The Airbus Helicopters H225M (formerly Eurocopter EC725 Caracal), is a long-range tactical transport military helicopter developed from the Airbus Helicopters AS532 Cougar for military use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 28 seated troops along with two crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for troop transport, casualty evacuation, and combat search and rescue duties, and is similar to the civilian H225 Super Puma.
Development
The EC725 was developed to meet a French Air Force requirement for a specialist helicopter for Combat Search and Rescue operations. The AS 532 A2 Cougar model was examined and rejected for this purpose following extensive trials between 1996 and 1999. The primary improvements desired by the French Air Force were more powerful engines, greater flight endurance and improved combat durability.Nelms, Douglas W. "Helicopter Intellect." Rotor & Wing, 1 September 2004. Eurocopter opted to pursue development of a more ambitious derivative of the AS 532 to meet this need, which was later designated as the EC725. The EC725 was initially named Cougar Mk II+ for treaty reasons. The new aircraft also featured new mission equipment and autonomous avionics, along with other changes to meet the French specification.
On 27 November 2000, the first EC725 prototype performed its maiden flight at Marignane, and on 15 January 2001, the first public presentation of the new helicopter took place."French Stimulus: 5 More EC725 Helicopters." Defense Industry Daily, 4 February 2010. In concurrent development of the military-orientated EC725, Eurocopter also developed a civil-orientated counterpart, which was designated as the EC225. The French Air Force subsequently ordered an initial six EC725s to perform the Combat Search & Rescue mission, the first of these was delivered in February 2005. A follow-on order for eight more EC725s was placed for the French Armed Forces in November 2002; a total fleet of 20 EC725s in French service was envisioned in 2004.
By 2015, the EC725, re-designated as the H225M, was being manufactured on two separate production lines in France and Brazil. In July 2015, Airbus Helicopters announced that it was considering setting up a third assembly line in India if the firm was successful at winning an Indian tender for naval helicopters.Perry, Dominic. "Airbus Helicopters may build fourth H225M assembly line." Flight International, 10 July 2015.
Design The EC725 is based on the Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar, improving upon the design with a five-blade composite main rotor incorporating a new airfoil shape to reduce vibration levels. The helicopter can be fitted with removable armour plating to protect the troops and is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A4 turboshaft engines mounted over the cabin, which feature a dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. They can be fitted with an anti-icing system to enable the aircraft to operate in very cold climates. Other improvements include a reinforced main rotor gearbox and an all glass cockpit. The cockpit is equipped with an integrated display system featuring a digital map and active-matrix liquid-crystal display.
The EC725 can be equipped with various military equipment and armaments, such as a pair of 7.62 mm FN MAG machine guns mounted within forward left and right windows, or a pair of 68 mm (2.75") Thales Brandt or Forges de Zeebrugge side-mounted rocket launchers, each with 19 rockets, or the MU90 Impact aerial-launched torpedo. Furthermore, a combination of gun pods, rocket pods and Hellfire air-to-surface missiles can be mounted externally via the HForce Generic Weapon System (GWS) and targeted with Thales Scorpion helmet-mounted sight display (HMSD) and Wescam electro-optical sensor. The Exocet anti-ship missile has also been integrated upon Brazilian Navy EC725s.Perry, Dominic. "Helibras continues Exocet integration on H225M." Flight International, 4 December 2015. Brazilian EC725s are equipped with a Helibras-built countermeasures suite, which includes chaff and flares to confuse radar and heat-guided missiles respectively;"Brazilian EC725 integrated with self-protection system." Shepard Media, 17 September 2013. Thales has also produced self-protection systems to equip French EC725s."Thales to provide self-protection systems for French forces' EC725 Caracal." Thales Group, 8 February 2010.
Eurocopter developed four primary cabin configurations for the type. The Troop Transport version contains a seating arrangement for a maximum of 29 troops, in addition to the crew. A dedicated VIP transport version is designed to contain between 8 and 12 passengers. The Casualty Evacuation version can carry up to 12 stretchers along with a total of four seated medical staff. The Combat SAR configuration is fully equipped to perform search and rescue duties in a combat environment. According to Airbus Helicopters, the H225M is capable of undertaking various mission roles including combat search and rescue, long-range tactical transport, aeromedical transport, logistic support and shipboard maritime operations.Parameswaran, Prashanth. "Thailand's Air Force Gets a Boost with New Helicopters." The Diplomat, 27 August 2015. The helicopter has day and night time search and rescue capabilities by way of a search radar and forward-looking infrared (FLIR); these allow the EC725 to be flown under visual meteorological and instrument flight rules conditions.Glowacki, Bartosz. "Poland begins evaluation tests of H225M Caracal." Flight International, 15 May 2015.
Operational history
Less than six weeks after formally entering service, three French Air Force EC725s were dispatched to Cyprus to evacuate civilians from Lebanon during Opération Baliste in the summer of 2006."‘Baliste’ Operation." ROTOR Online, January 2006. In December 2006, the French Air Force began deploying EC725s to the war in Afghanistan to support the coalition forces operating in region. EC725s in the Afghan theatre were based at Kabul International Airport.Hoyle, Craig. "VIDEO: French air force EC725 helicopters complete Afghan deployment." Flight International, 19 September 2007."Afghanistan: mission accomplished." ROTOR Online, February 2008. In 2013, French EC725s received several upgrades including a new SAGEM Forward looking infrared sensor, new door-mounted Nexter-built machine guns, FADEC changes for low temperature operations, and reduced maintenance requirements.Pocock, Chris. "French Squadron Uses EC725 Helicopters to “Fight and Rescue." AIN Online, 18 June 2013.
In 2008, the Brazilian Government announced that the Helibras factory in Itajubá, Minas Gerais, would produce an initial 50 EC725s as part of a $1 billion order for its Naval Aviation, the Air Force (FAB) and Army Aviation. Retrieved on 11 July 2009."Brazil's $1B+ Order for EC725 Cougar Helicopters." Defense Industry Daily, 5 January 2012."Continued delivery of the H225M for the Brazilian armed forces despite announcement of 2 year delay." defesanet, 3 July 2015.
By December 2010, three helicopters were undergoing flight tests prior to entering military service. In 2012, Helibras begin assembly of the rest of the order. In April 2014, Helibras and MBDA were in the process of integrating the anti-ship Exocet missile, which are 50%-built in Brazil."Helibras Integrating Exocet Onto EC725 Helicopter." Aviation Week, 29 April 2014. On 19 June 2014, the Brazilian Navy formally accepted delivery of the first EC725.Perry, Dominic. "Airbus Helicopters hands over first EC725 fully assembled in Brazil." Flight International, 19 June 2014. By July 2015, the Brazilian armed forces had taken delivery of 16 H225Ms; deliveries were reported at the time to continue until 2019. By 1 October 2015, Brazil's H225M fleet had attained 10,000 flight hours."Brazilian Armed Forces Exceed 10,000 Flight Hours with H225M." Airbus Helicopters, 1 October 2015. In December 2015, Helibras delivered the first pair of H225Ms to be delivered to a full operational capability (FOC) standard to the Brazilian military.Dominic, Perry. "Brazilian army and air force take first FOC-standard H225Ms." Flight International, 22 December 2015.
In March 2009, Mexico became the second export customer for the type when the Secretariat of National Defense placed an order for six armed EC725s for civil security and transport missions; a second batch of six was ordered in September 2010."Mexico Orders Eurocopter's EC725 Helicopters." Defense Industry Daily, 20 September 2010. On 30 April 2015, a Mexican Air Force EC725 made an emergency landing after the tail rotor was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing six soldiers and wounding 12, while engaged in Operation Jalisco, a coordinated multi-force action to combat the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in both Jalisco and Colima."7 dead, 19 wounded, 19 arrested in Jalisco." Mexico News Daily, 2 May 2015. In May 2015, Mexico was reportedly in the process of negotiating the purchase of an additional 50 H225Ms."Mexico may buy 50 Airbus military helicopters -source." Reuters, 27 May 2015.
In April 2009, Malaysia placed an order for 12 EC725s in a Search and Rescue configuration to replace the ageing Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King fleet."Malaysia Ordering EC725 SAR Helicopters." Defense Industry Daily, 22 April 2009. In 2014, following Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 going missing, the Royal Malaysian Air Force deployed their EC725s was deployed to search the plane along C-130s around the South China Sea and Strait of Malacca. Following the 2015 Sabah earthquake, several Royal Malaysia Air Force EC725s were despatched to Laban Rata in Mount Kinabalu to rescue stranded climbers and retrieve the deceased.
In November 2014, the Indonesian Air Force took delivery of the first of six EC725s for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations."Indonesia receives first CSAR dedicated EC725 helicopter." helipress.it, 10 November 2014. Indonesian Aerospace (PT. Dirgantara Indonesia/PTDI) performs the maintenance, repair and overhaul activities upon Indonesia's EC725 fleet; the firm also supply the tail booms and airframe assemblies for EC225s and EC725s worldwide, the first locally assembled main fuselage assembly was delivered in November 2013."Indonesia delivers first locally produced main fuselage assembly Eurocopter EC725 and EC225." Australian Aviation, 28 November 2013.
On 21 April 2015, Poland announced an order for 50 H225M units to replace their tri-service fleet of Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-14. If signed, the contract would consist of 16 transport, 13 combat search and rescue, eight anti-submarine warfare, eight special forces and five medical evacuation helicopters to be assembled in Poland.Warsaw details reasons behind H225M selection. flightglobal.com, 22 April 2015 In May 2015, the H225M passed state trials held in 33rd Air Base over the course of two weeks.Larrinaga, Nicholas de. "H225M Caracal passes Polish helicopter trials". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, 28 May 2015. In October 2015, Poland's armament inspectorate reported that the total procurement cost would be roughly PLN13.3 billion ($3.5 billion), 40 per cent of which being for training and logistical support.Glowacki, Bartosz. "Poland to launch attack helicopter talks with bidders." Flight International, 7 October 2015. However, in October 2016, Poland dropped out of offset negotiations prior to concluding the deal."Poland drops Caracal Helicopter talks with Airbus" Defense News, 5 October 2016. According to former President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski, the H225M purchase had been part of a gentlemen's agreement under which France had cancelled an arranged sale of two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships to Russia.Fryer-Biggs, Zachary. "Former Polish president says failed helicopter deal supposed to 'make up' for Mistrals." IHS Jane's Defence Industry, 18 October 2016.