Aerospatiale AS 532 Cougar
Aerospatiale / Eurocopter · France · first flew 1978 · transport aircraft
The AS 532 Cougar is a military medium-lift helicopter derived from the civil AS 332 Super Puma, widely operated by armed forces worldwide for assault, SAR, and VIP transport.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- twin-turboshaft military helicopter
- retractable undercarriage
- large sliding cabin door
Distinguished from the civil Super Puma by military green paint, a flat-panel windshield, and typically no airline-style passenger windows; retractable wheels and a large rear clamshell door on some variants.
Specifications
- The Aerospatiale AS 532 Cougar has a length of 18.7 m (61 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.2 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 278 km/h (173 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + up to 25 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Aerospatiale developed the Cougar as a dedicated military variant of the Super Puma in the late 1970s, offering improved military systems, crashworthy seats, and weapons provisions. It entered service in the early 1980s and was subsequently built by Eurocopter after the 1992 merger.
Variants
The family encompasses the AS 532UC (utility), AS 532AC (naval), and numerous export sub-variants; the EC725 Caracal is a further-developed derivative with glass cockpit and extended range.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the French Army Aviation, Turkish Land Forces, Brazilian Army, and dozens of other nations; widely used for combat SAR and special operations.
Related aircraft
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