Eurocopter Fennec

Infobox Aircraft
name = AS 550/AS 555 Fennec
type = Light multipurpose helicopter
manufacturer = Aérospatiale Eurocopter

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thumb_
caption = Argentine Navy AS555 SN Fennec 2
designer =
first flight =
introduced = 1990
retired =
status = Operative
primary user = France
more users = United Kingdom, Denmark,Australia
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Eurocopter Ecureuil
variants with their own articles =

The single-engined AS550 Fennec and twin-engined AS555 Fennec 2 are lightweight, multipurpose helicopters manufactured by Eurocopter. Based on the Eurocopter Ecureuil and Ecureuil 2 series, they are named after the Fennec, a small fox found in the Sahara Desert of North Africa which has distinctive oversized ears. The armed versions of the AS550 and AS555 can be fitted with coaxial weapons, rockets, torpedos and various other munitions.

Operational History

In February 2007, India selected the AS550 C3 Fennec over the Bell 407 helicopter in a deal for 197 helicopters worth 500 million USD. [cite web|last= |first= |url=http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_business/news/20070408_Eurocopter_wins_deal.htm# |title="Eurocopter wins big Indian Army deal"|publisher=Kalingatimes.com |accessdate=2007-04-26] This deal was suspended in June 2007 because of concerns of alleged corruption in the bidding process, and cancelled outright on 6 December 2007. [ [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/December/subcontinent_December215.xml&section=subcontinent&col= India scraps 600 million dollar Eurocopter deal] ] The contract is now being re-competed, and the AS550 C3 is amongst the helicopters competing for the deal.

Variants

;Single engine:
* AS350 L1/L2 Ecureuil - Original military variants of AS350.
* AS550 C2 Fennec - Armed version based on AS350 B2.
* AS550 U2 Fennec - Unarmed version based on AS350 B2.
* AS550 C3 Fennec - Armed version based on AS350 B3.

;Twin engine:
* AS355 M/M2 Ecureuil 2 - Original military variants of AS355 F.
* AS555 AF Fennec 2 - Armed version based on AS355 N.
* AS555 AN Fennec 2 - Armed military version, can be fitted with a 20mm cannon.
* AS555 AR Fennec 2 - Armed with cannon and rockets.
* AS555 MN Fennec 2 - Unarmed naval version.
* AS555 MR Fennec 2 - Naval version.
* AS555 SN Fennec 2 - Armed naval version.
* AS555 SR Fennec 2 - Armed naval version.
* AS555 UN Fennec 2 - Training and uility version.
* AS555 UR Fennec 2 - Utility version.
* AS555 SP Fennec 2 - Naval version of AS355 NP.

Operators

* (Argentine Navy: AS555 SN as embarked helicopter)
* (Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy: AS350 BA as training helicopter)
* (Benin Peoples Armed Forces: AS350 B as observation helicopter)
* (Military of Botswana: AS350 B, BA and B3 as training helicopter)
* (Brazilian Air Force: HB350B and AS355F2 as training and VIP helicopters; Brazilian Army : HB350L1 as attack helicopter; Brazilian Navy: HB350BA, AS350B, AS350BA, HB350B, HB350BA and AS355F2 as training and search & rescue helicopters)
* (Burundi National Army: AS350 B as transport helicopter)
* (Central African Republic AF: AS350 B as transport helicopter)
* Royal Cambodian Air Force: AS355 N as training helicopter; Government of Cambodia: AS350 B as VIP helicopter)
* (Chilean Army: AS350 B3 as observation helicopter)
* (Colombian National Armada: AS555 SN as anti-surface warfare helicopter)
* (Royal Danish Army: AS550 C2 as armed scout and anti-tank helicopter)
* (Military of Djibouti: AS355 F as transport helicopter)
* (Ecuadorian Army: AS350 L1 as as transport helicopter)
* (French Air Force: AS350 L2, AS355 F1 and AS555 AN as training and liaison helicopters; French Army: AS555 UN as training helicopter)
* (Military of Gabon: AS350 B as transport helicopter)
* (Military of Guinea: AS350 B as liaison helicopter)
* (Police of Mauritius: AS350 B as police helicopter)
* (Royal Malaysian Navy: AS555 SN as anti-surface warfare helicopter)
* (Military of Mali: AS350 B as transport helicopter)
* (Military of Malawi: AS350 L1 and AS355 F2 as transport helicopters)
* (Mexican Navy: AS555 AF as embarked helicopter)
* (Nepalese Army: AS350 B2 and AS350 B3 as liaison helicopters)
* (Pakistan Navy: AS350 B3 as observation helicopter)
* (Military of Paraguay: HB350B as transport, observation and training helicopter)
* (Military of Senegal): AS355 F1 as transport helicopter)
* (Royal Thai Air Force: AS350 B2 as observation helicopter)
* (Tunisian Air Force: AS350 B as transport helicopter)
* (United Arab Emirates Air Force: AS350 B2 and AS350 B3 as training helicopters)
* (Defence Helicopter Flying School: AS350 BB as training helicopter)
* (Military of Uruguay: AS355 F2 as search and rescue helicopter)
* (Venezuelan National Guard: AS355 F2 as observation helicopter; AS350 B as VIP helicopter)

pecifications (AS550 C3)

"'General Charecteristics"'

"Type:" Anti-Armor and Multipurpose Helicopter

"Crew:" 1/2

"Weight(Empty):" 1,241 kg (2,736 lbs)

"Weight(Full):" 2,250kg (4,960 lbs), or 2,800 kg (6,172 lbs) with external load

"Length:" 12.94 m (42.45 ft)

"Height:" 3.24 m (10.63 ft)

"Rotordiameter:" 10.69 m (35.07 ft)

"Engine:" 1 x Turbomeca Arriel 2B or 2B1 turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp)

"Top Speed:" 259 km/h (140 knots)

"Operation Radius:" 328 km (178 nm)

"Flight Time:" 4 hr 18 min

Armament
BGM-71 TOW. 7 x 2.75in Forges de Zeebrugge or 12 x 68mm Thales Brandt rockets. 20mm Giat M621_cannon 20mm cannon. FN Hershal twin 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun pods. Various types of torpedos.

References

External links

* [http://www.eurocopter.com/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_contenu.php?lang=EN&noeu_id=92 Official webpage]
* [http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/as550%5Ffennec/ AS 550 Fennec]
* [http://www.danskpanser.dk/Helikoptere/Fennec.htm Danish AS 550 Fennec]

ee also

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* Eurocopter Ecureuil

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