 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Eurocopter EC635" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| EC635 H135M | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A EC635 of theSwiss Air Force in flight | |
| General information | |
| Type | Lightutilitymilitary helicopter |
| National origin | Multinational |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter Airbus Helicopters |
| Status | In Production, Active service |
| Primary users | |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1998–present |
| Introduction date | May 1998 |
| Developed from | Eurocopter EC135 |
TheEurocopter EC635 (nowAirbus Helicopters H135M) is a multi-purpose lighthelicopter developed by Eurocopter (nowAirbus Helicopters) as a military version of theEurocopter EC135. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 8 people, including the pilot, and a range of military equipment or armaments. The helicopter is marketed for troop transport, medical evacuation, cargo transport, reconnaissance and surveillance and armed combat support missions.[1]
The Eurocopter EC635 was developed to meet aPortuguese Army requirement for a lightfire support andmedical evacuation helicopter, as part of its programme for the raise of a specialist army aviation unit, theUALE. The EC635 was first revealed at the Aviation Africa exhibition in May 1998 and thePortuguese Ministry of Defence subsequently signed an agreement for nine EC635 T2 helicopters equipped withTurbomecaArrius 2B2 engines, at a cost of €35 million in October 1999.[2] Delivery of the first Portuguese aircraft was expected to begin in 2001; however, continual delays in production led to the Portuguese Ministry of Defence canceling the contract in August 2002, citing Eurocopter's failure to deliver all aircraft between August 2001 and April 2002 as the reason. Eurocopter claimed that disagreements over the integration of weapons systems on the helicopter were the reason for the cancellation.[3]
TheRoyal Jordanian Air Force agreed to purchase the 9 Portuguese helicopters in October 2002 and the first aircraft was delivered in July 2003. Jordan ordered a further 4 helicopters in January 2006[4] and deliveries of all machines were completed in 2007.
In April 2006, the Swiss Defence Procurement Agency (Armasuisse) ordered 20 EC635s for theSwiss Air Force, to replace the agingAérospatiale Alouette III in performing transport and advanced training missions. The first four aircraft were built by Eurocopter, with the remaining 16 being built byRUAG Aerospace inAlpnach, Switzerland, and deliveries were as expected completed between March 2008 and December 2009.[5][6][7]
The EC635 is based on theEurocopter EC135, improving upon the design for military operations and making the helicopter capable of carrying weapons systems. The helicopter is fitted with a choice of powerplants, depending on customer requirements, and can be powered by twoPratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 (EC635 P2+), or twoTurbomeca Arrius 2B2 (EC635 T2+). The powerplant is mounted over the baggage compartment and features aFull Authority Digital Engine Control system. The engines power afibre-reinforcedcomposite Bearingless Main Rotor (BMR) with four blades, and the familiarFenestron enclosed tail rotor, both of which reduce vibration and noise levels. Vibration levels are further reduced by a built-in Anti Resonance Isolation System (ARIS). The EC635 can be fitted with either a conventional cockpit consisting of a traditional dashboard or aglass cockpit, which utilizes aThales 'Avionique Nouvelle' suite with MEGHAS Flight Control Display System andactive matrix liquid crystal displays.[citation needed]
There are four configurations designed by Eurocopter for the EC635. The Troop Transport version can be fitted with utility seats to carry up to 7 troops with a pilot, or passenger seats to carry up to 6 people and a pilot. The Medical Evacuation version can carry 1 or 2litters with up to 5 seated medical workers. The Cargo Transport version has 4.9 m3 (173.04 ft3) of space for cargo, while the Armed Mission version is equipped with specialist equipment and weapons for combat (such as the 70-mm-rocket launcher FZ233 from Belgian manufacturerForges de Zeebrugge). The helicopter can also be fitted with aFLIR camera turret, an infra-red capable search light,SARweather radar and electronic equipment for Observation Missions.[citation needed] Armed EC635s typically feature the Stand Alone Weapon System (SAWS) kit, which comprises a mission and firing control computer onto which various weapon systems and sensors can be integrated; such weapons have included 12.7 mm gun pods, a 20 mm cannon,70 mm rockets andZT3 Ingwe anti-tank missiles.[8]
In March 2008, theSwiss Air Force received 18 EC635 P2s. The helicopters are to replace their aging fleet ofAlouette IIIs in the utility and training role, two of the aircraft are in VIP configuration.[9][10]
In 2009,Iraq bought 24 EC635 T2+ helicopters.[11] The first two were delivered to Iraq on 8 May 2011.[12] TheIraqi Army has used its EC635s in combat against militants of theIslamic State during theIraqi Civil War.[8] On 12 December 2014, anIraqi Army EC635 helicopter was shot down by an insurgent-launched shoulder-fired rocket on the outskirts of the city ofSamarra, about 95 kilometers north ofBaghdad, killing the two pilots on board.[13] Another EC635 was hit by enemy fire on 22 April 2015 and written off. Both crew members survived.[14] On 13 July of the same year, an EC635 was damaged by shrapnel, either from its own ordnance or due to enemy fire, in theFallujah area. The helicopter caught fire and crash-landed, but both crew members were unharmed.[15]
Data from Eurocopter EC635[20] fas.org[21]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
Airbus Helicopters aircraft | ||
|---|---|---|
| Civil helicopters |  | |
| Military helicopters | ||
| Experimental helicopters | ||
