Puma
Maiden Flight: Thursday, April 15, 1965
IOC: September 1968
Total Production: 737
EC725
Maiden Flight: November 2000
IOC: 2004
Production: 18
Also Known As
Caracal (popular name)
EC 725 Cougar
Origin
France
Contractor/s
Eurocopter
Family Members
SA 330 Puma
AS 332 Super Puma
AS 532SC Cougar
EC225
Guided Missiles:
AM39 Exocet (2)
Power plant:
Makila 2A (2)
Sensors & Communications:
MWS-20
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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 EC 725 is the latest derivative of proven Super Puma/Cougar helicopter. It features a longer range, increased payload, cabin volume and speed, and more powerful engines. The main rotor has one additional blade bringing the total number to 5 blades instead of 4 of previous models. Composites have been applied to many aircraft structures specially rotor blades. The EC 725 also features a state-of-the-art avionics and a full glass cockpit.
The EC 725 has been designed to accommodate up to 29 combat ready troops and perform a wide range of military missions such as medical evacuation, naval warfare (ASW and ASuW) and troops and materiel transport. The helicopter can also accommodate pod mounted guns, rocket launchers and side-mounted guns. The first prototype EC 725 performed the maiden flight in November 2000.
The French Air Force and the French Army ordered 14 EC 725 helicopters to perform combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions (6 for the Air Force) and special operations forces support missions (8 for the Army). The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) accepted the first EC 725 helicopter for the French Air Force on February 10, 2005. Deliveries were expected to conclude in 2006.
On 10 May 2006, the French Air Force declared the EC 725 helicopter operational for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions at the Cazaux Base. The French Air Force ordered six EC 725s for CSAR and four have been already delivered by May 2006. The French Army has ordered eight helicopters to server with the Special Operations Squadron.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 2, Passengers 29
Dimensions: Fuel Tank Capacity 3,750 l (987 gl), Height 4.6 m, Length 16.8 m, Main Rotor Diameter 16.2 m, Width 3 m
Weights: Max Weight 11,200 kg (24,691 lb), Min Weight 5,445 kg (12,004 lb), Payload 5,555 kg (12,246 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 6,000 m (19,685 ft), Cruise Speed 74 mps (267 kph), Endurance 4 hours, Max Range 1,282 km (692 nm), Min Range 839 km (453 nm), Top Speed 85 mps (305 kph)
Power: Power 3,740 shp
Other: Main Rotor Blades 5, Number of Engines 2
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France / 18 
Aircraft ordered through French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) for the French Air Force (six aircraft) and French Army's Special Operations Detachment (eight aircraft)