Eurocopter EC635

EC635/H135M
A EC635 of the Swiss Air Force in flight
Role Light Multi-Purpose Helicopter
National origin France/Germany
Manufacturer Eurocopter
Airbus Helicopters
Introduction May 1998
Primary users Royal Jordanian Air Force
Swiss Air Force
Iraqi Air Force
Developed from Eurocopter EC 135

The Eurocopter EC635 (now Airbus Helicopters H135M) is a multi-purpose light helicopter developed by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) as a military version of the Eurocopter EC 135. 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]

Development

The Eurocopter EC635 was developed to meet a Portuguese Army requirement for a light fire support and medical evacuation helicopter, as part of its programme for the raise of a specialist army aviation unit, the UALE. The EC635 was first revealed at the Aviation Africa exhibition in May 1998 and the Portuguese Ministry of Defence subsequently signed an agreement for nine EC635 T2 helicopters equipped with Turbomeca Arrius 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]

The Royal 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 and deliveries of all machines were completed in 2007.

In April 2006, the Swiss Defence Procurement Agency (Armasuisse) ordered 20 EC635's for the Swiss Air Force, to replace the aging Aérospatiale Alouette III in performing transport and advanced training missions.[4] The first four aircraft will be built by Eurocopter, with the remaining 16 being built by RUAG Aerospace in Alpnach, Switzerland, and deliveries expected to be completed between March 2008 and December 2009.[5]

Design

The cabin of the Swiss Air Force EC635P2+ VIP transport version seats four passengers.

The EC635 is based on the Eurocopter EC 135, improving upon the design for military operations and able to carry weapons systems. The helicopter is fitted with a choice of powerplants, depending on customer requirements, and can be powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 (EC635 P2+), or two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 (EC635 T2+). The powerplant is mounted over the baggage compartment and features a Full Authority Digital Engine Control system. The engines power a fibre-reinforced composite Bearingless Main Rotor (BMR) with four blades, and the familiar Fenestron 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 a glass cockpit, which utilizes a Thales 'Avionique Nouvelle' suite with MEGHAS Flight Control Display System and active matrix liquid crystal displays.

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 2 litters 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 70-mm-rocket launcher FZ233 from Belgian manufacturer Forges de Zeebrugge). The helicopter can also be fitted with a FLIR camera turret, an infra-red capable search light, SAR weather radar and electronic equipment for Observation Missions. 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 and ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank missiles.[6]

Operational history

In March 2008, the Swiss Air Force received 18 EC635 P2's. The helicopters are to replace their aging fleet of Alouette IIIs in the utility and training role, two of the aircraft are in VIP configuration.[4][7] In September 2008, the Swiss arms procurement agency Armasuisse confirmed media reports that the aircraft delivered to Switzerland had suffered from substantial construction deficiencies that made them prone to inflight instabilities.[8]

The Iraqi Army has used their EC635s in combat against militants of the Islamic State during the Iraq War.[6] On 12 December 2014, an Iraqi Army EC635 helicopter was reportedly shot down by an insurgent-launched shoulder-fired rocket on the outskirts of the city of Samarra, about 95 kilometers north of Baghdad, killing the two pilots on board.[9]

Variants

Mock-up of an armed EC635 at ILA 2012
EC635 T1
Certified in 2001, same design as the EC135 T1 with structural reinforcement of cabin structure and powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turbine engines.
EC635 P2 
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 turbine engines.
EC635 T2 
Powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turbine engines.
EC635 P2+ 
Certified in 2006, same design as the EC135 P2+ with structural reinforcement of cabin structure and powered by two PW206B2 turbine engines.
EC635 T2+ 
Certified in 2006, same design as the EC135 T2+ with structural reinforcement of cabin structure and powered by two Arrius 2B2 turbine engines.

Operators

Map with military Eurocopter EC635 operators in blue
 Iraq
 Jordan
  Switzerland

Specifications (EC635 P2)

Data from Eurocopter EC635[11] fas.org[12]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/ref/Overview_147.html
  2. ↑ Helis.com – Nine EC635 Helicopters For The Portuguese Army
  3. ↑ Helis.com – Portugal Cancels EC635 Contract
  4. 1 2 "Eurocopter EC635". Swiss Air Force. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  5. ↑ Flug Revue – Switzerland Orders 20 EC635s
  6. 1 2 Martin, Guy. "Iraqi EC635 Stand Alone Weapon System, Ingwe contract concluded." defenceweb.co.za, 4 August 2015.
  7. ↑ Eurocopter Press Release – First Eurocopter EC635 For Swiss Air Force Takes To The Air
  8. ↑ Capodici, Vincenzo (28 September 2008). "VBS-Flopp: Kippgefahr bei Helis" (in German). Tages-Anzeiger web portal (Newsnetz). Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  9. ↑ "Islamic State group shoots down Iraqi helicopter". Stars-and-Stripes. 13 December 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "World Air Forces 2013" (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Eurocopter EC635 Technical Data Manual" (PDF). Eurocopter. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  12. ↑ "EC635 – Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)." fas.org, 12 May 2009.
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