-39 Exocet or 2 Mk-46 Light Torpedoes.
- Chilean Army 8 AS-532L delivered in 2010 for Army's Special Forces.
- 5 delivered to the Ecuadorian Army Aviation.[7]
- German Air Force 3 AS 532 providing Government Flight Service by the Federal Ministry of Defence for parliamentary purposes and VIP transport.
- The Royal Netherlands Air Force operates AS-532U2 (Mk2) helicopters, which are an upgrade to the AS-532UL (expanded version). As of 2009, the 17 helicopters of 300 Squadron of the RNLAF will undergo a mid-life update. Starting May 9, The Dutch cabinet decided to take 9 helicopters out service and to keep 8 helicopters in service.
- Northern Cyprus' army operates both search/rescue version and ambulance version.[8]
Oman
Panama
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore- Republic of Singapore Air Force
- 126 SQN operates 12 AS 532UL helicopters.
- Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence
- Republic of Korea Air Force: First introduction Time : July, 1988.
- Swiss Air Force 12 Cougars.
Licenced production of 48 units in TAI.
Specifications (AS532 UB)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 20 troops
- Length: 15.53 m (50 ft 11½ in)
- Rotor diameter: 15.6 m (51 ft 2 in)
- Height: 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in)
- Disc area: 206 m² (2,217ft²)
- Empty weight: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)
- Useful load: 4,650 kg (10,250 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 9,000 kg (19,840 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft, 1,185 kW (1,589 shp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 278 km/h (150 knots, 173 mph)
- Maximum speed: 249 km/h (134 knots, 154 mph)
- Cruise speed: 239 km/h (129 knots, 148 mph)
- Range: 573 km (310 nm, 357 mi)
- Service ceiling: 3,450 m (11,319 ft)
- Rate of climb: 7.2 m/s (1,417 ft/min)
See also
- Related development
- Aérospatiale Puma
- Eurocopter AS332
- Eurocopter EC225
- Eurocopter EC725
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
- List of helicopters
- List of utility aircraft
References
- ^ http://www.tai.com.tr/prog.aspx?contentDefID=29&page=___Programs__NONE_____INTEGRATED HELICOPTER SYSTEMS__PROGRAM__2___COMPLETED PROGRAMS__NONE_____COUGAR AS-532__PROGRAM__29
- ^ Canadian Air Force - CH-149 Cormorant Purhcase and operation details
- ^ http://www.helibras.com.br/detProdutos.asp?codProduto=46&linha=M&area=D
- ^ http://www.tecnodefesa.com.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90:comemoracao-dos-30-anos-da-helibras-lanca-projeto-de-producao-do-super-cougar-no-brasil&catid=36:materias&Itemid=54
- ^ Farias, Ivy (September 8, 2008). "Brasil produzirá em Minas Gerais helicópteros para as Forças Armadas". Agência Brasil. http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/noticias/2008/09/08/materia.2008-09-08.2525261585/view. Retrieved on July 11, 2009.
- ^ Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Delivers 1st Cougar Helicopter To Bulgaria
- ^ http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/ecuador/Army/Ecuador-arav-current_inventory.htm
- ^ Military of Northern Cyprus
- ^ Taylor, M J H (editor) (1999). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition. Brassey's. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.
External links
- AS 532 U2/A2 Cougar Helicopter, Search and Rescue Variant Details
- AS 532AL Eurocopter Technical Details
Eurocopter aircraft Civil helicopters Military helicopters AS532 · AS550/AS555 · AS565 · EC635 · EC645 · EC665 · EC725 · NH90 · HH-65 · UH-72
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