Support Helicopters

AS 532 (Horizon) Cougar
The AS 532 Horizon.	The ground station.	The rotating antenna beneath the fuselage.
The cockpit.	Chaff release.

AS 532 U2/A2 Cougar
Cougar in flight.	Medical evacuation rescue.	The Cabin console with radar and FLIR display.
The machine guns fire out of the doorways from within the cabin.	A French Cougar Mk. 2.	The hoist joystick and main hoist. The joystick allows the winchman to adjust the position of the aircraft in regard to the rescuees.
Cougar's cabin capacity allows for up to 12 stretcher patients or 29 seats.	Flotation gear for over-water flying.

AS 550 Fennec,
The AS 555 Fennec single-engine helicopter. Shown here in service with the Royal Danish Army.	The Ecureuil/Fennec family of helicopters is operational in over 70 countries. Shown here in service with the Brazilian Army.	AS 550s in service with the Royal Danish Army are armed with the HeliTOW sighting system and the TOW anti-tank missile.
The Australian Army has 18 Fennec helicopters used for training.	The AS 550 can be fitted with the Giat 20mm gun type M621 and the FN Hershal twin 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine gun pod.	The HeliTOW sight is roof-mounted and contains direct view optics, day and/or night sight and laser rangefinder.

AS 565 Panther
The Eurocopter AS 565UB Panther is a multi-role light helicopter, for troop transport, logistic support and medical evacuation.	As a tactical troop transport, the Panther has the capacity to transport ten commandos.	For logistical support, the Panther is fitted with a sling with a 1,600kg capacity.
An 11-bladed Fenestron faired-in tail rotor provides a high level of manoeuvrability.	The AS 565 Panther is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshaft engines, each rated at 635kW.	The Starflex fibreglass rotorhead has four main rotor blades which incorporate a carbon fibre reinforced plastic spar and are filled with a Nomex honeycomb material.

Atlas Oryx
Oryx is an 8t helicopter with three cockpit crew seats, 16 troop seats or up to 12 VIP seats.	The basic airframe of the Oryx is similar to that of Puma helicopter.	The various missions carried out by the Oryx include medium to heavy transport and communications, rapid deployment of task force, and search and rescue functions.
The Oryx helicopter is fitted with advanced avionics suite including a GPS / INS navigation system and weather radar with mapping facility.	The Oryx mk1 variant is primarily used for firefighting, search and rescue operations in open water.

AW101 (EH101)
AW101 on patrol.	AW101 is a military utility helicopter whose roles include amphibious assault.	Image shows external sensors.
Dual flight controls are provided for the pilot and copilot.	AW101, a weightier utility helicopter capable of carrying a higher payload than medium helicopters.	The military version AW101 has accommodation for 30 seated or 45 standing fully combat equipped troops.

AW149
The AW149 is a 7t to 8t class multi-role helicopter for military and paramilitary use. It will have a maximum cruise speed of 296km/h and a range over 920km.	The AW149 is developed from the AW139 civil helicopter shown here, in service since 2004.	The AW149 design fits between the 6.4t AW139 (shown here) and the 10.6t NH90 in the AgustaWestland product range.
The AW149 helicopter can be fitted with a 272kg electric rescue hoist (AB139 shown here).	The AW149 cabin is 25% larger than that of the AW139 seen here and can accommodate 16 troops or 12 fully equipped soldiers.

CH-47D/F / MH-47E Chinook
The CH-47F improved cargo helicopter features reduced vibration, improved avionics and a more powerful engine.	Over 1,000 Chinooks are operational wordwide.	An RAF Chinook on UN operations.
CH-47D on exercise.	Chinook MH-47E refuelling in flight.	The Chinook has a triple-hook system, which provides stability.
Ramp operations can be carried out on water.	Chinook 47D deploying countermeasures.

EC 635 Twin-Engined Light Combat
The EC 635 lightweight twin-engine army helicopter for air-to-air combat and ground support.	The EC 635 is an armour-protected and armed version of the civil EC 135 helicopter.	The EC 635 can carry a range of weapon systems including air-to-air missiles, rocket launchers, internally mounted guns and external gun pod.
The 'glass cockpit' of the EC 635.	The first EC 635 was delivered to the Royal Jordanian Air Force in July 2003.	The EC 635 has a maximum speed of 259km/hr and a range with standard fuel tanks of 620km.

EC 725 Cougar,
The EC 725 medium, twin-engine helicopter is the latest member of the Cougar helicopter family.	The new EC 725 is based on the Cougar Mk 2, with a new five-bladed main rotor and reinforced main gearbox.	The EC 725 is suitable for missions including tactical troop transport, special operations and combat search and rescue.
EC 725 with rocket launcher and in flight refuelling probe on the left and 20mm cannon on the right.	The five-bladed fully composite main rotor gives a low level of vibration.	The military version can carry a higher payload at a faster speed with an increased range.
The EC 725's rocket launcher, in flight refuelling probe and emergency float.	The helicopter is available in military EC 725 version and civil EC 225 version.	As a tactical troop transport, the helicopter can carry 19 troops over a 250nm radius of action.
The EC 725 is equipped with an all-glass cockpit with new avionics and a new integrated display system.	The EC 725 helicopter can be equipped with a probe for air-to-air refuelling.

H-92 Superhawk
The H-92 Superhawk multi-mission helicopter is the military version of the S-92 medium-sized helicopter.	The H-92 Superhawk can be scrambled in less than two minutes. A 6ft-wide aft ramp allows easy and fast loading and unloading of cargo and troops.	Superhawk can be configured for tactical troop transport, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) or search and rescue/combat search and rescue (SAR/CSAR).
For SAR operations, the H-92 has a 272kg-capacity hydraulically powered rescue hoist. A special viewing window assists the crew with deployment.	The civil version, the S-92, made its maiden flight in 1998 and entered service in March 2004.	Great emphasis has been placed on safety in the design and construction of the airframe and systems.
The S-92 prototype during flight trials.	Mock-up of the H-92 showing the in-flight refuelling probe.

Ka-60 Kasatka (Killer Whale)
The Kamov Ka-60 Kasatka medium transport helicopter.	The Ka-60 is expected to enter production in 2003.	The helicopter took its first flight in 1998.
The cabin can accommodate 16 equipped troops or three medical crew and six stretcher patients.	The Ka-60 has four-bladed main rotors with swept back tips and a multi-blade tail rotor.	The helicopter can be armed with two 80mm rocket pods or two 7.62mm or 12.7mm guns.

Mi-8 (Mi 17) Hip
More than 12,000 Mi-8 Hip multi-purpose helicopters have been produced.	Two Rwandan Air Force Mi-17MDs on test flight prior to delivery.	The Mi-8T military transport helicopter provides mobility to ground force units.
The Mi-17MD Russian market designation Mi-8MTV5.	Troops are accommodated on three rows of seats in the cargo cabin.	The Mi-8MTV5 carrying the Igla (left) and the Shturm (right) guided missiles.
The Mi-17MD carrying cargo with the extended loading ramp.	The helicopters deployed in Chechnya.

S-70A Black Hawk (UH-60)
The UH-60 multimission helicopter.	More than 2,000 Blackhawk helicopters are in service with the United States forces.	Two US Army S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60 Black Hawk has been operational in the US Army since 1978.
The S-70A Black Hawk helicopter can be armed with a variety of missiles, rockets, machine guns and 20mm cannons.	The highly capable Royal Brunei Air Force Black Hawk helicopter with radar, FLIR and auxiliary fuel tanks is put through its paces. This S-70A serves the Brunei Ministry of Defence.	A S-70A Black Hawk helicopter takes to the air in Israeli livery. The S-70A Black Hawk can lift 9,000lb (4,082kg). Its enhanced lifting capacity provides operators with new levels of multi-mission mobility.
A glass cockpit and digital avionics including digital Automated Flight Computer System (AFCS) and Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) are now available for the S-70 Black Hawk.	An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from Sikorsky, part of the Hawk family of helicopters.

UH-1Y Huey
The US Marines UH-1Y Huey utility helicopter.	100 UH-1Y utility helicopters are being built for the USMC.	The UH-1Y and AH-1Z models have a very high level of commonality, which reduces the manufacturing and procurement costs.
The helicopter has a new four-bladed, composite, hingeless, bearingless main rotor system and tail rotor.	The UH-1Y is fully marinised and capable of shipboard operations, including take-off, landing, refueling and re-arming.	The UH-1Y has a new glass cockpit with integrated avionics system.
The helicopter will have a new BRITE Star thermal imaging and laser designation system, capable of designating targets for the Hellfire missiles of the AH-1Z.	Drawing of the AH-1Z Supercobra showing the rotor system common with the UH-1Y.	The UH-1N helicopter has been in service since 1971.
The UH-1 series helicopters have been serving the US forces in action since the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Seen here is the UH-1N.

US101 (VH-71A) All Weather Medium Lift Military
The US101 all-weather, medium-lift helicopter.	The US101 has been chosen as the replacement helicopter for the Marine One Presidential Transport.	The US101 is being put forward by Lockheed Martin, prime contractor, and a joint venture formed by AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter.
The US101, designated VH-71A, has been chosen as the replacement helicopter for the US Marine One presidential transport fleet.	The US101 is the American version of the AgustaWestland EH101.	The US101 can transport up to 30 troops or loads up to 5,443kg (12,000lb). It has a maximum speed of 309km/h and a ferry range of nearly 2,100km.
The EH101 in service with the UK Royal Navy, designated Merlin HM Mk 1.	The EH101 has been selected by five NATO countries and Japan.	The EH101 on a search and rescue mission.
The helicopter is capable of lifting up to 6t (5,443kg) and the cabin is equipped with a variable speed cargo winch and roller conveyor for freight pallets.

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