SA 315B Lama
Summary
| Category | Military Helicopters |
| Origin country | 🇫🇷 France |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale |
| First flight | 17 March 1969 |
| Year introduced | 1971 |
| Number produced | 400 units |
Technical specifications
| Version: SA 315B Lama | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
| Operational range | 515 km (320 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 192 km/h (119 mph) |
| Wing area | 95.4 m² (1026.7 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 11.0 m (36.2 ft) |
| Height | 3.1 m (10.1 ft) |
| Length | 10.2 m (33.6 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 5,400 m (17,717 ft) |
| Empty weight | 1,021 kg (2,251 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 2,300 kg (5,071 lbs) |
| Climb rate | 5.5 m/s (18.0 ft/s) |
| Powerplant | 1 x Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft delivering 649 kW each |
Current operating countries
All operators
Armament
Bombs payload:
- Gun Pod 12.7-mm machine gun
- Rocket Pod 70-mm rockets
Description
The Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama is a French single-engined helicopter developed to meet a joint requirement from the Nepalese Army Air Service and the Indian Air Force for operations in hot and high conditions. To meet this requirement, Aérospatiale combined a reinforced Alouette II airframe with the Turbomeca Artouste turboshaft engine and dynamic systems of the Alouette III. The first SA 315B flew on 17 March 1969, received its airworthiness certificate on 30 September 1970, and entered operational service in July 1971. By December 1976, 68 operators had ordered 191 Lamas. License production was established in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and in Brazil by Helibras.
The helicopter is powered by a 649 kW (870 hp) Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine derated to 410 kW (550 hp). It features a main rotor diameter of 11.02 m, an empty weight of 1,021 kg, and a maximum gross weight of 2,300 kg. The SA 315B accommodates one pilot and four passengers, and it can carry external underslung loads of up to 1,135 kg. Modernized Indian variants are equipped with a Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), an Electronic Backup Control Box (EBCB), and updated cockpit electronics, including an electric-powered artificial horizon, directional gyro, flight monitoring system, and cockpit voice recorder.
The standard utility helicopter carries no internal or external armament. The specialized HAL Lancer combat variant is equipped with composite armor, toughened glass, and gun sights. It carries two jettisonable weapons pods, each containing one 12.7 mm machine gun and up to three 70 mm rockets.
The SA 315B is used for passenger transport, observation, photography, search and rescue, and agricultural tasks. On 21 June 1972, pilot Jean Boulet set an absolute helicopter altitude record of 12,442 m in an SA 315B. The Indian Army and Indian Air Force received their first HAL-assembled Cheetahs in December 1973, deploying them to the Siachen Glacier region and during conflicts with Pakistan. Nepal operated Cheetahs and utilized the armed HAL Lancer variant during the Nepalese Civil War. Helibras-produced Gavião models were exported to Bolivia. Other military operators of the type include Afghanistan, Argentina, Namibia, Pakistan, Togo, Angola, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Morocco, and Peru.
Main Variants
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SA 315B Lama: The base French utility helicopter powered by a Turbomeca Astazou IIIB engine derated to 410 kW.
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HB 315B Gavião: The Brazilian license-built version of the SA 315B assembled by Helibras.
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HAL Cheetah: The Indian license-built version of the SA 315B manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
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HAL Lancer: An armed light attack variant developed by HAL featuring composite armor, gun sights, and two weapons pods with 12.7 mm machine guns and 70 mm rockets.
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HAL Cheetal: A modernized Indian variant equipped with a Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 engine with FADEC, upgraded cockpit instruments, and increased range.