Airbus Helicopters
AS532 Cougar
The AS532 Cougar is a medium‑weight, twin‑engine transport helicopter developed by Aérospatiale (now Airbus Helicopters) in the early 1990s as an upgraded version of the SA 330 Puma. First flown in 1992, the aircraft entered service with the French Army in 1994 and quickly attracted customers worldwide, including the armed forces of Belgium, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Cougar combines a robust airframe with modern avionics, a glass cockpit and an integrated mission system that allows day‑and night‑operation in all weather conditions. Powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines, it delivers 2 120 shp each, giving a maximum speed of 260 km/h, a range of 1 200 km and a payload capacity of up to 4 500 kg, sufficient for 25 troops or external loads such as artillery, medical evacuations, and SAR gear. Its multipurpose design, reinforced landing gear and optional self‑protective suites make it adaptable to combat, humanitarian and disaster‑relief missions. The AS532 has become a benchmark for versatility in rotary‑wing aviation, demonstrating how incremental upgrades to a proven platform can extend service life and meet evolving operational demands.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1977