Indian Defence Review

EC-725

Airbus Helicopters’ EC725 is the most adaptable and cost-effective solution to respond to the requirement of the Indian Navy for a quickly deliverable Naval Multi Role Helicopter.

The EC725 solution for Indian Navy is based on a multi-role helicopter. The proposed multi-role configuration provides maximum flexibility and utility for operations in the following mission scenarios: ASW, ASuW, Special Operation, Commando Operation, Amphibious assault, Troop Carrier, ELINT, SAR, External cargo carrying, Casualty evacuation, Communication duties and CSAR.

The EC725 is the most recent addition to the COUGAR family, which itself has grown from the vast experience gained over many years with its civil variant, the SUPER PUMA. The Super Puma and Cougar family of around 650 helicopters has amassed more than 3.3 million flight hours and is used by 86 operators in 46 countries. Worldwide military operators of the 470 Cougars delivered span 33 nations; including 29 Air Forces, 7 Army Aviation units and 5 Navies.

The EC725 represents a real technological advancement and is the latest version of this medium lift (11-ton class) helicopter. It has been designed for today’s most demanding military missions. Introduced in 2005, the EC725 is already a combat proven multi-role helicopter and has seen combat service worldwide, including Lebanon, Afghanistan and recently Africa. The EC725 has operated from ships and ashore. It is a truly multi-purpose, versatile military asset. Special Operations, Combat SAR and Personal Recovery require performance, precise navigation and survivability. The EC725 is outstanding in these aspects and is thus fits perfectly the Indian Navy requirements for ASuW, Special forces, Amphibious assault, Troop carrier, SAR and CSAR operations.

It has been developed jointly with the French Armed Forces for the most demanding missions: Tactical Air Lift and Special Operations. These origins allow EC725 to perfectly fulfill troop transportation missions with maximum effectiveness, survivability and maintenance simplification. Airbus Helicopters has also included in its design the most demanding civilian specifications for SAR and Offshore operations concerning safety, comfort, availability and low cost of operation.

The EC725 is the clear reference for Combat SAR. The French Armed Forces were looking for a helicopter which would comply with the most demanding requirements, to warrant the success of a mission performed in enemy area. The major requirements from the French Armed Forces were:

• A very short time from ground alert to flight
• Long range and high payload, with at least 20 commandos on board.
• All-weather capability and fully autonomous navigation system
• High level of systems redundancy and high survivability to bullet impacts
• State of the art “Man-Machine Interface” not only to facilitate crew work  tohighly improve situation awareness, allowing them to take the best decisions; but also to ease training and conversion programs.
• Forward sliding windows on both sides for firing machine guns without interfering at the main doors during hoist, fast roping and rappelling operations.

The EC725 is fast becoming a reference in Asia as the most cost effective latest generation military helicopter. In 2010, Malaysia signed a contract for 12 EC725 and in 2012, Indonesia signed a contract for 6 EC725 after Brazil’s decision in 2009 to acquire 50 EC725 and Mexico 15 EC725.

Ec725 Platform Technical Highlights

Full Glass Cockpit – Advanced Helicopter Cockpit Avionics System

The EC725 provides a modern NVG compatible Mission Cockpit enabling low crew workload and full situation awareness:

The Advanced Helicopter Cockpit Avionics System (AHCAS) is composed of 4 Multi Function Displays (MFD), 2 Vehicle Management System colour displays (VMS), 1 Integrated Stand-by Instrument LCD (ISI) and new 4-axis Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS), Air Data Computer (ADC) and Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS).

The only autopilot designed specifically for helicopter

The EC725 is fitted with the latest generation 4-axis dual duplex autopilot; it is fully certified with automatic transition to hover and automatic hover, combining data from GPS and Doppler. This capability provides precision hover, which can be controlled from the cabin by the crewman if required, which has proven to be highly effective when conducting winching and fast roping operations.

AS565MB

In addition, the ability to automatically transition to a hover is a significant safety enhancement when conducting deck operations embarked and when working in ‘brownout’ conditions. Operations in limited visibility are also enhanced with the automatic go around facility, which at the push of a single button will fly the aircraft safely away from the ground ‘hands off’ and establish a pre-determined safe flight configuration without further pilot intervention.

The Dual Duplex 4-axis Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) provides unrivalled functionality plus ‘carefree’ handling to provide a safety envelope to ensure that the aircraft envelope and limitations are not exceeded in normal flight or in emergencies.

Aircraft Performance and Manoeuvrability

The EC725 is fitted with 2 TurbomecaMakila 2A1 turboshaft engines, each controlled by dual channel FADEC, with turbine burst protection; providing higher cruising speeds for greater mission effectiveness coupled with high levels of reliability. Easy to maintain and repair, the Makila 2A is equipped with the new blade shedding technology and is composed of 4 modules, independently interchangeable to reduce downtime.

The 5 bladed main rotor system with 3rd generation composite blades offers the lowest vibration level in helicopters of its class. Combined with the Active Vibration Control system (AVCS), the EC725 cabin and cockpit vibration level remains below 0.1 g.

Survivability

Inherent survivability on the EC725 is provided by:

• Low noise signature and Aircraft agility
• Twin engines allowing super contingency power and blade shedding technology
• Redundant lubrication for the main transmission with certified dry-run capability
• Triple hydraulic pump, dual electrical system, dual cockpit controls
• Dual COM/NAV equipment, fully redundant MFD’s, dual duplex AFCS
• Wire Strike Protection System
• Ballistic protection (main and rotor blades resistant to 12,7 mm bullet impact)
• Armoured seats for the crew
• Self-sealing and crashworthy fuel tanks
• Suppressing gun fire
• MGB ‘dry run’ capability (30 min of flight after total loss of MGB lubrication)
• Bird impact qualified windshields

Spacious cabin

The EC725 cabin has been optimised to deliver a safe, flexible and effective operating environment in order to deliver the greatest military effect into small landing sites, whilst minimising the effects of downwash, which is particularly useful in urban environment.

The Indian Navy’s requirement for amphibious and commando operations requires a helicopter that can offer a range of cabin configurations with seating configurationsof up to 20 seats. The EC725 spacious cabin offers seating from 2 to 28 seats. Ease of access and safety is also ensured thanks to the unique ‘metro’ door design (easy loading and unloading of troops with bulky equipment). The sliding window allows crew served machine guns to be deployed from each side of the aircraft without blocking the main doors (drawback that many in-service helicopters currently face).

The EC725 has a high degree of flexibility when serving medical roles. It can transport up to 11 battle casualties on stretchers and accommodate 4 seats for medical crew or seated patients.

Long range capacity

The EC725 range in Ferry configuration is 518 nm with standard fuel tanks.This range can even be increased by removing some items from ASuW configuration (e.g. air conditioning, tactical console, etc.).

As Navy missions often involve far away Landing Zones with limited possibilities for refuelling, long range capabilities becomes a key aspect of the Navy helicopter.

To extend significantly the radius of action while no means can be reached for intermediate refuelling, the EC725 can be equipped with a jettisonable 990 litres capacity fuel tank installed in the intermediate structure. This installation, including pyrotechnic jettison device is fully approved by French DGA in June 2012.