EC725 Cougar

French armed forces have so far ordered a total of 19 EC725. They are operated by:
ALAT: 8. The ALAT variant is named HUS (Hélicoptère pour Unités Specialisées) and used by the Détachement ALAT d´Operations Spéciales (DAOS) at Pau. Training began in January 2006. Armée de l´Air: 6. Named Resco (Recherche et sauvetage au combat). Used by EH 1/67 Pyrénées, based at Cazaux. This unit has four Rescos and two HUS, as the split between the two services was changed.

Brazil: 50. The country has become the second customer, with the contract signature on 23 December 2008 for 50, which will go to the Army, Air Force and Navy.
Mexico: 6. Eurocopter announced the order by the Mexican Defence Ministry on 10 March 2009.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Sikorsky S-92/H-92
Eurocopter NH90

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The EC725 is a further upgraded version of the Super Puma/Cougar family of helicopters, based on the airframe of the AS 532U2/A2 Cougar Mk.II and civil AS 332L2. The main differences include:

a new main rotor with five instead of four blades. The blades feature new profiles. Thy reduce the vibration level. Flight into known icing is possible. a reinforced main gearbox, due to deep nitrogen hardening of the input bevel gear, allowing 8 per cent more power intake, 30 min run dry capability. more powerful Turboméca Makila 1A4 engines, now named the Makila 2A a full glass cockpit with seven LCDs, supplied by Kollsman of the US. Four are 6 x 8 inch, two are 4 x 5 inch, and the standby is 1,5 x 2,5 inch. vehicle monitoring system and AFCS crashworthy central structure with locally reinforced frames all-up weight of 11000 kg (instead of 9750 kg) and internal load of 5670 kg (instead of 4800 kg)

For Combat SAR missions, the EC725 can be fitted with a sophisticated equipment package, including:

in flight refuelling probe on the right side, which can be used behind tankers like the C-130 Hercules. rescue hoist. FLIR-turret in the nose (Thales Chlio ST). emergency floats. sand filters for the engines. exhaust gas dilution device. armoured cockpit doors. armoured crew seats. extensive ECM system including radar warning receiver (Sherloc SF), missile approach warning system (Damien), laser warning receiver (RALM) and chaff/flare dispensers (Alkan Elips). armament, including two door-mounted MAG 58 machine guns (7.62 mm).

History (Geschichte)
A Cougar CSAR programme was started in October 1994, with a contract signature in February 1996 for development and four helicopters, worth some 1,05 billion Francs. The first example was delivered in July 1999, but then it became clear from the first tests that more performance was needed.
The Cougar Mk.II+ development thus started in late 1999, with a new contract encompassing the modification of the Mk.II already delivered and three improved variants.
2000
The first prototype of the Mk.II+, a converted Cougar Mk.II, lifted off for its 50 minute maiden flight at Marignane on 27 November 2000. Hervé Jammayrac, Bernard Turcat and Daniel Sémioli crewed the helicopter. The Armée de l´Air had ordered four helicopters and taken options on ten more.
2001
A first presentation of the machine, now renamed as the EC725, took place on 15 January 2001, with General Jean-Pierre Job (Armée de l´Air) in attendance. At that time, the certification (JAR 29) was planned for the end of 2002 and the military qualification for 2003, with deliveries starting in September 2003.
2002
In late March 2002, Eurocopter said that it will no longer compete for the Canadian helicopter programme with the EC725 and the Cougar, as the helicopter cannot carry the equipment demanded by the DND.
By September 2002, the three prototypes had clocked up 200 flight hours. The maiden flight of an EC725 fitted with the Turboméca Makila 2A engine took place in September 2002. It lasted about 90 minutes. Hervé Jammayrac, Bernard Turcat and Daniel Sémioli were on board.
On 3 October 2002, Eurocopter said that the French Air Force had ordered four EC725 with the Makila 2A engine. Delivery was said to be set for June 2004, with all four in service by late 2004. The delays in the programme stemmed from difficulties with the new main gearbox.
In late November 2002, the French authorities notified Eurocopter of a contract for the supply of ten EC725 helicopters for the Special Forces (of the army). The contract was said to be worth 271 million Euros (including the helicopters, general customization, and support services). Deliveries were set for late 2004, with further helicopters to follow in 2005 and 2006.
2004
The Makila 2A powerplant of the EC725/EC225 was certified - at an intermediate development level - in July 2004. The engine was at that time still restricted to a take-off altitued of 3000 metres, had limitations in the emergency rating and a TBO of only 1000 hours. These limitations were said to be removed by the end of 2006.
On 23 December 2004, the EC725 was qualified by the French DGA in the Resco variant.
2005
The first EC725 „Resco“ for the Armée de l´Air arrived at the Ceam test center on 10 February 2005, after being received by the DGA in Marignane.
The ALAT (French army aviation) received its first helicopter in April 2005. The eighth was expected to be shipped by July 2006.
By September 2005, four crews of EH 1/67 had been trained on the EC725. Three helicopters were delivered and had flown some 300 hours at the Ceam in Mont-de-Marsan.
In the first week of October 2005, two EC725s of the Armée de l´Air conducted deck landing trials on board a French Courbet-class firgate in the Meditteranean off Toulon. 55 flight hours were clocked up.
Three EC725s were delivered in 2005.
2006
The EC725 finally entered operational service with the Armée de l`Air on 10 May 2006, with an official ceremony at the Cazaux air base, home of EH 1/67 Pyrénées. By that time it had received four of the six on order.
From 18 July 2006, three EC725 of the „Pyrénées“ unit were used for rescue operations in Beirut, flying to Larnaca-Acrotitri.
Two EC725 of the Armée de l´Air from Cazaux were deployed to Kaboul on 2 December 2006. They were used for medical evacuation and transport missions until September 2007, flying 683 hours in the process.
2007
In May 2007, the French Air Force received its sixth Caracal, and the delivery of all 14 helicopters ordered so far were thus completed.
In the the summer of 2007, an EC725 of EH 1/67 was loaned to the Sécurité Civile at Bastia for tests with fire-fighting equipment. It could carry up to four tons of water.
In October 2007, an EC725 carried out in-flight refuelling tests with an Italian Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules.
From December 2007 to May 2008, a pair of EC725s was operated in Chad as part of the EUFOR peacekeeping force.
2008
In April 2008, two EC725 Caracals of the Armée de l´Air were once more sent to Kaboul, being transported by AN-128.
In the summer of 2008, the French Air Force conducted an in-flight refuelling test campaign in Italy, using the C-130J as a tanker. 12 flights with 120 connections were made, at altitudes of 500 to 10000 feet and at speeds of 110 to 130 knots.
In October 2008, Malaysias defence ministry selected the EC725 as a replacement for the S-61 "Nuri". Contract negotians for 12 helicopters were started, but soon afterwards the whole programme was shelved by the Government.
In December 2008, an EC725 Caracal of the Armée de l´Air operated from the Navy base at Lanvéoc-Poulmic for SAR duties.
On 23 December 2008, following the EU-Brazil summit, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil officially announced the contract for 50 EC725 helicopters which had been signed by the Brazilian government and a consortium formed by Eurocopter and Helibras. The helicopters will be operated by Brazil's armed forces and the first deliveries are scheduled for 2010.
2009
Eurocopter announced an order for six EC725s by the Mexican Government on 10 March 2009.
On 30 April 2009, Eurocopter announced that the French Defense Ministry has ordered five additional EC725 helicopters as part of the government's economic recovery plan. The five helicopters are scheduled for delivery between late 2010 and early 2012.