Sud Aviation SA316 Alouette III

Summary

Category	Helicopter
Origin country	🇫🇷 France
First flight	28 February 1959
Year of introduction	1961
Number produced	2000 units
Average unit price	$1.5 million

Description

The Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter originally developed by the French aerospace company Sud Aviation, which later became Aérospatiale and is now part of Airbus Helicopters. The helicopter was introduced in 1959 as an advanced version of the earlier Alouette II. It was primarily designed for both civil and military use, including search and rescue, transport, and medical evacuation roles.

The Alouette III features a monocoque design with a single Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine that powers a three-blade main rotor and a two-blade tail rotor. The aircraft's cockpit is usually configured for a pilot and co-pilot, although it can also be flown by a single pilot. The cabin can accommodate up to seven passengers or be configured for cargo or specialized roles like medical evacuation. The Alouette III has a skid landing gear, which makes it versatile for landing on uneven terrain.

Armament

The Alouette III was not originally designed as a combat helicopter, but it has been adapted for various armed roles. These modifications include the ability to mount machine guns, rocket pods, or anti-tank missiles on external hardpoints. Some versions were equipped with a side-mounted 20mm cannon. The helicopter has also been used for reconnaissance and observation missions, sometimes equipped with cameras and other surveillance equipment. Despite these adaptations, the Alouette III is very limited in its combat capabilities.

Operational history

The Alouette III has had a long and diverse operational history since its introduction in 1959. It has been used by over 70 countries for a variety of roles including search and rescue, medical evacuation, troop transport, and reconnaissance. Notably, the Alouette III saw service in various conflicts such as the Portuguese Colonial War in Africa, the Indo-Pakistani wars, and the Falklands War, among others.

In the civilian domain, the helicopter has been employed in roles like mountain rescue, especially in the Alps and the Himalayas, owing to its strong high-altitude performance. Various coast guards and maritime agencies have also utilized it for sea rescue operations.

The Alouette III is now being phased out by its operators in favour of more modern aircrafts, including the future Airbus H160M.

Variants

Main variants include:

SA 316A: The initial production version, equipped with a Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine.
SA 316B: Improved version with increased maximum takeoff weight thanks to strengthened main and tail rotor, and other minor modifications.
SA 319B: Also known as the Alouette III Astazou, this variant features a Turbomeca Astazou XIV engine for improved performance.
SA 3164: An experimental anti-tank version, fitted with 20mm gun in the nose and Nord SS.11 anti-tank missiles.
HAL Chetak: Licensed version produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India, which has been adapted into several sub-variants for different roles including naval operations and training.

Technical specifications

Version: SA 316B Alouette III
Crew	1 pilot
Maximum speed	210 km/h (130 mph)
Wingspan	11 m (36.1 ft)
Height	3 m (9.8 ft)
Length	10.0 m (32.9 ft)
Service ceiling	3200 m (10499 ft)
Empty weight	1143 kg (2520 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	2200 kg (4850 lbs)
Climb rate	4.3 m/s (14.1 ft/s)
Powerplant	1 × turbine Turbomeca Artouste IIIB delivering 713 kW

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	India	117 (+6)
	Pakistan	38
	France	22
	Angola	21
	Austria	21
	Myanmar	13
	Zimbabwe	13
	Indonesia	7
	Romania	7
	Tunisia	7
	Burundi	3
🇸🇿	Eswatini	3
	Ethiopia	3
	Malta	3
	Suriname	3
🇨🇩	Congo Democratic Republic	2
	Gabon	2
	Namibia	2
	Bolivia	1
	Chad	1
	Senegal	1
	Sierra Leone	1