SA340 Gazelle

The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat French light observation, transport, and attack helicopter initially developed by Sud Aviation and produced jointly with Westland Aircraft. Entering operational service in 1971, the helicopter was operated by all branches of the British and French armed forces, as well as numerous export customers. It is recognized as the first production helicopter to feature a fenestron shrouded tail rotor and the first adapted for single-pilot operations under instrument flight rules.

Development

Sud Aviation began designing the Gazelle in 1966 to meet a French Army requirement for a lightweight observation helicopter to succeed the Alouette II and Alouette III. In February 1967, France and the United Kingdom signed a joint production agreement giving Westland Aircraft a 65 percent manufacturing work share for British military orders. The SA 340 prototype made its maiden flight on 7 April 1967 using a conventional tail rotor, which was replaced by a fenestron tail on the second prototype in early 1968. Licensed production was later established with SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt. Total production reached 1,560 units in France and Britain before manufacturing ended in 1996.

Design

The Gazelle features an articulated main rotor system with composite fiberglass blades and is powered by a single Turbomeca Astazou turboshaft engine. Anti-torque control is provided by a fenestron, a shrouded multi-blade fan housed within the vertical tail structure. Flight controls use hydraulic servo boosters and lack a conventional throttle or trimming system, relying on a Honeywell duplex autopilot for single-pilot instrument flight operations. Cabin capacity accommodates up to five personnel or 1,100 pounds of internal freight, supplemented by an external cargo hook rated for 1,320 pounds.

Armament

Anti-tank variants carry up to four or six Euromissile HOT wire-guided missiles supported by stabilized optical sights or the Viviane thermal imagery system. Alternative offensive configurations include a fuselage-mounted 20 mm cannon with cabin ammunition storage, 68 mm or 70 mm unguided rocket pods, Mistral air-to-air missiles, or an M134 Minigun.

Operational History

The Gazelle saw combat deployment during the 1982 Lebanon War, where Syrian HOT-armed units engaged Israeli armor. Coalition forces deployed the type during the 1991 Gulf War, with French and Kuwaiti Gazelles conducting strafing attacks on Iraqi ground positions. British forces operated the aircraft in the Falklands War, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, and Afghanistan prior to its UK service retirement in October 2023. Additional combat operations occurred during the Rwandan Civil War, the 1995 Cenepa War, the Yugoslav Wars, and French interventions in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire.

Variants

• SA 340: First prototype featuring a conventional Alouette-style tail rotor, first flown on 7 April 1967.
• SA 341B: British Army variant designated Gazelle AH.1, equipped with an Astazou IIIN2 engine and modified to fire 68 mm SNEB rockets.
• SA 341F: French Army light support model powered by an Astazou IIIC engine and frequently fitted with an M621 20 mm cannon.
• SA 342K: Export variant modified for high-temperature environments, fitted with intake shrouds and a 649 kW Astazou XIV engine.
• SA 342M: French Army anti-tank version armed with four Euromissile HOT missiles and an SFIM APX M397 stabilized sight.