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AS 532 Cougar
	Eurocopter AS 532 AL of the Bulgarian Air Force
Role	Medium Utility Helicopter
Manufacturer	Eurocopter
First flight	September 1977
Developed from	Eurocopter AS332
Variants	Eurocopter EC 725

The Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter. The AS 532 is a further development and upgrade of the Aérospatiale Puma in its militarized form. (Its civilian counterpart is the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma.) The AS 532 has been further developed as the Eurocopter EC 725.

[edit] Design and development

The AS 332 Super Puma, designed as a growth version to replace the SA 330 Puma, first flew in September 1977. It was fitted with two 1330 kW Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines, composite rotor blades, improved landing gear and a modified tailfin.

In 1990 all military Super Puma designations were changed from AS 332 to AS 532 Cougar to distinguish between the civil and military variants of the helicopter.

Canada had considered purchasing the Cougar to replace their CH-113 Labrador, but opted in the end to purchase the CH-149 Cormorant^[1].

[edit] Variants

Chilean Navy Cougar - UNITAS 47-06

AS 532 UL/AL: The AS 532 UL/AL is the long version of the Cougar family and is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines. It carries a crew of 2 and up to 29 troops or 6 injured passengers on stretchers plus 10 others. As with the other versions of the Cougar, the AS 532 UL/AL can lift 4.5 tons by means of a sling. The Horizon battlefield ground surveillance system can be installed on the AS 532 UL (utility version). The AS 532 AL (armed version) can also be fitted with a variety of weapons, including pod-mounted 20 mm cannons, 68 mm rocket-launchers and side-mounted rapid fire machine-guns.

AS 532 SC: The AS 532SC is the naval version of the Cougar family and is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines. This version is mainly used for Anti-surface unit warfare (ASUW), fitted with AM 39 Exocet missiles; Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), fitted with a variable-depth sonar and torpedoes; Search and rescue; and Sea patrols. For deck landing, securing at high sea states, maneuver and traverse this variant can be fitted with ASIST.

AS 535: French Army Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR or RESCO in French) version.

[edit] Operators

The Turkish Military (Türk Kara Kuvvetleri) uses few Cougars as a combat search and rescue helicopter.

Eurocopter Cougar of Slovenian Army.

Eurocopter Cougar of French Air Force.

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil

The AS 532 is licenced built by Helibras factory in Brazil.^[2]^[3] The Brazilian Armed forces will use the Super Cougar with the Brazilian licenced version of EC-725^[4].

Bulgaria

all 8 AS 532 AL tactical transport helicopters now delivered and in service with the Bulgarian Air Force and additional 4 in CSAR-configuration to be delivered by the end of 2009. ^[5]

Cambodia
Chile
China
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ecuador
France
Gabon
Germany

German Air Force 3 AS 532 providing Government Flight Service by the Federal Ministry of Defence for parliamentary purposes and VIP transport.

Greece
Indonesia
Japan
Jordan
Kuwait
Morocco
Malaysia
Nepal
Netherlands

The Royal Netherlands Air Force operates AS-532U2 (Mk2) helicopters, which are an upgrade to the AS-532UL (expanded version). As of 2009, the 17 helicopters of 300 Squadron of the RNLAF will undergo a mid-life update.