IAR 316

IAR 316
IAR 316 at Otopeni Air Show 2010
Role	Light utility/training helicopter
Manufacturer	Industria Aeronautică Română
Introduction	1971
Status	operational for training purposes
Primary users	Romanian Air Force Various
Produced	1971-1987
Number built	250
Developed from	Aérospatiale Alouette III

The IAR 316 is a Romanian license-built Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III manufactured by Industria Aeronautică Română, or IAR.

IAR began manufacturing the IAR 316 in 1971 at its plant near Brașov, Romania. Production ended in 1987. 250 units were built, 125 of those were built for the Military of Romania, which still uses it to this day in a training capacity. Some IAR 316s were operated in the civilian role in Romania and others were exported to various nations, including Pakistan, Angola, and Guinea. The IAR 316 was modified to carry weapons more common in the Eastern-bloc, such as 57mm rocket pods, 7.62mm machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. An early example was exhibited at the Paris Air Show in June 1973.

This was an attempt by IAR to make an attack helicopter out of the IAR 316. Equipped with the same license-produced Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, the IAR 317 featured a stepped two-seat armored cockpit for the pilot and the gunner. The tail boom and rear fuselage was almost identical to the 316. Stub wings mounted on either side of the airframe allowed for the carriage of weapons, including rocket pods, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. It was named the "Airfox". Only one prototype was built. It participated in the 1985 Paris Air Show.

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

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