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2014-10-01

FENNEC’S PROUD SERVICE IN MIDDLE EAST

AS550 C3e is fully operational from the highest altitudes to the hottest sandy environments

Fennec is a single-engine helicopter operational with the Singaporean Armed Forces, the Royal Australian Army, the Brazilian Army and Air Force, Danish Army, Middle East countries and French Army.

The helicopter first entered service in 1990. More than 650 Eurocopter helicopters are currently are flying across the Middle East and through the Arabian Gulf. Over 80 per cent of them are in military use to support missions that include combat, transport, search and rescue, counter-terrorism, special operations and training.

The strongest Armed Scout helicopter of its class, the Fennec combines power, discretion and the ability to fire.

The AS550 C3e Fennec is Airbus Helicopters two-ton class answer to armed forces requirements. Easy to operate in extreme and harsh conditions, this Armed Scout helicopter combines safety and performance.

Incredibly manoeuvrable and agile, the Fennec is perfectly designed to perform combat flight.

The Fennec belongs to the Ecureuil / Fennec family of helicopters which includes: the single-engine military AS550 Fennec and civil AS350 Ecureuil; twin-engine naval AS555 Fennec and civil AS355 Ecureuil; and the civil EC 130 single-engine helicopter.

The AS550 Fennec can be fitted for anti-tank, air-to-air combat, ground support and training missions and it is also used in the utility transportation role. The combat version is called the AS550C3.

The helicopters are in production at Eurocopter’s engineering and production facilities at Marignane in France and are also built under licensed production agreements in Brazil and in China.

Orders and deliveries

More than 4,890 Ecureuil/Fennec helicopters have been delivered to 1,600 customers and are operational in 110 countries. It has covered over 22 million flight hours and is a fleet leader with 30,400 flying hours. And 400 military helicopters already ordered by 44 armed forces in 35 countries .

The delivery of six AS550 Fennec helicopters to the UAE Air Force was completed in 2008, while the Pakistan Army procured an additional AS550 Fennec in early 2009.

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense placed an order for seven AS550 C3 Fennec helicopters and two AS350 B2 helicopters in 2010. The first two AS550 C3 helicopters were delivered in September 2012. The remaining helicopters will be delivered at a rate of two per year by 2015.

A proposed order of 197 Fennec helicopters by India was cancelled in December 2007 due to discrepancy in the bidding process.

Design

The AS550 is of light construction based on a reinforced high-strength glass fibre and aramid airframe. The Starflex main rotor head and blades are also of composite materials for added strength and weight reduction. The engine cowlings are armoured for protection.

The helicopter is fitted with armoured seats and can carry the pilot and up to five troops. The cabin can also be configured for medical evacuation with capacity for one stretcher patient and two doctors. For cargo carrying, the cabin can take a 3m³ load.

The military AS 550 is fitted with sliding doors on each side rather than the hinged door fitted on the civil AS350 variant. The 1m³ baggage compartment is installed behind the main cabin and is accessed via a door on the starboard side.

The cockpit is equipped with single controls and is night-vision compatible. The navigation suite includes a GPS, a VHF omnidirectional radio ranger and instrument landing system, an automatic direction finder, distance measuring equipment and a marker beacon transponder. The secure communications systems are fitted according to the customer country’s specification.

The pilot has a vehicle and engine multifunction display which allows shows the main vehicle and engine parameters on a dual LCD screen.

Weapons

The helicopter is fitted with a wide range of weapon systems to suit the operational requirements of forces. Weapon fits include anti-tank missiles, rockets or guns. The Danish Army AS550C2 helicopters are armed with the Systems & Electronics (formerly ESCO) HeliTOW sighting system and TOW anti-tank missiles. The HeliTOW sight is roof-mounted and contains direct view optics, day and/or night sight and laser rangefinder.

The AS 550 can be fitted with two Forges de Zeebrugge rocket launchers which carry seven 2.75in rockets each, or two Thales Brandt 68mm launchers with 12 rockets each. The helicopter has been fitted with the Giat 20mm gun type M621, and the FN Hershal twin 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine gun pod.

The surveillance and observation systems include a forward-looking infrared, optical cameras and Spectrolab SX 16 searchlights. Thales Detexis EWR-99 radar warning receiver and Alkan ELIPS countermeasures dispenser can be fitted.

The Stand Alone Weapon System in Fennec consists of a mission computer, an electro-optical system with TV, infrared cameras and laser telemeter (with laser designator as needed), a targeting system with a helmet-mounted sight and display, two multi-purpose weapon pylons with slaving units, and a choice of guns, missiles and unguided or guided rockets as weapons loads.

Engine

The AS550 is powered by a single Turbomeca Arril 2D engine, which provides 632kW of take-off power. It is equipped with a dual channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. This world altitude record holder (Mount Everest 8,850m, May 2005) can perform extreme combat flight in high and hot conditions.

The AS550 C3e is fully operational from the highest altitudes (7,000 m/ 23,000 ft) to the hottest sandy environments (+ 50Â°C / 122Â°F). Its Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) provides accurate information concerning the performance and condition of the aircraft, dramatically reducing the crew’s workload.

The main gearbox has a 45-minute dry run capability. The self-sealing plastic fuel tank has a capacity of 540l. An auxiliary fuel tank can be installed in the cabin to provide an additional 475l of fuel for extended-range operations.

The VEMDÂ on the instrument panel, a new generation of integrated instrumentation, allows the pilot to see at first glance the main vehicle and engine parameters on a dual LCD screen.

The sophisticated monitoring system ensures that the pilot can concentrate on his primary task and decreases his workload. This aircraft also allows night flight thanks to the cockpit compatibility with night vision goggles.

Performance

The AS550 can climb at the rate of 9.8m a second. The maximum and cruise speeds of the helicopter are 287km/h and 258km/h respectively, while the range and service ceiling of the helicopter are 666km and 7,000m respectively.

The maximum altitude of the helicopter is 7,000m and the endurance is four hours and seven minutes.

The AS550 weighs around 1,202kg and the maximum take-off weight of the helicopter is 2,250kg. The helicopter has steel tube skid-type landing gear. Emergency flotation gear is fitted for operation over water.

Technology

The Fennec combines power, discretion and firing ability. It has low detectability. It is able to fly safely in the battlefield thanks to its slim silhouette, the Fennec emits a diminished radar signature through extensive use of composite materials as well as a low infra-red reflective paint.

The Fennec behaves with an outstanding manoeuvrability when performing combat flight. Easy to fly and to fight it will forgive a lot because of its high power reserve.

The Fennec AS550 C3e is specially designed to fly air missions with the primary purpose of locating and attacking targets of opportunity. It relies on a very large array of qualities (stealth, power, simplicity and firing stability) to carry out demanding armed reconnaissance missions. Tracking armoured vehicles, it observes, identifies and reports while performing tough screening actions.

If armed reconnaissance is needed, the AS550 C3e Fennec’s ability to fire any kind of weapon will ensure hasty fire support for troops in contact and autonomous strong destruction. The Fennec has the greatest range in its category, which allows tactical air control parties to effectively guide attack helicopters or close air support fixed wing aircraft to their targets from a roomy and very handy flying cabin.

Command and control is easy and comfortable for any military on duty who appreciates night and day visibility and ergonomics. In this helicopter, there is no separation between the cockpit and the cabin, and the field of view is excellent, even from behind.

Airbus Helicopters offers, from the moment of purchase: Customer service centers, initial parts provisioning, warranty, technical support, on-site technical assistance, technical publications and type rating for pilots and technicians For AS550 C3 operators, Airbus Helicopters offer tailor-made services to match operational requirements: Guaranteed turnaround times to enable better scheduling of maintenance while keeping own parts, and standard exchange service to support aircraft availability and inventory optimization•

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