Eurocopter Squirrel, Fennec Light multi-purpose helicopter

The Argentine navy is one customer for the radar – equipped, weapons-capable AS 555SN Fennec, which offers affordable shipboard ASW capability.

he civil AS 350B Ecureuil (Squirrel) led to the

militarised AS 350L which first Hew in March 1985. Powered by an Arriel ID turboshaft, the AS 350L later became the AS 350L1 when powered by the 732-shp (546-kW) Arriel 1D1 turooshaft. A military version of the twin-engined AS 355 Twin Squirrel, the AS 355M, was developed in 1988/89. France was the primary customer for this version with the air force acquiring 52 aircraft. An export version was dubbed AS 355M2

In January 1990 Aerospatiale (now Eurocopter) renamed The single-engined military variants as the AS 550 Fennec and twin-engined aircraft as the AS 555 Fennec Variants included the AS 550U2 transport, AS 550A2 cannon-armed version, AS 550C2 missile-armed version. AS 550C2 naval utility version, AS 550C2 armed naval version, AS 555UN utility transport; AS 555AN cannon­armed version, AS 555MIM naval utility version, and the AS 555SIM armed naval version. In French service the AS 355AN has been solely gun-armed, usually with the GIAT M621 20-mm cannon The naval version of the AS 555 can be fitted with an RDR-1500 search radar under the nose and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector under the tailboom. The AS 555 can be armed with Two torpedoes.

The single-engined AS 550A2 can be armed with a M621 20-mm cannon pod, and is equipped with the ESCO HeiiTOW sighting system above the roof.

In 1990 the Danish army acquired 12 combat – capaoie AS 550C2s, amred with the ESCO HeliTOW system, This comprises a roof-mounted sight and four TOW missiles in twin pods on each pylon. A similar system is in service in Singapore.

A specialist training version of the civil-standard AS 350B2, the AS 350BB, was developed for the UK’s Defence Helicopter Flying School. The School operates two versions of the aircraft, 26 Squirrel HT. Mk 1s and 12 NVG-capable Squirrel HT. Mk 2s

In Brazil Helibras has built over 300 Squirrels under licence as the Esquilo. The air force operates 16 CFI-50 transports (AS 550U2), 20 TH-50 trainers with a secondary fire-fighting role (AS 550U2), 11 armed CH-55s (AS 555U2) and two VIP-dedicated VH-55s (AS 355F2). The navy operates 16 UH-12s (AS 550BA) and nine UH-12Bs (AS 355F2), The Army flies a mix of 36 HA-ls (AS 550A2s). The Paraguayan air force and navy operate four AS 3508 Esquilos.

In 1996 China’s Change Aircraft Industries Corporation unveiled its Z-11 helicopter, which is clearly a direct copy of the AS 350B. The Z-11 is certified in civil and military versions, and is now in service with the People’s Liberation Army. Change claims that the Z-11 first flew in 1994 but few facts are known about its development.

Specification: Eurocopter AS 555 Fennec Powerplant: two 302-kW (406-hp) Turbomeca TM 319 Arrius 1A turboshafts Dimensions: main ^otor siameier 10.69 m (35ft Xin): fuselage length 10.93 m (35 ft Iff/ini; height overall 3.34 m (‘Oft У 7. in)

Weights: basic empty 1436 kg (3,166 ib);

: maximum take-off 2600 kg (5,732 lb) Performance: maximum cruising speed at optimum altitude 222 kmh (138 mph); service ceiling 3800 m 112.460 ft): maximum rate of climb at sea level more than 384 m (1.250 It) per minute: range 722 km (448 miles) Armament optional cannon, machine gun pods, one homing torpedo