H215M / AS532 Cougar

The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar, now known as the Airbus Helicopters H215M, is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed as a militarized upgrade of the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma. Its foundation, the AS332 Super Puma, designed as an enhanced version to supersede the SA 330 Puma, first flew in September 1977. This initial variant featured two 1,330 kW Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines, composite rotor blades, improved landing gear, and a modified tailfin. To distinguish the military versions from their civilian counterparts, all military Super Puma designations were changed from "AS 332" to "AS 532 Cougar" in 1990.

Inheriting features such as composite rotor blades, enhanced landing gear, and a modified tailfin, the AS532 Cougar design utilizes two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines. The utility version can be outfitted with the Horizon battlefield ground surveillance system. The AS 532 UL/AL versions are capable of lifting up to 4.5 tons by means of a sling, and the AS532 UB has a capacity for a 4,650 kg (10,251 lb) payload. Armed versions can incorporate pod-mounted 20 mm cannons, 68 mm rocket-launchers, and side-mounted rapid fire machine-guns. The naval version, the AS 532SC, is primarily used for anti-surface unit warfare (ASUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue, and sea patrols. It can be equipped with AM 39 Exocet missiles, a variable-depth sonar and torpedoes for ASW, and ASIST for deck landing, securing at high sea states, maneuver, and traverse.

The AS532 Cougar has seen deployment across various theaters with multiple air forces. Canada considered it as a replacement for the CH-113 Labrador but ultimately chose the CH-149 Cormorant. In 2012, France initiated a €288.8 million project to upgrade 23 Army Cougars and 3 Air Force Cougars to address obsolescence and standardize avionics with their EC225 and EC725 helicopters. In operational use, the type has experienced a number of accidents, some involving fatalities, in countries such as Turkey, France, and Mali. Operators include, or have included, countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Brazil.

Main Variants:

• AS532 UL/AL: The AS 532 UL/AL is the long version of the Cougar family and can carry up to 29 troops, also the armed AL version can be fitted with a variety of weapons, including pod-mounted 20 mm cannons.

• AS532 SC: The AS 532SC is the naval version of the Cougar family mainly used for anti-surface unit warfare, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and sea patrols.

• AS535: This variant was offered to cover the combat search and rescue needs of the French Army, but they chose the Eurocopter EC725 instead.

• HM-3: This is the Brazilian Army designation for the AS532M1.

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