SA316 Alouette III

The Alouette III has its origins with an earlier helicopter design by French aircraft manufacturer Sud-Est, the SE 3120 Alouette, which was deemed to have been too complex to be a realistic commercial product. The earlier design was used as a starting point for a new rotorcraft harnessing the newly developed turboshaft engine. Joseph Szydlowski, the founder of Turbomeca, had successfully developed the Artouste, a 260 hp (190 kW) single shaft turbine engine derived from his Orédon turbine engine. An improved version of this engine was combined with the revised design to produce a new helicopter, initially known as the SE 3130 Alouette II. The first prototype SE 3160 performed its maiden flight on 28 February 1959, becoming more commonly known as the Alouette III. During 1961, the initial SE 3160 model of the type entered serial production, and on 15 December 1961, the Alouette III received its airworthiness certificate, clearing it to enter operational service. The first two customers of the rotorcraft were export sales. The SE 3160 model continued to be produced until 1968, when it was replaced by the refined SA 316B model, powered by a more powerful version of the Artouste engine, the Artouste IIIB. The later SA 319B model adopted the more fuel-efficient Turbomeca Astazou XIVB engine, extending its range and endurance. During 1979, the 1,437th Alouette III departed from the company's assembly line in Marignane, France, after which the main production line was closed down due to diminishing demand for the type. During 1985, the final French-produced Alouette III was delivered, with license production continuing.

Design

The Alouette III, designed as an enlarged derivative of the Alouette II, aimed for greater aerodynamic efficiency and enhanced external visibility for the pilot through a streamlined exterior. Several improvements over the Alouette II were incorporated to accommodate up to 7 seats or a pair of stretchers, with a design managed by French aerospace engineer René Mouille. Initial models such as the SE 3160 and SA 316B were powered by a de-rated Artouste IIIB engine, while the later SA 319B adopted the more fuel-efficient Turbomeca Astazou XIVB engine, extending its range and endurance. In military service, the Alouette III could be armed with various weapons for missions such as aerial observation and attack. Available armaments included anti-tank missiles, anti-shipping torpedoes, and a fixed cannon. One gunship version for the Rhodesian Air Force, the G-Car, was armed with two side-mounted Browning .303 or a single 7.62mm MAG machine guns, while the K-Car variant featured a 20 mm MG 151 cannon fitted inside the cabin, firing from the port side of the helicopter. In 1964, a prototype designated SA.3164 Alouette-Canon was modified as a gunship with a 20mm gun in the nose and external hardpoints for missiles on each side of the fuselage. The Alouette III has seen extensive operational use across various theaters and conflicts, serving with distinction in both military and civilian roles. In the Argentine Naval Aviation, a single SA316B was present on the ARA General Belgrano during its sinking in the Falklands War, while another played a crucial role in the Argentine Invasion of South Georgia. Portugal was notably the first to employ the Alouette III in combat during the Overseas Wars in Angola, Mozambique, and Portuguese Guinea, where it excelled in air assault and medevac operations; a special version, the helicanhão, was armed with a 20 mm autocannon for fire support. Rhodesia also became a prolific user, especially during the Rhodesian Bush War, with No. 7 Squadron operating a large fleet in their Fireforce doctrine, adapting the helicopters as gunships and troop transports. In India, the HAL Chetak variant has served extensively in training, transport, and light attack roles since the 1980s, even being deployed in Operation Khukri in Sierra Leone. Conversely, the French Navy's decision to replace its Alouette IIIs with rented SA 330 Pumas highlighted the limitations of a single-engine rotorcraft in the demanding maritime environment, reflecting the type's increasing unreliability and maintenance costs due to age.

Variants

Main Variants:

• SE 3160: The initial production model, sometimes retroactively designated SA 3160 or SA 316A, featuring a maximum weight of 2,100 kg (4,630 lb) and powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine.

• SA 316B: Similar to the SE 3160, but distinguished by strengthened main and tail rotors enhancing overall performance, with a maximum weight of 2,200 kg (4,850 lb).

• HAL Chetak: The Indian-built version of the SA 316B, manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

• IAR 316: The Romanian-built version of the SA 316B, produced under license by Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR).

• SA 319B: An improved variant developed from the SA 316B and powered by a Turbomeca Astazou XIVB turboshaft engine, with a maximum weight of 2,250 kg (4,960 lb).