AS532 Cougar (H215M) French Multipurpose Helicopter

AS532

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Basic Information

Name

AS532 Cougar (H215M) French Multipurpose Helicopter

Designation

AS532

Alternate Designation

Eurocopter AS532 Cougar (now Airbus Helicopters H215M)

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1978

Description

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 Cougar name was adopted for all military variants, and in 1990, all Super Puma designations were changed from AS 332 to AS 532 to distinguish between civil and military variants. The Cougar was designed to provide high performance, ease of deployment, low operating cost, comfort, plus high mission readiness. For military use and adapting to modern battlefield conditions, it features survivability, suitability for tactical flight thanks to exceptional maneuverability, low observability, low vulnerability to projectiles, crashworthiness. A multirole helicopter, the Cougar can be armed with machine-guns and pod-mounted cannons, with rockets, or with antisubmarine or ant surface weapon systems to suit different mission requirements. Additional missions include: VIP transport, electronic warfare, and anti-submarine warfare.

Air & Air Defense Specifications

Crew 2

Engine Turboshaft (1877 hp)

Service Ceiling 4100 m

Payload Capacity 3000 kg

Variants

SA 330 Puma Developed in the late 1960s by Aerospatiale in France. Others were built in the UK, Indonesia, Romania.

AS 532 Cougar Mk I UC/AC is a military version with a short fuselage capable of carrying 21 commandos, which can be fitted with equipment for maximum efficiency in all theaters of operation: radar or missile detector, decoy-launcher. Moreover, its optional equipment make it truly multi-purpose: winch, projector, specific equipment for SAR missions, or, for instance, crashworthy seats, IR camera, NVG compatible cockpit for special missions. The AC version is the armed version and can be equipped with side-mounted machine-guns and axial pods fitted with either 20-mm guns or 68-mm rocket-launchers

AS 332 Super Puma Differs from the SA 330 Puma through an improved rotor system, upgraded engines, stretched fuselage, and a modified nose shape.

AS-532 Cougar Mk I UE is the basic version with long fuselage of the military Cougar MK1 range. The aircraft can transport 25 commandos in addition to the crew (1 chief of stick + 24 troop seats). For tactical transport and logistical support missions the Cougar UE is offered "ready for use". Its standard configuration includes a minimum of radio (2 VHF/AM,TRANSPONDER, ICS...) and navigation

AS 532 Cougar Mk I UL/AL s the "long" version which can carry up to 25 commandos or 6 injured passengers lying down and 10 other people. Like the other versions, it is capable of lifting 4.5 tons on a sling. The Horizon battlefield ground surveillance system can be installed on the AS 532 UL.

AS 532 Cougar Mk I SC s the naval version of the Cougar, and its main missions are the following: anti-surface unit warface (ASUW) fitted with AM 39 missiles, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) with a variable-depth sonar and torpedoes, and search and rescue and sea patrols.

AS 532 Cougar Mk II U2 A2 helicopter has the biggest cabin volume in its category : 29 commandos or 12 stretchers with medical equipment, and is capable of carrying 5 tons on the sling. This 1992 version is the longest variant of the Cougar line. It has an improved Spheriflex rotor system with only 4x tail rotor blades, and 2x 2,100-shp Turbomeca Makila 1A2 turboshaft engines that allow an increased cargo carrying capability. It can transport 29 troops or 12 litters, or an external load of 5,000 kg. Primarily used for combat search and rescue, and as an armed version. It may be armed additionally with a 20-mm cannon or pintle-mounted .50 caliber machine guns. Its basic design with screens in the cockpit and a 4-axis autopilot with built-in coupler makes it possible to reduce the crew workload and increase its safety for tactical flight by the same degree.

AS 535 Cougar Mk II A2 RESCO he main mission of the A2 RESCO is to recover aircrews downed in combat areasplant (RESCO is the French acronym for Combat Search and Rescue or CSAR). For very long range operations, the CSAR Cougar Mk 2 can operate at a higher alternate gross weight of 11,200 kg compared to its normal maximum mission weight of 9,750 kg. With this enhanced capability, the Cougar can rescue two crew members 400 nautical miles away.

System

Alternative Designation Eurocopter AS532 Cougar (now Airbus Helicopters H215M)

Primary Function Armed transport

Manufactuer Aérospatiale Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters

In Service 1981-Present

Similar Aircraft Super Frelon, HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, SH-3 Sea King, CH-53 Sea Stallion, Mi-8 Hip, UH-60 Black Hawk

Crew 2 ea

Troop Capacity 20-29 troops

Payload Capacity 3,000 kg

Blades, Main Rotor 4 ea

Blades, Tail Rotor 5 ea

Day/Night Capable INA

All Weather Capable INA

Number of Hard Points 4 ea

Takeoff or Landing Limitations INA

Dimensions

Length, with Rotors Turning 19.5 m

Length, Fuselage 16.8 m

Main Rotor Diameter 16.2 m

Tail Rotor Diameter 3.2 m

Height 4.6 m

Width 3.8 m

Length, Cargo Compatment Floor 7.9 m

Width, Cargo Compatment Floor 1.8 m

Height, Cargo Compatment Floor 1.5 m

Weight, Empty 4,760 kg

Weight, Normal Takeoff 8,600 kg

Weight, Maximum Gross 9,000 kg

Internal Payload 3,000 kg

Automotive

Engine Name 2 x Turbomeca Makila 1A1 Turboshaft

Engine Type Turboshaft

Engine Power 1,877-shp each engine

Range, Normal Load 800 km

Range, with Auxiliary Fuel 1,176 km

Speed, Maximum 275 km/h

Speed, Average 249-270 km/h

Service Ceiling 4,100 m

Hover, Out of Ground Effect 1,650 m

Hover, In Ground Effect 2,800 m

Troop Capacity 20-29 troops

Maximum Payload 4,650 kg

Casualty Evacuation 6-12 litters (variant dependant)

Max Cargo Sling Load 4,500 kg

Fuel Capacity, Internal Tank 2,020 liters

Fuel Internal Auxilery Tanks 4 ea

Fuel Capacity, Internal Aux Tank 475 liters each

Maximum Emergency Power 1,877-shp each engine

Door Mounted Gun

Note #1 The Mk I variants may employ 2x 7.65-mm machine guns on pintle-mounts in the cabin doors when employed in a transport role. The armed versions have side-mounted 20-mm machineguns and/or axial pods fitted with 68-mm rocket launchers.

Wing Mounted Weapons

Note #1 Hydra 70 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets – 7 rockets mounted in the M260 launcher or 19 rockets in the M261 launcher

Note #2 Additional Armament that can be equipped on the AS532 Cougar are: 7.65-mm MG 2 - 20-mm twin gun pods 2 - 68-mm rocket pods (22 each) 2 - 2.75-in rocket pods (19 each) 600 liters External fuel tanks

Rocket System

Name Hydra 70

Type 70mm Fin-stabilized unguided rocket

Launcher Name M261 Launcher

Number of M261 Launchers 2 ea

In Service 1980s-Present

Manufactuer United States of America

Length 1,060 mm

Diameter 70 mm

Muzzle Velocity 700 m/s

Effective Firing Range 8,000 m

Maximum Firing Range 10,500 m

Speed 739 m/s

Guidance System Unguaided

Basic Load 19 each per M261 Launcher

Gun Pod Weapon System

Name M61 Vulcan

Type hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically driven, six-barrel, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds

Manufactuer General Dynamics

In Servcie 1946-Present

Length 1.827 m

Weight 112 kg

Barrels 6-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves)

Action twist, 9 grooves) Action Hydraulically operated, electrically fired, rotary cannon

Rate of Fire 6,000 rds/min

Muzzle Velocity 1,050 m/s

Feed System Belt or linkless feed system

Ammunition

Name M53

Type API

Caliber 20 mm

Cartridge 20×102 mm

Bursting Charge 4.2 grams of incendiary

Muzzle Velocity 1,050 m/s

Armor Penetration 6.4 mm (0.25 in) RHA penetration at 0 degree impact angle and 1,000 m (3,300 ft) range.

Maximum Effective Range 1.6 km

Basic Load 900

Fire Control and Avionics

Fire Control System Type INA

Fire Control Radar INA

Digital or Analog Cockpit INA

Automated Helmet INA

Position Location System Yes

Radar Warning Receiver Yes

Laser Warning Receiver Optionally Available

Missile Launch Detector Optionally Available

Missile Approach Deterctor Optionally Available

NVG Compatible Yes

Autopilot Full autopilot

Navigation Computer Yes

Protection

Armor, Fuselage Armour plates for the cargo

Cockpit Glass INA

Stealth Properties None

Heat Signature Reduction INA

Add on Armor Yes

NBC Protection Yes

EW INA

EW Counter Measures/CCM Optionally Available

Counter Measures (Chaff/Flares) Optionally Available

Deiced Capable Main and tail rotor blades electrically deiced

Infrared Jammer Optionally Available

Decopy Launcher Optionally Available

PLS (Personal Locator System) Yes

Details

Country of Origin France

Category Rotary Wing Aircraft

Air > Rotary Wing Aircraft

Classification

Domain

Air & Air Defense

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

—

Width

3.8 m

Height

4.6 m

Weight

8600 kg

Operators (13)

France

Germany

Turkey

Brazil

Spain

Albania

Bulgaria

Chile

Netherlands

Saudi Arabia

Slovenia

Switzerland

Uzbekistan

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