Description:
The Aerospatiale, now Eurocopter, SA 330 Puma is a medium lift multi-purpose helicopter designed in the 1960s to meet the requirements of the French Army for an all-weather transport helicopter. The prototype flew for the first time on April 15, 1965. The first production aircraft performed its maiden flight in September 1968. The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) joined the SA 330 Puma program through an agreement signed in 1967. In 1981, Aerospatiale introduced the second generation Puma featuring stretched fuselage and more powerful engines. Known as the AS 332 Super Puma or Cougar, the prototype first flew in September 1978.
The third generation of Puma helicopter developed by Eurocopter first flew in November 2000. The civil version is called EC 225 Super Puma and the military version EC 725 Cougar. These aircraft feature a five-bladed main rotor, more powerful engines, state-of-the-art avionics, glass cockpit, more cabin room and improved performance. The EC 225 and EC 725 helicopters achieved initial operational capability in 2004. So far, Eurocopter has received orders for more than 730 Puma helicopters form both civil and military customers from more than 38 countries.
The original maritime versions provided with the short fuselage were named AS 332F Super Puma. In 1990, the military variants were renamed Cougar and adopted the AS 532 designation. The AS 532MC Cougar is naval Search and Rescue (SAR) and surveillance version. The AS 532SC Cougar is a shipborne variant fully qualified for anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW). The AS 532SC can be equipped with AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and a dipping sonar. The aircraft is also suitable for SAR missions, vertical replenishment of surface ships at sea, and sea patrol missions.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 4, Passengers 21
Dimensions: Height 4.6 m, Length 15.6 m, Main Rotor Diameter 15.6 m, Width 3 m
Weights: Max Weight 9,350 kg (20,613 lb), Payload 4,500 kg (9,921 lb)
Performance: Cruise Speed 70 mps (251 kph), Endurance 4 hours, Max Range 911 km (492 nm), Top Speed 77 mps (278 kph)
Power: Power 3,178 shp
Other: Main Rotor Blades 4, Number of Engines 2, Tail Rotor Blades 4
Brazil
Chile
France
Kuwait
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Turkey / 30