Eurocopter Fennec
AS550 Fennec AS555 Fennec 2 | |
---|---|
A Twin Squirrel of the French Air Force | |
Role | Light utility military helicopter |
National origin | France |
Manufacturer | Aérospatiale Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters |
Introduction | 1990 |
Status | In service |
Primary users | French Army French Air Force Argentine Navy Royal Malaysian Navy Royal Danish Air Force |
Produced | 1990–present |
Developed from | Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2 |
The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS550 Fennec (now H125M)[1] and AS555 Fennec 2 are lightweight, multipurpose military helicopters manufactured by Eurocopter Group (now Airbus Helicopters). Based on the AS350 Ecureuil and AS355 Ecureuil 2 series, they are named after the fennec fox. The armed versions of the AS550 and AS555 can be fitted with coaxial weapons, rockets, torpedoes and various other munitions.
Operational history
As a result of the Vienna Treaty, military variants of the Écureuil were marketed under a separate designation; thus from 1990 onwards the type was marketed as the Fennec.[2]
In February 2007, India selected the AS550 C3 Fennec over the Bell 407 helicopter in a deal for 197 helicopters worth 500 million USD.[3] This deal was suspended in June 2007 because of concerns of alleged corruption in the bidding process, and cancelled outright on 6 December 2007.[4] The contract is now being re-competed, and the AS550 C3 is among the helicopters competing for the deal. However India chose Kamov Ka-226T over AS550 C3 in the refreshed tender.[5][6]
On 20 January 2011, Royal Malaysian Navy PASKAL commandos rescued a hijacked Malaysian chemical tanker and its crew from Somali pirates. A Fennec helicopter provided reconnaissance and aerial gunfire to keep the pirate's mother ship at bay while commandos boarded the tanker.[7]
Variants
- Single engine
- AS350 L1/L2 Ecureuil – Original military variants of AS350.
- AS550 C2 Fennec – Armed version based on AS350 B2.
- AS550 U2 Fennec – Unarmed version based on AS350 B2.
- AS550 C3 Fennec – Armed version based on AS350 B3.
- Twin engine
- AS355 M/M2 Ecureuil 2 – Original military variants of AS355 F.
- AS555 AF Fennec 2 – Armed version based on AS355 N.
- AS555 AN Fennec 2 – Armed military version, can be fitted with a 20 mm cannon.
- AS555 AR Fennec 2 – Armed with cannon and rockets.
- AS555 MN Fennec 2 – Unarmed naval version.
- AS555 MR Fennec 2 – Naval version.
- AS555 SN Fennec 2 – Armed naval version.
- AS555 SR Fennec 2 – Armed naval version.
- AS555 UN Fennec 2 – Training and utility version.
- AS555 UR Fennec 2 – Utility version.
- AS555 SP Fennec 2 – Naval version of AS355 NP.
Operators
- Tanzania Air Force Command — Unknown number as of September 2018.[12]
Former operators
Specifications (AS550 C3)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[15]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 4 passengers
- Length: 10.93 m (35 ft 10 in) (fuselage length), 12.94 m (42 ft 6 in) (overall length, rotors turning)
- Height: 3.34 m (10 ft 11 in)
- Empty weight: 1,220 kg (2,690 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 540 L (143 US Gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Arriel 2B turboshaft, 632 kW (847 shp) (limited to 500 kW (671 shp for take-off)
- Main rotor diameter: 10.69 m (35 ft 1 in)
- Main rotor area: 89.75 m2 (966.1 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 246 km/h (153 mph; 133 kn) (max cruise)
- Never exceed speed: 287 km/h (178 mph; 155 kn)
- Range: 648 km (403 mi; 350 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 5,280 m (17,320 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.30 m/s (2,028 ft/min)
Armament
Provision for:
- 20 mm Giat M621 cannon
- Fabrique Nationale de Herstal twin 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun pods
- 7 x 70mm (2.75") Forges de Zeebrugge rocket launcher FZ220 [16] or 12 x 68 mm Thales Brandt rockets
- BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- ↑ "Meet the H Generation: From EC to H". www.airbushelicopters.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ↑ "1974: AS350/355 Ecureuil/AStar- AS550/555 Fennec – EC130." Archived 26 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Eurocopter, Retrieved: 25 December 2015.
- ↑ "Eurocopter wins big Indian Army deal". Kalingatimes.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
- ↑ India scraps 600 million dollar Eurocopter deal Archived 11 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Karnozov, Vladimir (12 June 2015). "France-based Companies Win and Lose in Big Indian Helo Contest". www.ainonline.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ↑ Pubby, Manu (14 May 2015). "Make in India: Defence ministry okays $3.4 billion deals including procurement of US-origin M777 artillery guns". India Times.
- ↑ "Paskal commandos foil hijack attempt in Gulf of Aden". The Star. 22 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ↑ "Kenya acquires Fennec helicopters". DefenceWeb. 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ↑ "Helicopters Reception Ceremony" (Press release). Kenya Air Force. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ↑ (in French)http://www.avionslegendaires.net/2018/03/actu/des-helicopteres-nh90-et-h125m-commandes-par-le-qatar.
- ↑ Binnie, Jeremy (11 September 2018). "Tanzania to take delivery of Super Puma helicopters". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- 1 2 "Republic of Singapore Air Force AS 350". Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ↑ "Singapore Air AS-550A Fennec". Demand media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ↑ Jackson 2003, pp. 244–255.
- ↑ "H125M Helicopter 70-mm rocket system". FZ. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
Bibliography
- Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
External links
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