H125M / AS550 Fennec

The Eurocopter AS550 and AS555 Fennec are lightweight, multipurpose military helicopters developed by the Eurocopter Group, now known as Airbus Helicopters. These helicopters are based on the AS350 Ecureuil and AS355 Ecureuil 2 series. From 1990 onwards, military variants of the Écureuil were marketed under the Fennec designation as a result of the Vienna Treaty. The Fennec's design emphasizes a lightweight and compact structure, making it suitable for deployment on naval vessels such as destroyers or aircraft carriers, allowing for deployment from a variety of platforms.

Design

The aircraft is available in single-engine and dual-engine variants to meet varied operational requirements. The single-engine variant is optimized for simplicity, reliability, and reduced maintenance, while the dual-engine variant offers increased power and redundancy. The armed versions of both variants are adaptable, able to be outfitted with coaxial weapons, rockets, torpedoes, and other munitions. Specifically, the AS555 AN Fennec 2 can be fitted with a 20 mm cannon, while the AS555 AR Fennec 2 is armed with cannon and rockets. The AS550 C2 and C3 are armed versions based on the AS350 B2 and AS350 B3, respectively, with the specifications for the AS550 C3 indicating a provision for armament.

Operational History

The French Air Force received AS555 helicopters between February 1988 and March 1994, with 40 remaining operational as of 2018. The ALAT (French Army Light Aviation) received 17 AS555 Fennecs in January 1990, assigning them to the 6th Squadron of Utility Helicopters at the Le Luc Training School for training and liaison missions. The Royal Danish Air Force acquired twelve AS550 C2 helicopters in 1987, receiving the first deliveries in August 1990; geopolitical shifts led to their repurposing for observation and light transport. Three Danish Fennecs were deployed to Macedonia during Operation Amber Fox in 2002, and deployments to Iraq followed in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2008. The Argentine Navy acquired AS555 Fennec helicopters after the Falklands War due to restrictions on acquiring Westland Sea Lynx helicopters, with the first four AS555-SN units arriving in 1996. In 2011, a Royal Malaysian Navy Fennec helicopter supported the rescue of a hijacked chemical tanker from Somali pirates by providing reconnaissance and aerial gunfire.

Variants

Main Variants:

• AS550 C2 Fennec – An armed version based on the AS350 B2.

• AS550 U2 Fennec – An unarmed version based on the AS350 B2.

• AS550 C3 Fennec – An armed version based on the AS350 B3.

• AS555 AF Fennec 2 – An armed version based on the AS355 N.

• AS555 AN Fennec 2 – An armed military version, which can be fitted with a 20 mm cannon.

• AS555 AR Fennec 2 – An armed version fitted with cannon and rockets.