Eurocopter AS.532 Cougar U2

History

The AS532 Cougar is a twin engine transport helicopter and a military development of the AS332 Super Puma. [See also wikipedia and Eurocopter for more information].
The Eurocopter EC725 is a further development of the AS532.

The AS332, an enlarged version of the SA330 Puma, made its maiden flight in September 1977. It differed from the Puma in having an enlarged fuselage, more powerful Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines rated 1330 kW each; composite rotor blades; improved and  strengthened undercarriage and a modified tail fin.

In 1990 a change was applied in the type designation of the Eurocopter products and so the military version of the AS332 Super Puma received the designation AS532 Cougar, which was equipped with two Turbomeca Makila 1A2 engines rated 1380 kW each.

Versions

AS532 UL/AL:

An extended version capable of carrying 29 passengers of six stretchers plus ten passengers. The AL version is armed with 20 mm guns in a pod, rockets or machine guns.

AS532 SC:

A naval version equipped for ASUW. It carries AM 39 Exocet missiles plus ASW equipment such as sonar and torpedoes. It is used for patrol and SAR duties. The AS532 SC can also be equipped with ASIST fore deck landings.

AS532 A2/U2:

a SAR and Utility army version.

At the end of October 1993 Eurocopter received a Dutch order for the delivery of seventeen AS532-U2 Cougars. These were meant to be used as medium transport helicopter for the newly formed airmobile force of the Dutch army.
Part of the deal was that a number of the Alouette III helicopters were handed over to Eurocopter.
Some Cougars are equipped with systems making them capable to make decklandings aboard naval vessels. These Cougars are also equipped with inflatable floats.

To improve teh safety the Dutch Cougars are equipped with HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System).
Further they are equipped with ISPS (Integrated Self Protection System) consisting of MAWS (Missile Approach Warning System), RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) and ACMS (Advanced Counter Measures Set). The Cougar also carries flares, linked to MAWS, and chaff, linked to MWR.

Depending on the type of mission the crew can be extended with a so called 'doorgunner'. Both the loadmaster and the doorgunner use the FN MAG 7.62 mm machine guns.

Together with the Chinook, the Cougar is also used for fire fighting and can carry a so called bambi-bucket (fire-bucket). These buckets contains about 2500 liter water.

Detachments

In 2001 and 2002 five aircraft were sent to Bosnia because of Stabilisation Force (SFOR); main task were medevac for the IRT, (Incident Response Team). A hoist was added to the Cougar and a medic was added to the crew.

In 2004 the Cougar was sent to Iraq to succeed the Chinook. Task was mainly transport and MEDEVAC for the Dutch Battle Group.
Cougars were also use in Afghanistan to support the Task Force Uruzgan (TFU).

[Source: status of the AS532 Cougar at Scramble.nl ]

1/72nd Scale

Note: All kits have to be extended aft the fuselage

• Heller
  • Kit 80365: Aerospatiale AS532 Cougar
  • Kit 80366: Aerospatiale AS.532 U2 Cougar (Super Puma)
• Revell
  • Kit 04472: Aerospatiale AS532 Cougar
• Italeri
  • Kit 096 / 1325: Aerospatiale AS532 Cougar

A model of an Eurocopter Cougar, built by Adri Kleijn.

Modelling add-on

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Decals

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1/48th Scale

Kits

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Modelling add-on

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Decals

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Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Delivery scheme ofEurocoper AS532 U2.
Shown is the version without the floats an the smaller sponsons.

Eurocoper AS532 U2.
Shown is the version without the floats an the smaller sponsons.
Some antennas have been added.

Current overall grey colour scheme applied to (most) of the active Eurocopter AS532 U2.
Shown is the version without the floats an the smaller sponsons.
Note that not all aircraft have this colour scheme applied.

Delivery scheme of Eurocopter AS532 U2.
Shown is the version with the floats and large sponsons.

Eurocopter AS532 U2.
Shown is the version with the floats and large sponsons.
Some antennas were added.

Current overall grey colour scheme applied to (most) of the active Eurocopter AS532 U2.
Shown is the version with the floats and large sponsons.

Literature.

Websites.

• Wikipedia UK: Eurocopter AS532
• MilitaryFactory
• RotorHead