Eurocopter Cougar
| AS532 Cougar | |
|---|---|
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|
| 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
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