Eurocopter Fennec
| AS550/AS555 Fennec | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Argentine Navy AS555 SN Fennec 2 | |
| Role | Light multipurpose helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale Eurocopter |
| Introduction | 1990 |
| Status | Operational |
| Primary users | French Army French Air Force Argentine Navy Royal Malaysian Navy Royal Danish Air Force |
| Developed from | Eurocopter AS350 Eurocopter AS355 |
The Eurocopter AS550 Fennec and AS555 Fennec 2 are lightweight, multipurpose military helicopters manufactured by Eurocopter Group. 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.
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[edit] Operational history
In February 2007, India selected the AS550 C3 Fennec over the Bell 407 helicopter in a deal for 197 helicopters worth 500 million USD.[1] This deal was suspended in June 2007 because of concerns of alleged corruption in the bidding process, and cancelled outright on 6 December 2007.[2] The contract is now being re-competed, and the AS550 C3 is among the helicopters competing for the deal.
On January 20 2011, Royal Malaysian Navy PASKAL commandos rescued a hijacked Malaysian chemical tanker and its crew from Somali pirates. A Fennec helicopter provide reconnaissance and aerial gunfire to keep the pirate’s mother ship at bay while commandos boarded the tanker.[3]
[edit] 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 uility version.
- AS555 UR Fennec 2 - Utility version.
- AS555 SP Fennec 2 - Naval version of AS355 NP.
[edit] Operators
- Argentine Naval Aviation : AS555 SN as embarked helicopter
- Brazilian Army : AS550 A2
- Colombian Navy : AS555 SN as anti-surface warfare helicopter
- Royal Danish Air Force : AS550 C2 as armed scout and anti-tank helicopter
- Ecuadorian Air Force : AS555 AN as utility helicopter
- French Air Force: AS555 AN as training and liaison helicopters
- French Army: AS555 UN as training helicopter
- Royal Malaysian Navy: AS555 SN as anti-surface warfare helicopter
- Mexican Navy: AS555 AF as embarked helicopter
- Policia Federal
- Pakistan Army : AS550 as used for light transport
- Republic of Singapore Air Force: total 20 acquired, 6× AS550A2 for training and 14× AS550C2 as armed scouts. All are now retired.
- Royal Thai Army Aviation : 8 x AS550 c3e armed scouts.
[edit] Specifications (AS550 C3)
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Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[4]
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 (17,323 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 2.75in Forges de Zeebrugge or 12 x 68 mm Thales Brandt rockets
- BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit] References
- ^ "Eurocopter wins big Indian Army deal". Kalingatimes.com. Archived from the original on 2007-06-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20070604180613/http://kalingatimes.com/orissa_business/news/20070408_Eurocopter_wins_deal.htm#. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
- ^ India scraps 600 million dollar Eurocopter deal
- ^ "Paskal commandos foil hijack attempt in Gulf of Aden". The Star. 2011-01-22. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/22/nation/7852232&sec=nation. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
- ^ Jackson 2003, pp. 244–255.
- Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Eurocopter AS 555 |
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