Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
 |
| SA 321 Super Frelon | |
|---|---|
| |
| A Super Frelon helicopter n°165 of the 32F Wing flying over Portsmouth | |
| Role | Heavy lift military Transport helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale |
| First flight | 7 December 1962 |
| Introduction | 1966 |
| Primary user | French military |
| Number built | 99 |
The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France. The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z-8. "Frelon" is French for hornet.
Development
Both civilian and military versions of the Super Frelon were built, with the military variants being the most numerous by far, entering service with the French military as well as being exported to Israel, South Africa, Libya, China and Iraq.
Three military variants were produced: military transport, anti-submarine and anti-ship.
The transport version is able to carry 38 equipped troops, or alternatively 15 stretchers for casualty evacuation tasks.
The Naval anti-submarine and anti-ship variants are usually equipped with a navigation and search radar (ORB-42), and a 50 metre rescue cable. They are most often fitted with a 20 mm cannon, counter-measures, night vision, a laser designator and a Personal Locator System. It can also be refueled in flight.
Operational history
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Argentina
Eight Israeli aircraft re-engined with T58 engines were offered to Argentina.[citation needed]
People's Republic of China
China acquired 13 Super Frelon SA321 naval helicopters in 1977-78. These helicopters came in two variants: anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and search and rescue (SAR) variant. The Super Frelon was the first helicopter of the PLA to be capable of operating from the flying deck of surface vessels. China also produces the Super Frelon locally under the designation Z-8 (land or ship based ASW/SAR helicopter). The Super Frelon remains operational with the PLA Navy today.
Since the early 1980s, the Super Frelons have been frequently used by the PLAN for shipborne ASW and SAR operations. For ASW mission, Z-8 is equipped with a surface search radar, French HS-12 dipping sonar while carrying a Whitehead A244S torpedo under the starboard side of the fuselage. They were also used to ferry supplies from replenishment ship to surface combatants, and transport marine troops from the landing ship to the shore. A naval SAR version called Z-8S with upgraded avionics and a searchlight, FLIR turret and a hoist flew on December 2004. Another rescue variant with dediated medivac eqipment onboard was also developed for the Navy as Z-8JH.
Z-8A version was developed as an army transport version and certified in February 1999. Two Z-8As were delivered to the Army for evaluation in 2001 but the Army decided to purchase more Mi-17V5s. Only one batch of about 6 Z-8A were delivered to the Army in November 2002, with the nose weather radar and side floats retained. Starting in 2007 PLAAF also acquired dozens of upgraded Z-8Ks and Z-8KAs for SAR missions, equipped with an FLIR turret and a searchlight underneath the cabin plus a hoist and a flare dispenser.
France
In October 1965 SA321G ASW helicopter joined the French Aeronavale. Apart from ship-based ASW missions, the SA321G also carried out sanitisation patrols in support of Redoutable class ballistic missile submarines. Some were modified with nose-mounted targeting radar for Exocet anti-ship missiles. Five SA 321GA freighters, originally used in support of the Pacific nuclear test centre, were transferred to assault support duties.
In 2003, the surviving Aeronavale Super Frelons are assigned to transport duties including commando transport, VertRep and SAR.
The SA321G Super Frelon remains in service with Flottile 32F of the French Aviation navale, operating from Lanvéoc-Poulmic in Brittany in the Search and rescue role. They are expected to be replaced by the NHI NH90 by 2011-12.[1]
Iraq
Designated SA321H, a total of 16 Super Frelon were delivered from 1977 to the Iraqi air force with radar and Exocets. These aircraft were used in the Iran-Iraq conflict and the 1991 Gulf War, in which at least one example was destroyed.
Israel
Israel ordered 12 helicopters in 1965 to provide the IAF with a heavy lift transport capability. The close ties between Israel and France in the mid 1960s made the choice of a French helicopter inevitable and in early 1965 an IAF delegation of air and ground crews left for France to study the new aircraft.
In the years following the Yom Kippur war, Israel replaced the type's original Turbomeca Turmo engines with the 1,870shp General Electric T58-16 engines.[citation needed] The Super Frelons also took part the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. The type was finally retired in 1991.
Libya
Six radar-equipped SA-321GM helicopters and eight SA321M SAR/transports were delivered to Libya in 1980-81..
South Africa
The SAAF ordered 16 Super Frelon Super Frelon helicopters. South African Air Force used them in counter insurgency fight and in Angola. In 1990 the Super Frelons were withdrawn from service, and replaced by the Puma, and later Oryx helicopter..
SAAF discovered Super Frelon performances were excellent at sea level, but the helicopter performances were worse than SAAF Pumas performances at high and dry places. During the bush war the helicopter proved its poor cargo carrying capacity, being outperformed by SA.330L Puma helicopters.[citation needed]
Syria
Syria is believed to have purchased 21 Super Frelon helicopters, although it seems Syria never operated them. These helicopters may have been diverted to Iraq or Libya.
Variants
- SA 3200 Frelon
- Prototype transport helicopter powered by three 597 kW) (800 hp) Turbomeca Turmo IIIB engines diving four bladed rotor of 15.2 m (50 ft) diameter. Two built, first flying 10 June 1958.[2]
- SA 321
- Pre-production aircraft. Four built.
- SA 321G
- Anti-submarine warfare version for the French Navy.
- SA 321Ga
- Utility and assault transport helicopter for the French Navy.
- SA 321GM
- Export version for Libya, fitted with an Omera ORB-32WAS radar.
- SA 321H
- Export version for Iraq, powered by three Turbomeca Turmo IIIE turboshaft engines, fitted with an Omera ORB-31D search radar, and armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles.
- SA 321F
- Commercial airline helicopter.
- SA 321J
- Commercial transport helicopter.
- SA 321Ja
- Improved version of the SA.321J.
- SA 321K
- Export version for Israel.
- SA 321L
- Export version for South Africa.
- SA 321M
- Search and rescue, utility transport helicopter for Libya.
- Changhe Z-8
- Chinese built version with three Changzhou Lan Xiang WZ6 turboshaft engines.
- Changhe Z-8A
- Army transport
- Changhe Z-8F
- Chinese built version with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67B turboshaft engines
Operators
Military Operators
- People's Liberation Army
- People's Liberation Army Air Force operates Jingdezhen (Z-8) variant.
- People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force
Civil operators
- BAT
Specifications (Naval Super Frelon)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Capacity:
- 27 passengers or
- 15 stretchers
Performance
- Endurance: 4 hr
Armament
- Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon[citation needed]
- Missiles:
- 4× homing torpedoes in the ASW role or
- 2× Exocet missiles in the anti-ship role
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Grolleau, Henri-Paul. "French Navy Super Hornets". Air International, May 2009, Vol 76 No. 5. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0306-5634. pp.56-60.
- Stevens, James Hay. "Super Frelon: Western Europe's Most Powerful Helicopter". Flight International, 9 July 1964. pp. 55–59.
- Taylor, J.W.R. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Macdonald and Jane's, 1976. ISBN 0 354 000538 3.
External links
