Eurocopter EC725

EC725/H225M Caracal/Super Cougar
A French Air Force EC725R2 Caracal in 2009
Role	Tactical transport helicopter
Manufacturer	Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters
First flight	27 November 2000
Introduction	February 2005
Status	Active service
Primary users	French Armed Forces Brazilian Armed Forces Royal Malaysian Air Force Mexican Air Force
Unit cost	US$20+ million (2013 est)
Developed from	Eurocopter AS 532
Variants	Eurocopter EC225
Developed into	KAI KUH-1 Surion

The Eurocopter EC725 Caracal (also named Super Cougar), now called Airbus Helicopters H225M, is a long-range tactical transport military helicopter developed from the Super Puma/Cougar family for military use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 29 seated troops along with two crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for troop transport, casualty evacuation, and combat search and rescue duties, and is similar to the civilian EC225.

The EC725 was developed to meet a French Air Force requirement for a specialist helicopter for Combat Search and Rescue operations. The AS 532 A2 Cougar model was examined and rejected for this purpose following extensive trials between 1996 and 1999. The primary improvements desired by the French Air Force were more powerful engines, greater flight endurance and improved combat durability. Eurocopter opted to pursue development of a more ambitious derivative of the AS 532 to meet this need, which was later designated as the EC725. The EC725 was initially named Cougar Mk II+ due to treaty reasons. The new aircraft also featured new mission equipment and autonomous avionics, along with other changes to meet the French specification.

On 27 November 2000, the first EC725 prototype performed its maiden flight at Marignane, and on 15 January 2001, the first public presentation of the new helicopter took place. In concurrent development of the military-orientated EC725, Eurocopter also developed a civil-orientated counterpart, which was designated as the EC225. The French Air Force subsequently ordered an initial six EC725s to perform the Combat Search & Rescue mission, the first of these was delivered in February 2005. A follow-on order for eight more EC725s was placed for the French Armed Forces in November 2002; a total fleet of 20 EC725s in French service was envisioned in 2004.