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The Gazelle is a French
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
-designed helicopter
Helicopter

A helicopter is an aircraft that is Lift and propelled by one or more horizontal plane Helicopter rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades....
, created by the company Sud Aviation
Sud Aviation

Sud Aviation was a France state-owned aircraft manufacturer, originating from the merger of Sud-Est and Sud-Ouest on March 1, 1957. Both companies had themselves been formed from smaller privately owned corporations that had been nationalized into six regional design and manufacturing pools just prior to World War II....
, which later became Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale

A?rospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that primarily built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites.History...
, and later still Eurocopter
Eurocopter Group

The Eurocopter Group is a European helicopter manufacturing and support company formed in 1992 from the merger of Germany DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG and the helicopter divisions of France A?rospatiale....
.

Aérospatiale Gazelle originated in a French Army
French Army

The French Army, officially the Arm?e de Terre , is the Army component of the Military of France and its largest. As of 2007, the army employs 134,000 regular soldiers, 15,500 reservists, and 25,750 civilians....
 requirement for a lightweight utility helicopter. The design quickly attracted British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 interest, leading to a development and production share out agreement with British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 company Westland Helicopters
Westland Aircraft

Westland Aircraft was a United Kingdom aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset. Formed as a separate company by separation from Petters Ltd just before the start of the World War II, Westland had been building aircraft since 1915....
 (later AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. It was formed in July 2000 when Finmeccanica S.p.A....
).






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Encyclopedia




The Gazelle is a French
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
-designed helicopter
Helicopter

A helicopter is an aircraft that is Lift and propelled by one or more horizontal plane Helicopter rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades....
, created by the company Sud Aviation
Sud Aviation

Sud Aviation was a France state-owned aircraft manufacturer, originating from the merger of Sud-Est and Sud-Ouest on March 1, 1957. Both companies had themselves been formed from smaller privately owned corporations that had been nationalized into six regional design and manufacturing pools just prior to World War II....
, which later became Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale

A?rospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that primarily built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites.History...
, and later still Eurocopter
Eurocopter Group

The Eurocopter Group is a European helicopter manufacturing and support company formed in 1992 from the merger of Germany DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG and the helicopter divisions of France A?rospatiale....
.

Design and development

The Aérospatiale Gazelle originated in a French Army
French Army

The French Army, officially the Arm?e de Terre , is the Army component of the Military of France and its largest. As of 2007, the army employs 134,000 regular soldiers, 15,500 reservists, and 25,750 civilians....
 requirement for a lightweight utility helicopter. The design quickly attracted British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 interest, leading to a development and production share out agreement with British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 company Westland Helicopters
Westland Aircraft

Westland Aircraft was a United Kingdom aircraft manufacturer located in Yeovil in Somerset. Formed as a separate company by separation from Petters Ltd just before the start of the World War II, Westland had been building aircraft since 1915....
 (later AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland is a helicopter design and manufacturing company based in Italy and the United Kingdom. It was formed in July 2000 when Finmeccanica S.p.A....
). The deal, signed in February 1967, allowed the production in Britain
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 of 292 Gazelles and 48 Aérospatiale Puma
Aérospatiale Puma

The A?rospatiale Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France under the designation SA 330....
s ordered by the British armed forces, in return Aérospatiale were given a work share in the manufacturing programme for the 40 Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx

The Westland Lynx is a British helicopter designed by and built Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went into operational usage in 1977 and were later adopted by the armed for...
 naval helicopters for the French Navy
French Navy

The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale , is the maritime arm of the French military. It consists of a full range of vessels, from patrol boats to guided missile frigates, and includes one nuclear aircraft carrier and ten nuclear submarines ....
.

Though the general layout resembles that of the Alouette
Aérospatiale Alouette III

The A?rospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation and later manufactured by A?rospatiale of France....
 series, the Gazelle featured several important innovations. This was the first helicopter to carry a fenestron
Fenestron

A Fenestron is a fully enclosed tail rotor of a helicopter that is essentially a ducted fan. The housing is integral with the tail skin, and, like the conventional tail rotor it replaces, is intended to counteract the torque of the main rotor....
 or fantail, which allows considerable noise reduction. Also, the rotor
Helicopter rotor

A helicopter rotor is the rotating part of a helicopter which controls the blades that produce the aerodynamic Lift for the helicopter. The helicopter rotor, also called the rotor system, usually refers to the helicopter's main rotor which is mounted on a vertical mast over the top of the helicopter, although it can refer to the...
 blades were made of composite materials, a feature now widely used in modern helicopters.

In service with the French Army Light Aviation
French Army Light Aviation

The French Army Light Aviation is a the aviation service of the French Army....
, the ALAT, the Gazelle is used primarily as an anti-tank gunship (SA 342M) armed with HOT missiles
Euromissile HOT

HOT is an anti-tank missile system developed by Euromissile , a joint venture of France and Germany, and produced since 1978. It has become one of the most successful missiles of its class, used by no fewer than a dozen countries worldwide and has been validated in actual combat....
. A light support version equipped with a 20 mm cannon is used (SA 341F) as well as anti-air variants carrying the Mistral air-to-air missile (Gazelle Celtic based on the SA 341F, Gazelle Mistral based on the SA 342M). The latest anti-tank and reconnaissance
Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Australian, Canadian, and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon ....
 versions carry the Viviane thermal imagery system and so are called Gazelle Viviane. The Gazelle is being replaced in frontline duties by the Eurocopter Tiger
Eurocopter Tiger

The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre....
 but will continue to be used for light transport and liaison roles.

It also served with all branches of the British armed forces—the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
, Royal Navy
Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
 (including Royal Marines
Royal Marines

The Royal Marines are the marine and amphibious warfare infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service....
) and the British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 in a variety of roles. Four versions of the Gazelle were used by the British Forces. The SA.341D became the Gazelle HT.3 in RAF service, equipped as a helicopter pilot trainer (hence HT). The SA 341E was used by the RAF for communications duties and VIP transport as the Gazelle HCC.4. The SA 341C was purchased as the Gazelle HT.2 pilot trainer for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
. The training variants have now been replaced by the Squirrel HT1. The SA 341B was equipped to a specification for the Army Air Corps as the Gazelle AH.1 (from Army Helicopter Mark 1). It was used as an Air Observation Post (AOP) for directing artillery
Artillery

Artillery is a military Combat Arms which employs any apparatus, machine, an assortment of tools or instruments, a system or systems used as weapons for the discharge of large projectiles in combat as a major contribution of fire power within the overall military capability of an armed force....
 fire, Airborne Forward Air Control
Forward air control

A forward air controller is a qualified individual who, from a front line on the ground or in the air, directs the action of military aircraft engaged in close air support of army....
ler (ABFAC) directing ground-attack aircraft, casualty evacuation, liaison, and command and control, and communications relay.

The Gazelle flown by the British Army Air Corps has recently been enhanced with a Direct Voice Input
Direct Voice Input

Direct Voice Input is a style of User interface "HMI" in which the user makes Voice User Interface. It has found some usage in the design of the cockpit of several modern military aircraft, particularly the Eurofighter, the F-35 Lightning II, the Rafale and the JAS 39 Gripen, having been trialled on earlier fast jets such as the AV-8 Harrier...
 (DVI) system developed by QinetiQ
QinetiQ

QinetiQ is an international Defense contractor, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency Defence Evaluation and Research Agency when it was split up in June 2001 ....
. It allows for voice control of avionics equipment using standard aircrew helmet microphones and intercom. Being speaker independent, the system does not need to be trained to recognize a specific user. This means high command recognition rates may be achieved whether or not the user has operated the system before. It gives aircrew the ability to control aircraft systems using voice commands and access information without removing their hands from the flight controls or their eyes from the outside world.

Gazelles were also manufactured in Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
 by ABHCO and in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia

File:LocationYugoslavia2.pngYugoslavia is a term that describes three political entities that existed successively on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century....
 by SOKO
SOKO

SOKO was an aircraft factory situated in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It gained prominence in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
.

Operational history


France
The French army deployed the Gazelle on many occasions, especially during interventions in Africa
Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area....
 and peacekeeping
Peacekeeping

Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace." It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
 operations. This includes Chad
Chad

Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west....
 (1980s), the former Yugoslavia (1990s), Djibouti
Djibouti

Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast....
 (1991-1992), Somalia
Somalia

Somalia , officially the Republic of Somalia and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa....
 (1993) and Cote d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire

, formerly Ivory Coast, officially the , is a country in West Africa. The government officially discourages the use of the name Ivory Coast in English, preferring the French name to be used in all languages ....
 (2002-Present). During Operation Desert Storm, HOT-carrying Gazelles were used against Iraqi armour
Armour

Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat....
.


Iraq
Iraq received an important number of Gazelles and HOT missiles in the '70s and '80s. They were used intensively in the Iran–Iraq War. During the Gulf War
Gulf War

"Persian Gulf War" and "First Gulf War" redirect here. For other uses, see Persian Gulf War .The Persian Gulf War was a United Nations-authorized military conflict between Iraq and a Coalition of Gulf War from 34 nations commissioned with expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait of Kuwait in August 1990....
 they saw little use, because of allied air supremacy.


Syria
Syrian Gazelles were used during 1982 Lebanon War
1982 Lebanon War

The 1982 Lebanon War , , called by Israel the Operation Peace of the Galilee , and later colloquially also known in Israel as the First Lebanon War, began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon....
. They had large success against Israel
Israel

Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area....
i armour, while suffering medium losses.


United Kingdom
The Gazelle was used in combat in the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located from the coast of Argentina, west of the Shag Rocks , and north of the British Antarctic Territory ....
, Kuwait
Kuwait

The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west....
, Iraq
Iraq

Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
 and Kosovo
Kosovo

Kosovo is a disputed region in the Balkans. Its majority is governed by the partially-recognised Republic of Kosovo . Serbia does not recognise the secession of Kosovo and considers it a United Nations-governed entity within its sovereign territory, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija that was re-created by Slobodan M...
 and with 8 Flight Army Air Corps
8 Flight Army Air Corps

8 Flight Army Air Corps is one of the Independent Flights within the British Army Army Air Corps . 8 Flight is attached to the Special Air Service and based alongside them in Hereford....
 in support of 22 Special Air Service
Special Air Service

The Special Air Service is a special forces regiment within the British Army which has served as a model for the special forces of other countries....
 Regiment. It was also used for air patrols in Northern Ireland. British Gazelles were only armed when used in the Falklands, where they were fitted with machine guns and rocket pods, but these were not used.


Ex-Yugoslavia
SA 341/342 Gazelle GAMA (Yugoslav version) was used by Republika Srpska Air Force
Republika Srpska Air Force

Commonly know with is old name of Ratno Vazduhoplovstva i Protivvazdu?na Odbrana Vojska Republike Srpske or with its short version of RV i PVO RS, Since June 1, 2004 the Republika Srpska Air Force is officially called:...
 and Republika Srpska Krajna Militia Air Force during the Yugoslav civil wars (1991-1995), and by the Yugoslav air force during the Kosovo war
Kosovo War

Kosovo War occurred after the Rambouillet Agreement failed in February 1999. The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts in Kosovo:...
.


Lebanon
The Gazelle was used by the Lebanese Air Force
Lebanese Air Force

The Lebanese Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The seal of the air force is constituted of a Roundel with two wings and a Lebanon Cedar tree, surrounded by two Bay Laurel leaves on a blue background....
 against the Al Qaeda-inspired militants of Fatah al-Islam
Fatah al-Islam

Fatah al-Islam, is a radical Sunni Islamist group that first formed in November 2006. It has been described as a militant jihadist movement that draws inspiration from al-Qaeda....
 during the battle of Nahr el-Bared
2007 Lebanon conflict

The 2007 Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between Fatah al-Islam, an Islamism List of designated terrorist organizations, and the Lebanese Armed Forces on May 20, 2007 in Nahr al-Bared, an UNRWA Palestinian List of Palestinian refugee camps near Tripoli, Lebanon....
.


Ireland
The Irish Air Corps
Irish Air Corps

The Irish Air Corps provides the air defence function of Oglaigh na h?ireann , in support of the Irish Army and Irish Naval Service, together with such other roles as may be assigned by the Government ....
 formerly operated two Gazelle helicopters as pilot training aircraft.


Variants


SA 341.001
First prototype, first flown on 7 April 1967.
SA 341
Four pre-production machines. First flown on 2 August 1968. The third was equipped to British Army
British Army

The British Army is the Army branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707....
 requirements and assembled in France as the prototype Gazelle AH.1. This was first flown on 28 April 1970.
SA 341.1001
First French production machine. Initial test flight 6 August 1971. Featured a longer cabin, an enlarged tail unit and an uprated Turbomeca Astazou
Turbomeca Astazou

The Turbomeca Astazou was a highly-successful series of turboprop and turboshaft engines, first run in 1957 in aviation. The original version weighed 110 kg and developed 240 kW at 40,000 rpm....
 IIIA engine.
SA 341B (Westland Gazelle AH.1)
Version built for the British Army; Featured the Astazou IIIN engine, a nightsun searchlight and Decca Doppler 80 Radar. First Westland
Westland

The name Westland or Westlands may refer to:...
 assembled version flown on 31 January 1972, this variant entered service on 6 July 1974. A total of 158 were produced.
SA 341C (Westland Gazelle HT.2)
Training helicopter version built for British Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm

The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. The Fleet Air Arm operates the AgustaWestland EH101, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters, as well as the BAE Harrier II....
; Features included the Astazou IIIN engine, a stability augmentation system and a hoist. First flown on 6 July 1972, this variant entered operational service on 10 December 1974. A total of 30 were produced.
SA 341D (Westland Gazelle HT.3)
Training helicopter version built for British Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
; Featuring the same engine and stability system as the 341C, this version was first delivered on 16 July 1973. A total of 14 were produced.
SA 341E (Westland Gazelle HCC.4)
Communications helicopter version built for British Royal Air Force; Only 1 example of this variant was produced.
SA 341F
Version built for the French Army
French Army

The French Army, officially the Arm?e de Terre , is the Army component of the Military of France and its largest. As of 2007, the army employs 134,000 regular soldiers, 15,500 reservists, and 25,750 civilians....
; Featuring the Astazou IIIC engine, 166 of these were produced. Some of these were fitted with an M621 20-mm cannon
M621 cannon

The M621 is a 20 mm automatic cannon of France design, developed by Nexter as on-board armament for armored vehicles, aircraft, helicopters and small coastal vessels of the French Navy....
.
SA 341G
Civil variant, powered by an Astazou IIIA engine. Officially certificated on 7 June 1972; subsequently became first helicopter to obtain single-pilot IFR Cat 1
ILS

Ils may refer to*Ils , an electronic music producer and DJ*Them , a French horror filmILS may refer to*Indirect least squares, a statistical technique...
 approval in the US. Also developed into "Stretched Gazelle" with the cabin modified to allow an additional 8 inches (20cm) legroom for the rear passengers.
SA 341H
Military export variant, powered by an Astazou IIIB engine. Built under licence agreement signed on 1 October 1971 by SOKO
SOKO

SOKO was an aircraft factory situated in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It gained prominence in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
 in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia

File:LocationYugoslavia2.pngYugoslavia is a term that describes three political entities that existed successively on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century....
.
;SOKO HO-42 Yugoslav-built version of SA 341H. ;SOKO HI-42 Hera Yugoslav-built scout version of SA 341H. ;SOKO HN-42M Gama Yugoslav-built attack version of SA 341H. ;SOKO HN-45M Gama 2 Yugoslav-built attack version of SA 342L. ;SOKO HS-42 Yugoslav-built medic version of SA 341H. SA 342J
Civil version of SA 342L. This was fitted with the more powerful 649kW (870shp) Astazou XIV engine and an improved Fenestron
Fenestron

A Fenestron is a fully enclosed tail rotor of a helicopter that is essentially a ducted fan. The housing is integral with the tail skin, and, like the conventional tail rotor it replaces, is intended to counteract the torque of the main rotor....
 tail rotor. With an increased take-off weight, this variant was approved on 24 April 1976 and entered service in 1977.
SA 342K
Military export version for "hot and dry areas". Fitted with the more powerful 649-kW (870-shp) Astazou XIV engine and shrouds over the air intakes. First flown on 11 May 1973; initially sold to Kuwait
Kuwait

The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west....
.
SA 342L
Military companion of the SA 342J. fitted with the Astazou XIV engine. Adaptable for many armaments and equipment, including six Euromissile HOT anti-tank missiles.
SA 342M
French Army
French Army

The French Army, officially the Arm?e de Terre , is the Army component of the Military of France and its largest. As of 2007, the army employs 134,000 regular soldiers, 15,500 reservists, and 25,750 civilians....
 anti-tank version fitted with the Astazou XIV engine. Armed with four Euromissile
Euromissile

Euromissile was a European consortium set up in the 1970s by DASA of Germany and A?rospatiale of France to produce the Euromissile HOT anti-tank missile. All activities have been merged and are now part of MBDA....
 HOT missiles
Euromissile HOT

HOT is an anti-tank missile system developed by Euromissile , a joint venture of France and Germany, and produced since 1978. It has become one of the most successful missiles of its class, used by no fewer than a dozen countries worldwide and has been validated in actual combat....
 and a SFIM APX M397 stabilised sight.
;SA 342M1 Standard SA 342M retrofitted with three Ecureuil main blades to improve performance.

Operators


Military operators


  • People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
    People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola

    The People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola or For?a A?rea Popular de Angola/Defesa A?rea e Antia?rea was established on 21 January 1976 and initially made use of the aircraft left behind by Portugal....
     operates about 7 aircraft.
  • Cameroon Air Force
    Cameroon Air Force

    The Cameroon Air Force is the air force of the African nation of Cameroon. The Cameroon Air Force, along with the Cameroon Army, the Cameroon Navy , the National Gendarmerie, and the Presidential Guard make up the Military of Cameroon....
     operates 2 aircraft.
  • Cyprus Air Force operates 4 aircraft.
  • Ecuadorian Army
    Ecuadorian Army

    The Ecuadorian Army is the branch of the Ecuadorian military in charge of the defense of the Ecuadorian State from any land-based threat.As such, the Army is one of the three branches that constitute the Ecuadorian Armed Forces , the other two being the Ecuadorian Air Force , and the Ecuadorian Navy ....
     operates about 20 aircraft.
  • Egyptian Air Force
    Egyptian Air Force

    The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF , is the aviation branch of the Egyptian armed forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal . Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed....
     operates about 84 aircraft.
  • French Army
    French Army

    The French Army, officially the Arm?e de Terre , is the Army component of the Military of France and its largest. As of 2007, the army employs 134,000 regular soldiers, 15,500 reservists, and 25,750 civilians....
  • Gabon Air Force
    Military of Gabon

    Gabon has a small, professional military of about 5,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. Gabonese forces are oriented to the defense of the country and have not been trained for an offensive role....
     operates 5 aircraft.
  • Guinea Air Force
    Military of Guinea

    The Republic of Guinea Armed Forces are the armed forces of Guinea. They are responsible for the territorial security of Guinea's border and the defence of the country against external attack and aggression....
     operates 1 aircraft.
  • Kuwait Air Force
    Kuwait Air Force

    The Kuwait Air Force is the air arm of the Kuwait. The Air Force headquarters is located at Al Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining forces stationed at Air Defense Brigade,Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base....
     operates 13 aircraft.
  • Lebanese Air Force
    Lebanese Air Force

    The Lebanese Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The seal of the air force is constituted of a Roundel with two wings and a Lebanon Cedar tree, surrounded by two Bay Laurel leaves on a blue background....
     operates 8 helicopters equipped with HOT missiles, 68 mm rocket pods, and heavy machine guns. Three more are in storage and awaiting restoration.
  • Air Defense
    Military of Montenegro

    The Military of Montenegro is still in the process of being organized following Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006 in mid-2006.Montenegro inherited a 6,500-strong military force from the Military of Serbia and Montenegro of Serbia and Montenegro....
     operates 4 aircraft
  • Royal Moroccan Air Force
    Royal Moroccan Air Force

    The Royal Moroccan Air Force is the air force branch of the Moroccan Armed Forces....
     operates 24 aircraft.
  • Serbian Air Force
    Serbian Air Force

    The Serbian Air Force and Air Defense is the air force of Serbia and the part of Military of Serbia. It consists of an array of combat aircraft, cargo aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, Unmanned aerial vehicle, combat helicopters, cargo/utility helicopters, radars and Surface-to-air missile....
     operates 61 aircraft
    • 252. Mixed-Aviation Squadron
    • 138. Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron
    • 714. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron
    • 119. Combined-Arms Helicopter Squadron
  • Syrian Air Force
    Syrian Air Force

    The Syrian Air Force is the aircraft branch of the Military of Syria....
     operates 38 aircraft.
  • United Arab Emirates Air Force
    United Arab Emirates Air Force

    The United Arab Emirates Air Force is the Air Force of the United Arab Emirates....
     operates 1 aircraft.
  • Army Air Corps - Current Units;
    • 2 Regiment AAC (Trg), 671 Sqn
    • 5 Regiment AAC (NI), 665 Sqn
    • 7 Regiment AAC (V), 658 Sqn, 666 Sqn, 3 Flight, 6 Flight
    • Canada, 29 (BATUS) Flight
    • Germany, 12 Flight


Law Enforcement operators

  • Republika Srpska Police
    Law enforcement in Republika Srpska

    The Republika Srpska Police is the official arm of the law in the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The police force is under direct control of the RS Ministry of Interior....
     operates 6 aircraft donated from -Republika Srpska
    Republika Srpska

    Republika Srpska is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina which represent a lower level of governance in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the other entity is the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
     Air Force
  • Montenegro Police
    Law enforcement in Montenegro

    Law enforcement in Montenegro is primarily the responsibility of the Police Administration, a law enforcement agency under the authority of the Ministry of Interior and Public Administration....
     operates 3 aircraft
  • Serbian Police operates 10 aircraft


Former military operators

  • Irish Air Corps
    Irish Air Corps

    The Irish Air Corps provides the air defence function of Oglaigh na h?ireann , in support of the Irish Army and Irish Naval Service, together with such other roles as may be assigned by the Government ....
     - Two aircraft operated between 1979-2005
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska

Republika Srpska is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina which represent a lower level of governance in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the other entity is the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
:
  • Republika Srpska Air Force
    Republika Srpska Air Force

    Commonly know with is old name of Ratno Vazduhoplovstva i Protivvazdu?na Odbrana Vojska Republike Srpske or with its short version of RV i PVO RS, Since June 1, 2004 the Republika Srpska Air Force is officially called:...
     operated about 20 helicopters, 6 passed to Republika Srpska police
    • 728. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron
    • 89. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron
  • Royal Air Force
    Royal Air Force

    The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
     - 32
  • Royal Marines
    Royal Marines

    The Royal Marines are the marine and amphibious warfare infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service....
  • Royal Navy
    Royal Navy

    The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British Armed Forces . From the mid-18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early 1940s....
  • FR Yugoslav Air Force
    Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro

    The ????? ??????????????? ? ?????????????? ??????? - Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro, sometimes simply called Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo or JRV was the air force of the former FRY/Serbia and Montenegro....
    • 890. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron Pegazi
    • 897. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron Stršljeni
    • 712. Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron Škorpioni
    • 714. Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron Senke
  • SFR Yugoslav Air Force
    SFR Yugoslav Air Force

    The Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protiv vazdu?na odbrana - RV i PVO SFRJ - SFR Yugoslav Air Force, sometimes simply called Jugoslovensko ratno vazduhoplovstvo or JRV but also known as the Former Yugoslav Air Force, was the air force of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ....
     operated about 207 helicopters, passed to successor states
    • 890. Transport Helicopter Squadron
    • 782. Helicopter Squadron
    • 782. Helicopter Squadron
    • 783. Helicopter Squadron
    • 712. Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron
    • 714. Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron
    • 333. Aviation Squadron
    • 711. Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron
    • 713. Anti-Armour Helicopter Squadron
    • EIV of 1st Army region
    • EIV of 2nd Army region
    • EIV of 3rd Army region
    • EIV of Navy region


Specifications (SA 341)


Popular culture

A modified Gazelle starred as a high-tech attack/surveillance helicopter in the 1983 action-thriller film Blue Thunder
Blue Thunder

Blue Thunder is a 1983 in film feature film that features a high-tech helicopter of the same name. The movie was directed by John Badham and stars Roy Scheider....
, and in its short-lived television series spinoff
Blue Thunder (TV series)

Blue Thunder was a 1984 American Broadcasting Company TV series based on the Blue Thunder.The series used the converted A?rospatiale Gazelle helicopter and large portions of stock footage from the 1983 film....
.

See also


Bibliography


External links