EC 725 Cougar

The EC 725 medium-sized (11t), twin-engine helicopter is the latest member of the Cougar helicopter family developed by Eurocopter. The helicopter has been developed in the military EC 725 version and in the civil EC 225 version.

The helicopter completed its first flight in November 2000 and is now in service in ten countries worldwide. The French Air Force, the launch customer, ordered six EC 725s for the combat search and rescue role. The first was delivered in February 2005 and deliveries concluded in May 2007. The French Special Operations Command ordered eight EC 725 helicopters in November 2002. Deliveries are now complete.

French EC 725 helicopters were deployed in 2006 in Lebanon to aid evacuation of personnel, and in Afghanistan. Two helicopters have been stationed in Kabul since the beginning of 2007 in support of the Nato International Security Force.

The EC 725 is used for more than 95% of operations in Kabul. By 2009, the French armed forces were operating 14 EC 725s.

In April 2009, an additional five EC 725 helicopters were ordered by the French Defence Ministry as part of the government's economic recovery plan worth €220m ($314m). The first of five EC 725 helicopter was delivered in June 2011. The remaining four are scheduled for delivery by the second quarter of 2012. Two EC 725 helicopters have also been ordered by Dirgantara for the Indonesian Air Force.

In September 2008, Malaysia announced the selection of the EC725 for an initial order of 12 helicopters. However the contract award has been indefinitely delayed due to budgetary constraints. Eurocopter signed a cooperation contract with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence in May 2011 related to the supply of the 12 EC 725 helicopters to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) for search and rescue (SAR) operations. These new aircraft will replace the existing fleet of Sikorsky S-61 Sea King rotorcraft. Deliveries will begin in 2012 and are expected to conclude in 2014.

In December 2008, Brazil placed a €1.9bn ($2.72bn) order for 50 EC 725 helicopters – 16 for the navy, 16 for the army and 18 for the air force. The helicopters are being manufactured in Brazil by Eurocopter subsidiary Helibras. The first three EC 725 helicopters were delivered to Brazil in December 2010. The final outfitting will start in 2012 at Helibras's new production facility in Itajuba, Brazil. Deliveries are scheduled for completion by 2016.

In March 2010, the Mexican Air Force ordered six EC 725 helicopters from Eurocopter. These helicopters will be used for transport and civil security missions. Another six EC 725 rotorcraft were ordered by the Mexican Air Force in September 2010 increasing the total number of aircraft orders to 12.

The Mexican Navy ordered nine EC 725 helicopters to carry out combat search and rescue (CSAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and troop transport missions.

In July 2009, the EC 725 was presented on the static display at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford RAF.

The new EC 725 is based on the proven fuselage and structural design of the Cougar mk2 with a new five-bladed main rotor and reinforced main gearbox. The helicopter also has a new integrated display suite and piloting system. The new EC 725 version is able to carry a much higher military payload at a faster speed, and also has an increased range.

Missions

The aircraft is suitable for a wide range of missions: tactical troop transport, special operations, search and rescue, combat search and rescue, maritime surveillance, humanitarian support logistic ground support, medical evacuation and shipborne operations. The ferry flight range is over 1,200nm.

In the tactical troop transport role the helicopter can carry 19 troops over a 250nm radius of action. In the combat search and rescue role, the EC 725 is able to rescue a downed crew at a radius of action of 280nm.

EC 725 design

The fuselage is of light alloy material with a large composite intermediate structure and cowlings. The machine-milled frames are strengthened for crashworthiness. The crew and troops are protected by removable armour plating. The maximum seat capacity is two crew and 29 troops.

The helicopter is fitted with a dual hoist system and has a sling capacity of 5t.

The helicopter is equipped with new 'Spheriflex' main and tail rotorheads. The diameter of the main rotor system is 16.2m. The five-bladed main rotor is fully composite, with a composite spar, multiple box structure and anhedral tipcaps. The five-blade arrangement provides a very low level of vibration. The rotors and horizontal stabilizer can be equipped with an anti-icing and de-icing system.

Helicopter cockpit

The EC 725 is equipped with an all-glass cockpit with new avionics and a new integrated display system including a digital map. The display suite includes seven active matrix liquid crystal displays: four multi-function 6in×8in displays and two 4in×5in helicopter parameter displays. The displays can be configured to suit the operational requirements to present flight, navigation and mission parameters.

The advanced helicopter cockpit and avionics system (AHCAS) includes an automatic flight control system developed by SAGEM, integrating the flight, navigation and tactical mission data.

The helicopter is equipped with radar and FLIR (forward-looking infrared) for day and night-time search and rescue capability. The navigation suite includes Doppler radar, global positioning system and inertial navigation system.

The search and rescue system can be programmed to provide automatic search patterns, transition and hover.

EC 725 weapons

The helicopter can carry side-firing armament such as two 7.62mm general purpose machine guns and a 20mm cannon. The helicopter can also be fitted with axial pods such as two 68mm rocket launchers or two 20mm cannons.

The helicopter's electronic warfare systems include a radar warning receiver, laser warning receiver, missile approach warner and chaff and flare dispensers.

Turboshaft engines

The helicopter is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 2A turboshaft engines, each providing 1,800kW power, an increase of 14% over the previous 1A2 engine version. Each engine, complete with systems and accessories is independent. An infrared suppression system is installed to reduce the thermal signature of the helicopter.

The engines are equipped with dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and protective air intake grids prevent ingestion of debris into the engines. The free turbine features blade shedding architecture for high reliability and safety.

The main fuel tanks, with a capacity of 2,539l, are installed under the floor of the cabin and in the lateral sponsons. Auxiliary tanks can be installed in the cargo hook well (capacity of 324l) or at the rear of the cabin (990l). The helicopter can be equipped with a probe for air-to-air refuelling. The refuelling system has already been validated on the Cougar mkII.

Main gearbox

The EC 725 main gearbox is reinforced for compatibility with the increased turbine engine power and the increase in the helicopter's maximum weight. The helicopter uses the gear train identical to that of the Cougar mk2. An emergency lubrication spray is installed in the gearbox to allow a 30-minute flight with no oil.

Landing gear

The helicopter has retractable crashworthy tricycle-type landing gear supplied by Messier-Bugatti. Each unit retracts rearward and is fitted with dual chamber oleo pneumatic shock absorbers. Emergency floatation units can be installed on the main landing gear fairings and on the forward section of the fuselage.

Performance

The EC 725 can climb at the rate of 3.6m/s. The maximum and cruise speeds of the aircraft are 324km/h and 277km/h respectively. The range is 1,482km and service ceiling is 6,095m.

The Global Military Rotorcraft Market 2011-2021

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