France Orders 5 More Cougar Helo Upgrades

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From defensenews -

Paris - The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) has signed contracts to modernize five more Cougar tactical transport helicopters, part of a 27-helicopter, 220 million euro ($314 million) plan, the procurement office said in a Dec. 22 statement.

One contract, signed Nov. 9, was for work on four Army Cougars, and the second deal was signed Dec. 9 for one Air Force Cougar.

The latest contracts add to the five Army Cougars already contracted for upgrades under a January 2008 deal with Europcopter, a DGA spokesman said.

Based on the value of the modernization of 27 Cougars, the latest contrast would be worth around 40 million euros.

The work includes updating avionics with a "glass cockpit" to bring the aircraft into line with air safety requirements, modernizing the self-protection suite to counter the latest ground-to-air threats, and installing the Army Air Corps' information system (système d'information terminal or SIT).

"The architecture chosen is very close that used in the EC725 Caracal helicopter," a DGA spokesman said. That simplifies crew training. The DGA ordered an extra five Caracals under the defense stimulation plan, bringing the total number to 19 units. The Caracal, an uprated Cougar, is used by special forces and the Air Force for combat search and rescue.

The upgrade is intended to extend the Cougar's operational life for the next 20 years. Deliveries of the modernized aircraft will occur between 2012-15. The Cougar will operate alongside the new NH90 tactical transport fleet, which will replace the Puma helicopter.


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