View source for Eurocopter AS532 Cougar

{{Short description|Utility helicopter}}
{{Distinguish|Cougar Helicopters}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
<!--This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout.-->
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = AS532 Cougar<br>H215M
| image = File:Eurocopter AS-532UL Cougar, France - Army (cropped).jpg
| caption = Eurocopter AS532 of the [[French Army]]
| type = Medium [[utility helicopter|utility]] [[military helicopter]]
| national_origin = France
| manufacturer = [[Aérospatiale]]<br>[[Eurocopter]]<br>[[Airbus Helicopters]]
| designer = 
| first_flight = September 1977
| introduction = 1978
| retired = 
| status = In service
| primary_user = [[French Air and Space Force]]
| more_users = [[Bulgarian Air Force]]<br>[[Turkish Air Force]]<br>[[Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force]]<br>[[Romanian Naval Forces]]
| produced = 1977–present
| number_built = 
| developed_from = [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma]]
| variants = [[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma]]
| developed_into = [[Eurocopter EC725]]
}}

The ''' Airbus Helicopters H215M''' (formerly''' Eurocopter AS532 Cougar''') is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by [[Eurocopter]]. The AS532 is a development and upgrade of the [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma]] in its militarized form. Its civilian counterpart is the [[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma]] (Later called the '''Airbus Helicopters H215''', note the lack of M suffix). The AS532 has been further developed as the [[Eurocopter EC725]].

==Design and development==
The AS332 Super Puma, designed as a growth version to replace the SA 330 Puma, first flew in September 1977. It was fitted with two 1,330&nbsp;kW [[Turbomeca Makila|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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/ch149/default_e.asp|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20130621190251/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/error/404.asp?404;http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/ch149/default_e.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 June 2013|title=Canadian Air Force – CH-149 Cormorant Purchase and operation details|access-date=1 June 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2012 France began a €288.8m project (€11.1m/unit) to upgrade 23 Army Cougars and 3 for the Air Force to address obsolescence issues and to deliver similar avionics to their EC225 and EC725 helicopters.<ref name=Francebudget2012>{{Cite web | url=http://www.senat.fr/rap/a12-150-8/a12-150-815.html#toc290 | title=Projet de loi de finances pour 2013 : Défense : équipement des forces | language=fr | publisher=Senate of France | date=22 November 2012 | access-date=7 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326234111/http://www.senat.fr/rap/a12-150-8/a12-150-815.html#toc290 | archive-date=26 March 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Variants==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}

[[File:Ecuadorian AS 532 cougar (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|An [[Ecuadorian Army]] Cougar ]]

;AS532 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.<ref name = "janes 487">Endres and Gething 2005, p. 487.</ref>

;AS532 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 warfare|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.<ref name = "janes 487"/>

;AS535
:It was variant offered to cover the [[combat search and rescue]] (CSAR or ''RESCO'' in French) needs of the French Army. The military preferred to acquire the improved version of the aircraft, the [[Eurocopter EC725]] instead to fulfill this gap.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goddard|first=Jacqueline|date=2019-05-22|title=Explore Cougar Helicopters with Skycore Aviation - Skycore Aviation %|url=https://www.skycoreaviation.com/airbus-helicopters/explore-cougar-helicopters-with-skycore-aviation/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Skycore Aviation|language=en}}</ref>

;HM-3
:[[Brazilian Army]] designation for the AS532M1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators==
[[File:Chilean Navy SH-32 Super Puma (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|A Chilean Navy AS532]]


;{{ALB}}
*[[Albanian Air Force]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2019">{{cite web|url =https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-2019-world-air-forces-directory-454126/|title =World Air Forces 2019|publisher =Flightglobal Insight|year =2019|access-date =5 January 2019|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190123181847/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-2019-world-air-forces-directory-454126/|archive-date =23 January 2019|url-status =live}}</ref>
;{{BRA}}
*[[Brazilian Army]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{BUL}}
* [[Bulgarian Air Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{CHI}}
* [[Chilean Army]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
* [[Chilean Navy]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{Flag|Ecuador}}
* [[Ecuadorian Army]]
;{{FRA}}
* [[French Army]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
[[File:Eurocopter Cougar - sling load training with Bulgarian forces -1.jpg|right|thumb|Bulgarian Eurocopter Cougar]]
[[File:Cougar - RIAT 2005 (out cropped).jpg|thumb|right|A French Army AS532 Cougar]]
;{{GER}}
* [[German Air Force]]<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202352.html|title=World's Air Forces 2004|page=59|publisher=flightglobal.com|work=Flight International|access-date=12 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306081554/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202352.html|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> 
;{{flagcountry|Kurdistan}}
* [[CTG Kurdistan|Kurdistan Counter Terrorism Group (CTG)]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Talabani |first=Bafel |date=8 July 2023 |title=ئەمڕۆ بە شانازییەوە بەشداریمان لە نمایشی هێزەكانی دژەتیرۆر كرد، هێزێك كە ئامانجەكەی تەنیا و تەنیا پاراستنی كوردستان و خەڵكە خۆشەویستەكەیەتی. |url=https://x.com/Bafeltalabani/status/1677762084560330753 |access-date=31 August 2025 |website=X.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Orbats |url=https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/kurdistan/kurdistan-counter-terrorism-units |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=www.scramble.nl}}</ref>
;{{NLD}}
* [[Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{ROU}}
*[[Romanian Naval Forces]]<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuSt4G1mMN0 |title=Emisiunea TV "Scutul Dobrogei" - 31 decembrie 2023 |date=31 December 2023 |language=ro |publisher=[[Romanian Naval Forces|Fortele Navale Române]] |time=6:00 |via=[[YouTube]]}}
[https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-26950394-fabrica-airbus-tara-romania-165-mil-euro-doua-elicoptere-antinava-care-vor-fabricate-insa-franta-rachete-surpriza-alte-detalii-nestiute-pana-acum-din-program.htm Hotnews  -  On the 6th of March 2024 the acquisition of 2 H215M Anti-Naval helicopters for the sum of 165 million EUR was confirmed]</ref>
;{{KSA}}
*[[Royal Saudi Air Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
*[[Royal Saudi Navy]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{SLO}}
* [[Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence|Slovenian Air Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{ESP}}
* [[Spanish Army]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{SUI}}
* [[Swiss Air Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{TUR}}
[[File:Slovenian Air Force AS532 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Eurocopter Cougar of the [[Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence|Slovenian Air Force]].]]
* [[Turkish Air Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
* [[Turkish Army]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{UZB}}
*[[Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces|Uzbekistan Air Force]]<ref name=" World Air Forces 2019"/>
;{{VEN}}
*[[Venezuelan Air Force]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Venezuela orders eight AS532 Cougars | website=HeliHub.com | date=7 February 2011 | url=https://www.helihub.com/2011/02/07/venezuela-orders-eight-as532-cougars/ | access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref>

===Former operator===
;{{ZIM}}
*[[Air Force of Zimbabwe]]<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202393.html|title=World's Air Forces 2004|page=100|publisher=flightglobal.com|work=Flight International|access-date=12 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201195330/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202393.html|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Accidents==

* On 4 June 1997, 11 military personnel were killed in [[Turkey]] when a Cougar helicopter was shot down with a [[9K32 Strela-2]] during an operation against the PKK near the Zap region, near Turkey's border with Iraq.
* On 29 April 2003, 4 military personnel were killed when a Cougar helicopter crashed into power lines during a training flight, in [[Isparta]] Turkey.
*On 25 July 2012, a Cougar helicopter during test flight has crashed in Southeastern [[France]] in a region called [[Verdon Gorge]]. The aircraft was bordered with test pilots and engineers of the manufacturer. The tragic incident killed 6 company personnel. The aircraft crashed was destined to the [[Albanian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-07-25|title=France helicopter crash kills six|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18989823|access-date=2021-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-07-25|title=UPDATE 1-Six dead in helicopter crash in French Alps-police|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/france-crash-idUSL6E8IPNNU20120725|access-date=2021-04-10}}</ref> 
* On 1 June 2017, 13 military personnel were killed in [[Turkey]] when [[:tr:2017 Türk Hava Kuvvetleri Eurocopter Cougar kazası|a Cougar helicopter crashed]] into power lines shortly after take-off from a base near Turkey's border with Iraq.<ref>[[:tr:2017 Uludere Eurocopter Cougar Kazası|Uludere Cougar Kazası (in Turkish)]].</ref><ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/13-dead-in-turkish-military-helicopter-crash/a-39073073 13 dead in Turkish military helicopter crash]. Deutsche Welle, 12 May 2017</ref>
* On 25 November 2019, 13 French military personnel were killed in northern [[Mali]] when a [[Eurocopter Tiger]] helicopter collided with a Eurocopter AS532 Cougar.<ref name="Mali">{{Cite web|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/international/mali-treize-militaires-francais-tues-dans-l-accident-de-deux-helicopteres-lors-d-une-operation-de-1574758151|title=Mali : treize militaires français tués dans l'accident de deux hélicoptères lors d'une opération de combat|date=2019-11-26|website=France Bleu|language=fr|access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50557511|title=French troops killed in helicopter crash in Mali|date=2019-11-26|access-date=2019-11-26|language=en-GB}}</ref>
*On 15 April 2020, a Cougar helicopter operated by the [[French Army]] crashed during a training exercise. The crash caused the death of 2 military personnel on board and injured other 5.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-16|title=French Army as532 Cougar crash during training|url=https://www.helicopter-industry.com/2020/04/16/french-army-as532-cougar-crash-during-training/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Helicopter Industry|language=en-US|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410001029/https://www.helicopter-industry.com/2020/04/16/french-army-as532-cougar-crash-during-training/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=French army helicopter crash kills two soldiers, injures five|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/24820-french-army-helicopter-crash-kills-two-soldiers-injures-five|access-date=2021-04-10|website=www.aerotime.aero|language=en|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410001033/https://www.aerotime.aero/24820-french-army-helicopter-crash-kills-two-soldiers-injures-five|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On 4 March 2021 a [[2021 Turkish Air Force Eurocopter AS532 Cougar crash|Cougar helicopter crashed]] during severe weather conditions in eastern Turkey, killing 11 military personnel on board and injuring two others. The victims included Lt. Gen. [[Osman Erbaş|Osman Erbas]], a highly ranked army corps commander. Nine of the victims died at the crash site, while two died of their injuries in hospital.<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/11-killed-in-army-helicopter-crash-in-eastern-turkey/ 11 killed in army helicopter crash in eastern Turkey]. Canada CTV News, March 4, 2021</ref>

==Specifications (AS532 UB)==
[[File:Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma Line Drawing.svg|right|400px|Orthographically projected diagram of the AS332 Super Puma]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory<ref name = "brasseys1999">{{cite book |editor-last=Taylor|editor-first=M J H  | title = Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Edition | year = 1999 | publisher = Brassey's | isbn = 1-85753-245-7 }}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|capacity=20 troops / {{cvt|4650|kg|0}} payload
|length m=15.53
|length note=
|height m=4.92
|height note=
|airfoil=<!--'''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA ]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight kg=4350
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=9000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Turbomeca Makila 1A1]]
|eng1 type=[[turboshaft]] engines
|eng1 kw=1357
|eng1 note=

|rot number=1
|rot dia m=15.6
|rot area sqm=206
|rot area note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=249
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=239
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=278
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=573
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=3450
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=7.2
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma]]
* [[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma]]
* [[Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma]]
* [[Eurocopter EC725]]
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
* [[Mil Mi-38]]
* [[Mil Mi-17]]
* [[NHIndustries NH90]]
* [[Sikorsky S-92]]
* [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk]]
|lists=
* [[List of rotorcraft]]
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Endres, Günter G. and Michael J. Gething. ''Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide''. HarperCollins UK, 2005. {{ISBN|0-00718-332-1}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Airbus Helicopters H215M Cougar}}
* [http://www.airbushelicopters.com/website/en/ref/AS532-ALe_49.html Airbus Helicopters AS532 ALe page]
* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/cougar/ AS 532 U2/A2 Cougar Helicopter, Search and Rescue Variant Details]

{{Puma family}}
{{Eurocopter}}
{{Airbus aircraft}}
{{CAE aircraft designations}}
{{Spanish helicopters}}

[[Category:Aerial firefighting helicopters]]
[[Category:Aérospatiale aircraft|Cougar]]
[[Category:Airbus Helicopters aircraft]]
[[Category:1970s French military utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Military helicopters]]
[[Category:1970s French helicopters]]
[[Category:Twin-turbine helicopters]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1977]]