Thailand Buys 5 EC645 for Navy and 2 EC725 for Air Force

Thailand’s navy and air force will acquire two Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft types: the light-utility EC645 T2 and the 11-ton-class EC725.
The Royal Thai Navy signed for five EC645 T2s to be deployed on transport duties and other missions, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016. Its purchase represents the first export order of this militarized version of the EC145 T2
The Royal Thai Air Force’s reorder of Airbus Helicopters’ EC725, the military service is obtaining two EC725 tactical transport rotorcraft for SAR/CSAR missions, operating from Wing 2 at Lop Buri Air Base. These aircraft will be provided in 2017, joining the four previously-ordered EC725s booked in 2012 for deliveries from 2015.
EC725 is currently operated by the military forces of France, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
airbus

Brazilian Navy signs Exocet missile contract

The Brazilian Navy has signed a contract with Brazilian Aerospace Avibras to develop a new version of the Exocet AM39 B2 air-to-surface missile produced by European missile house MBDA.
The weapon is to be used on the Eurocopter EC725 that is being produced for the Brazilian Navy by Helibrás in Sao Paulo.
The AM39 will have about 50% domestic content with a Brazilian motor.
janes

AgustaWestland nears certification for military AW149

AgustaWestland hopes it will clinch military certification of its in-development AW149 helicopter in a baseline configuration by year-end.
The new 8t-class medium-twin is being developed as a variant of the civil AW189, which is due to achieve EASA approval in the coming weeks.
However, the AW149 is yet to find a customer. Italy's air force was initially considered to be a likely buyer to fulfil a search and rescue requirement, but it instead acquired the lighter AW139M.
Nonetheless, AgustaWestland believes the AW149 will prove popular with armed forces looking for an alternative to Sikorsky's ubiquitous UH-60 Black Hawk.
The earliest test of its competitiveness against the Sikorsky aircraft, and Eurocopter's EC725, will come in Poland, which has a tri-service requirement for 70 helicopters. Warsaw is yet to issue a request for proposals for the contest.
flightglobal

El noveno helicóptero EC725 para Brasil inicia los vuelos de pruebas

La novena unidad de los 50 helicópteros EC725 encargados por las Fuerzas Armadas de Brasil ya está en fase de pruebas de vuelo en la fábrica de Helibras. Este es el primer EC725 que se recibirá en instalaciones desarrolladas por la industria de Brasil.
El EC725 número nueve estará destinado al Ejército de Brasil.
Marina, Ejército y Fuerza Aérea recibirán 16 ejemplares del EC725 y el Grupo de Transporte Especial (GTE), unidad de la FAB responsable por transporte presidencial y de autoridades del Gobierno, va a operar dos ejemplares especialmente configurados para la versión VIP.
infodefensa

La Fuerza Aérea de Venezuela negocia la compra de doce helicópteros Eurocopter Cougar

El presidente de Venezuela anunció que para el fortalecimiento de la Fuerza Aérea Venezolana, está previsto adquirir doce helicópteros Cougar.
No se ha especificado la variante contemplada en la negociación; sin embargo, desde finales de 2007, cuando la FAV anunció que tenía proyectado adquirir un nuevo lote de helicópteros Cougar, trascendió que se trataba de la última versión EC725, o Súper Cougar.
La FAV es un antiguo operario de la familia Super Puma/Cougar. En 1988, adquirió ocho AS332B1 Super Puma, y, diez años más tarde, ocho Cougar: seis AS532AC y dos AS532UL. Los AS332B1/AS532AC operan con el Grupo Aéreo de Operaciones Especiales Nº 10, mientras que los AS532UL están asignados al Grupo Aéreo Presidencial Nº 4.
infodefensa

Malaysia has No Plan To Dispose Of Nuri Helicopters

The Malaysian Armed Forces is not planning to dispose of the 30 aging Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri helicopters which have served the Royal Air Force Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) for over 50 years.

Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said it would be more economical and practical to refurbish the United States-made helicopters to assist the recently acquired EC725 Cougar helicopters.

He said Nuri services were still needed by the RMAF, particularly in utility tasks and aid missions despite taking delivery of 12 French-made EC725 Cougar helicopters by early next year.

defense-studies

Eurocopter delivers the first two Royal Malaysian Air Force EC725

The first two of 12 EC725s ordered by the Royal Malaysian Air Force were delivered to the customer by Eurocopter on Dec. 3.

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eurocopter

Eurocopter's Brazilian subsidiary opens EC725 assembly line

Helibras, Eurocopter's Brazilian subsidiary, has officially inaugurated its Itajubá final assembly line for the production of EC725s destined for the Brazilian armed forces.

Brazil has 50 of the type on order, to be delivered to its army, navy and air force. Four aircraft have been delivered so far - one to each service and a fourth as a VIP government transport - with a further three to be handed over by the end of this year.

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Thailand Orders Four Eurocopter EC725 Helicopters

A contract was signed today between Eurocopter and the Royal Thai Air Force for the supply of four EC725 helicopters, configured for search and rescue missions.

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Brasil realiza pruebas de vuelo de los helicópteros Cougar / Brazil’s armed forces test-fly EC725

Una tripulación brasileña ha probado los primeros tres Eurocopter EC725 Cougar de un total de un pedido de 50 unidades, entregados por Eurocopter a su filial brasileña Helibras.
flightglobal
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A Brazilian armed forces test crew has flown the first three of 50 ordered Eurocopter EC725 Cougar helicopters. Delivered in standard configuration to Eurocopter's Brazilian subsidiary Helibras on 20 December
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