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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 9/97 COUGAR AND SUPER PUMA: EUROCOPTERS BIG CATS by Karl Schwarz Since its first flight on September 13, 1978, Eurocopter has developed one of the world's most versatile helicopter families out of the Super Puma. No less than a dozen versions of the nine to eleven ton helicopter are meanwhile available. The military variants, which are desgnated Cougar since 1990, are operational with 37 forces while approximately 100 civil Cougars are flying in the off-shore service for 14 companies. Especially over the rough North Sea, the Super Puma is basically the standard equipment for the supply of the oil rigs. The Norwegian Helicopter Services fly up to 180 hours per month with their AS 332L2s (availability 98 percent). VIP versions are another important market segment for the Super Puma/Cougar, which, according to Eurocopter, have been delivered to 28 countries so far. The roomy cabin allows for luxurious interiors that can stand any comparison to business jets. For the military customers, the Cougar is covering a whole range of different missions, starting out at the classic troop transport for which up to 29 seats can be fitted into the helicopter. The large sliding doors allow for a quick boarding or exit at the battle field. The cabin also suits a minimum of six stretchers for the transport of injured. Search and rescue missions are also part of Cougar's mission capability. For this purpose, a powerful winch (275 kg) is installed, along with spot lights, speakers, a search radar, or an infrared sensor. The navigation and autopilot system allows the automated flight of search patterns and hover. Furthermore, Cougar can be employed from land or ship for the attack against submarines and ships. For these missions, the helicopter is fitted with a forward mounted search radar, a dunking sonar, as well as, two torpedoes or two Exocet missiles. The weapons are launched from side-mounted pylons which can also carry rocket or gun pods. Due to this versatility Eurocopter has managed to sell more than 500 Super Pumas/Cougars, in spite of serious competition from the smaller UH-60 Black Hawk. Following a difficult economical time (only five orders in 1994), Eurocopter sold 15 AS 532 UL to Spain in 1996 and twelve AS 532U2 for SAR missions to Saudi Arabia. In February of this year, Turkey signed a contract worth approximately FF 2,5 billion for ten AS 532UL (army) and 20 AS 532AL (air force). Except for two aircraft, all Turkish Cougars will be assembled in Turkey itself. For this purpose, Eurocopter and Tusas Aerospace Industries have founded the EUROTAL consortium. Such a cooperation becomes a prerequisite for more and more contracts. The same applies to offset businesses which, in the case of the Dutch order, sometimes even reach 120 percent of the order value. To be successful in Spain, Eurocopter even had to accept seven CN 235s to sell at the helicopter manufacturer's own risk. According to Eurocopter, tight budgets are leading to a dramatic worldwide price pressure, especially since Russian aircraft such as the Mi-17 are available for cheap. To be able to compete against these (and the Black Hawk), Eurocopter is currently developing a simplified version. The new AS532UB/AB will supposedly be 20 to 30 percent cheaper than the former AS 532UC/AC. This is possible through a standardization of the production. The extensive installation of special equipment is omitted, such cutting down the production times. This is especially obvious in the avionics which include a cheaper but still complete IFR package. Systems such as Tacan, GPS, and radar altimeter are standard. Furthermore, the fuel system will be simplified and the gear will be fixed. Since the wheels will have no fairing, the cruise speed will decrease by eight km/h. In all other aspects, the new version will be identical to the current short-fuselage Cougar. According to Eurocopter, the new helicopter will have basically the identical mission capability as the current version. A retrofit with additional equipment will be possible. The first AS 532UB, also called Cougar 100, will supposedly fly in the summer. Since the tests are uncomplicated, first deliveries could start before the end of the year. A second new Cougar variant is positioned at the upper end of the cost and performance spectrum. It is the special version AS 532UL/AL for combat SAR missions in which shot-down crews are rescued in hostile territory. Such missions are extremely demanding. The French air force, for example, requires that the helicopter can fly up to 250 nm behind the enemy lines, hovering there for half an hour, and then returning at low-level. Tanks in the enlarged landing gear nacelles are used to increase the range of the aircraft. Another tank could possibly be fitted in the aft cabin. Also, external tanks fitted to the side pylons are feasible. An extendible air refueling probe is being developed which could be installed on the left side of the fuselage. For self-protection, a radar warning receiver and missile approach warner can be installed, coupled with flare and chaff dispensers. The engine outlets are encased to reduce the IR picture. The engine exhaust is mixed with outside air before released through the exhaust. Self-sealing tanks are standard, as are armored pilot seats. In the landing zone, this Cougar version can defend itself with swivable 20-mm guns which are installed in the cabin. Since most of the rescue missions are during night time, the cockpit is laid out for third-generation night-vision goggles. A FLIR sensor can be mounted underneath the nose. Of course, the modern navigation system is helpful. It is added by a PLS receiver (Personal Location System) which allows for a precise location of the shot-down crews. So far, only the French Air Force has decided for the Combat-SAR version of the AS 532 U2/A2. However, Eurocopter sees an interesting market potential since the aspect of combat rescues becomes important in the frame of international missions. Only the Americans had this capability available so far. The ground surveillance system Horizon is another special version of the Cougar which is offered for export. It is equipped with a retractable rotating antenna which can detect and classify all moving objects within a 200 kilometer range (tanks, vehicles, helicopters, ships). The data is relayed to a ground station, and then used for the tactical planning of the army units. So far, the French Army is operating two Horizons. According to Eurocopter, it would be interesting to use the helicopters in the frame of the planned NATO-wide Alliance Ground Surveillance Systems, to complement an aircraft such as the E-8C Joint STARS. From page 50 of FLUG REVUE 9/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 9/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated August 5, 1997 FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany