The Alouette II helicopter series is billed as a multi-role, light rotary-wing platform charged with a myriad of duties in both military and civilian service. In its military guises, the Alouette has been utilized in the reconnaissance and liaison roles and has been further evolved to exploit its limited offensive capabilities to an extent. The helicopter's inherently simple design and operation have allowed it to be a starting point for helicopter pilot training, basic passenger transport, agricultural spraying or air-rescue service.
A prototype form first flew on March 12th, 1955 and original forms were powered by the Salmson 9 series piston engine. Later, development turned to a turbine powerplant. Production was undertaken as the Sud-Est SE 3130 Alouette II with deliveries to the French Army beginning in 1957 while the helicopter went on to set various altitude records along the way - proving itself a capable high-altitude performer. The Alouette II also became the first production helicopter to implement large-scale use of a gasoline-fueled turbine engine and the first to successfully make use of anti-tank missiles. The initial production form was then followed by the more powerful Astazou-powered version first flying on January 31st, 1961.
Original design, development and production was handled by the French concern of Sud-Est ("SE")which eventually merged in 1957 with Sud Ouest to become Sud-Aviation ("SA") resulting in the noted redesignation of some Alouette II production models from "SE" to "SA". In 1970, Sud Aviation merged with Nord Aviation to become Aerospatiale and, finally, in 2000, Aerospatiale merged under the EADS banner. Production of the Alouette II series eventually spanned from 1956 into 1975 to which over 1,500 examples were manufactured and subsequently delivered to a variety of global customers. The type still sees widespread service today under the Aerospatiale label.
While typically unarmed in its many roles, Alouette II platforms have been seen fitted with anti-tank wire-guided missile launchers as well as torpedoes. This broadens the usefulness of the Alouette II family in a military sense though its ordnance-carrying capabilities are inherently limited by the helicopter's light design nature. However, the Alouette II's overall small stature and rather low-profile work for its battlefield survivability in making it a smaller target to ground-based anti-aircraft threats.
Since its inception, the Alouette II has existed in only a few notable variants including the initial SE 3130 Alouette II which was redesignated to "SA 313B Alouette II" in 1967. The SA 315B "Lama" was developed specifically for the Indian Army though completed with Alouette III-type components including engines (Artouste IIIB) and main rotor. First flight of the type was on March 17th, 1969 and some 407 of the model were produced into 1989. The HAL "Lancer" appeared with anti-armor rocket pods and heavy machine guns in 1988 developed specifically for counter-insurgency operations. The SE 3180 Alouette II became the "SA 318C Alouette II" while the "Astazou" mark fitted the Turbomeca Astazou IIA series shaft turbine of 360 shaft horsepower and an Alouette III series gearbox. The Astazou engine was actually derated from 530shp to promote improved speeds and maximum take-off weights.
All told, the Alouette II series helicopters have seen operations the world over. Operators of note have included Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, South Korea, South Africa, South Vietnam, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Some operators have replaced the aging helicopter line as needed while others still swear by the types qualities and capabilities with no need to upgrade. Indian Alouette IIs have been produced locally through HAL as the "Cheetah", these being based on the SA 315B Lamas design. Similarly, production licenses were granted for local manufacture within the United States, Brazil and Sweden (as the "HKP 2 Alouette II").
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Specifications
Sud-Est / Sud Aviation / Aerospatiale - France Manufacturer(s)
Angola; Argentina; Austria; Belgium; Benin; Biafra; Bolivia; Brazil; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chile; Ivory Coast; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Finland; France; Germany; Guinea-Bissau; India; Indonesia; Israel; Laos; Lebanon; Mexico; Morocco; Netherlands; Pakistan; Peru; Portugal; Romania; Senegal; South Korea; South Africa; South Vietnam; Sweden; Switzerland; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; United Kingdom; West Germany; Zaire Operators
GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
TRANSPORT
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
VIP SERVICE
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.
INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
31.8 ft (9.70 meters) Length
33.5 ft (10.20 meters) Width/Span
9.0 ft (2.75 meters) Height
1,973 lb (895 kilograms) Empty Weight
3,527 lb (1,600 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
+1,554 lb (+705 kg) Weight Difference
1 x Turbomeca Artouste IIC6 turboshaft engine developing 550 horsepower and driving a three-blade main rotor and a two-blade tail rotor. Propulsion
Usually none. Series has been fitted with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) for "tank-killer" role or torpedoes for maritime Anti-Ship (AS) patrol.
2 Hardpoints
SE 3130 Alouette II - Initial Production Model Designation.
SE 3131 "Gouverneur" - Proposed VIP transport variant; becoming basis for the Alouette III.
SE 3140 Alouette II - Proposed variant; fitted with Turbomeca Turmo II series engine of 400 horsepower; never produced.
SE 3150 Alouette "Astazou" - Fitted with 1 x Turbomeca Astazou IIA series turbine engine at 360shp; revised transmission based on Alouette III system.
SE 3180
SA 313B Alouette II - Redesignation of SE 3130 model in 1967.
SA 318B "Lama" - "Hot and High" derivative developed for Indian Army; airframe of Alouette II with dynamic components of Alouette III design; becoming the HAL "Cheetah".
SA 318C Alouette II - Redesignation of SE 3180 model in 1967.
HAL "Cheetah" - Based on the "Hot and High" SA 315B "Lama"; production under license by HAL of India.
HAL "Lancer" - Appearing in 1998; armed with anti-armor rocket pods and 12.7mm machine guns for counter-insurgency sorties; production by HAL of India; 12 ordered in 2001.
HKP 2 Alouette II - Sweden license-production designation of SE 3130 model.
Images
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Right side view of an Aerospatiale Alouette II light utility helicopter in flight
Similar
Developments of similar form and function or related to the Aerospatiale Alouette II...
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