Airbus Helicopters AS565 Panther
Airbus Helicopters · France · first flew 1984 · helicopter
The AS565 Panther is the military and naval variant of the Dauphin 2 helicopter family, produced by Airbus Helicopters. It is used for anti-submarine warfare, search-and-rescue, and special forces insertion by operators worldwide.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.68 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Military Dauphin 2 derivative with fenestron tail rotor
- Twin turboshaft, retractable undercarriage on naval variant
- Wide operator base including navies and special forces
Identifiable by the fenestron (ducted tail rotor) characteristic of the Dauphin family, a streamlined composite fuselage, and retractable tricycle undercarriage on naval variants; distinguishable from the civil AS365 by military equipment stubs and sensors.
Specifications
- The Airbus Helicopters AS565 Panther has a length of 13.68 m (45 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.94 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 296 km/h (184 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the early 1980s as a dedicated military version of the AS365 Dauphin 2, the Panther was designed to meet the demanding requirements of naval deck operations and special missions. It entered service in the mid-1980s and has been exported widely, with the Brazilian Navy's Panther variants built under licence by Helibras. The US Army evaluated the Panther as the S-70 competitor in the LHX competition.
Variants
Variants include the AS565MA (anti-submarine), AS565SA (search and rescue), and AS565UA (utility); Israel operates a locally modified version for special operations.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the navies and armies of France, Brazil, Israel, Taiwan, and numerous other nations in roles ranging from ASW to troop insertion.
Related aircraft
- Aérospatiale AS355 Écureuil 2
- Airbus AS332 Super Puma
- Aérospatiale AS365 Dauphin 2
- Aérospatiale AS350 Écureuil
- Bell 400 TwinRanger
- Helibras HB355N Esquilo Bi
- IAR 317 Airfox
- Sikorsky S-75
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