*** Welcome to piglix ***

Eurocopter Cougar

AS532 Cougar
Bulgarian cougar (cropped).jpg
Eurocopter AS532 AL of the Bulgarian Air Force
Role Medium Utility Helicopter
National origin France
Manufacturer Aérospatiale/Eurocopter
First flight September 1977
Introduction 1978
Status Active in production
Primary users French Air Force
Bulgarian Air Force
Turkish Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Produced 1977–present
Developed from Eurocopter AS332
Variants Eurocopter EC725

The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar (now Airbus Helicopters H215M) is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by France. 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.) The AS532 has been further developed as the Eurocopter EC725.

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.

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory

General characteristics

Performance


...
Wikipedia

...