Eurocopter Panther

Infobox Aircraft
name= AS565 Panther


caption= Israeli Air Force AS565 MA
type= Military utility and armed assault helicopter
manufacturer= Eurocopter (originally Aérospatiale)
designer=
first flight=
introduced=
retired=
status=
primary user= Brazil
more users= France
produced=
number built=
unit cost=
developed from = Eurocopter Dauphin
variants with their own articles=The Eurocopter AS565 Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter. The Panther is used for a wide range of military roles, including combat assault, fire support, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search & rescue, and MEDEVAC.

Variants

Variants of the Panther have included the following: ;SA 365 FK:Original designation of SA 365 K

;SA 365 K:The first version of the Panther, based on the AS365 N2. Offered with various armaments, including podded Giat M621 20mm cannon, 2.75in Forges de Zeebrugge (FZ) rockets (in pods of 19) or 68mm Thales Brandt rockets (in pods of 22).

;AS565 UA:Utility version of the AS365 N2

;AS565 UB:Utility version of the AS365 N3, currently in production. This version is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshafts, which are equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The main missions of this version are transport of 8 to 10 fully-equipped troops, casualty evacuation and logistic support.

;AS565 AA:Attack version of the AS365 N2.

;AS565 AB:Attack version of the AS365 N3.

;AS565 MA:Naval search & rescue version of the AS365 N2.

;AS565 MB:Naval search & rescue version of the AS365 N3, currently in production. The main missions of this version are anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue (SAR), troop transport, logistic support, and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC)/medical evacutation (MEDEVAC). This version is fitted with a quick-securing 'Harpoon' deck securing device that allows it to land on and take off from ships, whatever the relative wind direction. Offered with various armaments, including cabin-mounted 20mm cannon, [AS 15 TT] anti-shipping missile, Mark 46 torpedo and Whitehead A.244/S torpedo.

;AS565 SA:ASW version of the AS365 N2.

;AS565 SB:ASW version of the AS365 N3.

;AS565 CA:Anti-tank version of the AS365 N2, armed with HOT missiles.

;AS565 N3:Maritime patrol and surveillance version of the AS365 N3 for the Greek Air Force

;AS565 SC:Search and rescue version for Saudi Arabia.

;HM-1 Panteras:Brazilian Army designation of the AS565.

;Panther 800:Version offered for the US Army's Light Utility Helicopter program as a replacement for the UH-1 Huey, with 2 LHTEC T800 turboshafts. Test flown only. [ [http://www.voughtaircraft.com/heritage/products/html/panther800.html Vought Panther 800 LUH page] ]

Operators

* 6 AS565 MBs on order with the Bulgarian Navy which are to be used for maritime surveillance, search & rescue, anti-submarine and anti-surface operations, and which are expected to be delivered between 2010 and 2011. [ [http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=419 Eurocopter Press Release - Eurocopter Delivers 1st Cougar Helicopter To Bulgaria] ]

* 2 in current service, there's a good chance SEMAR officials will purchase another 6 panthers within two years.

* AS565 MB
* Korean Coast Guard

* Contracted by the Royal Navy for non-combat ship-to-shore transport and utility missions.

pecifications (Eurocopter AS365 MB Panther)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

crew=1 or 2 pilots
capacity=10 commandos
length main= 13.68 m
length alt= 45.88ft
span main= 11.94 m
span alt= 39.17ft
height main= 3.97 m
height alt=13.02ft
area main=
area alt=
empty weight main= 2,380 kg
empty weight alt=5,247 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=4,300 kg
max takeoff weight alt=9,480 lb

engine (prop)= Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshafts
number of props=2
power main= 635 kW
power alt=851 shp

max speed main= 306 km/h
max speed alt= 165 knots, 190 mph
combat radius main=
combat radius alt=
ferry range main=827 km
ferry range alt= 514 mi
ceiling main= 5,865 m
ceiling alt=19,242 ft
climb rate main= 8.9 m/s
climb rate alt=29 ft/s
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=

guns=Giat M621 20 mm cannon pods.
bombs=
rockets=68 mm and 70 mm unguided rockets.
missiles=

** Matra Mistral air-to-air missiles.
** AS 15 TT anti-surface missiles.
** HOT anti-tank missiles.
** Mk46 or Whitehead A.244/S anti-submarine warfare torpedoes.
hardpoints=
hardpoint capacity= to specify capacity of hardpoints.

References

External links

* [http://www.eurocopter.com/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_contenu.php?mode=&noeu_id=93&lang=EN Eurocopter Company Site - AS 565UB Panther]
* [http://www.eurocopter.com/site/FO/scripts/siteFO_contenu.php?mode=&noeu_id=98&lang=EN Eurocopter Company Site - AS 565MB Panther]

ee also

aircontent

related=
* Eurocopter Dauphin

similar aircraft=
* Agusta A109
* Sikorsky S-70

sequence=

lists=
* List of helicopters

see also=