Article Posted on : - Dec 31, 2010

The EC725 Super Cougar. An Eurocopter photo

BRASILIA, BRAZIL (BNS): Brazil has received its first three Eurocopter EC725 Super Cougar military transport helicopters from Helibras, a Eurocopter subsidiary in Brazil.

The helicopters, delivered on December 20, have been provided in standard configuration and will undergo final outfitting in Brazil, according to Eurocopter.

Brazil had inked a deal worth 1.9 billion Euros with France in December 2008 for 50 EC725 Super Cougar family of military helicopters. The deal included transfer of technology clause.

While the first three helicopters were built by Eurocopter in France and finalised in Helibras, Brazilian assembly of EC725 will begin in 2012 at Helibras’ new production facility in Itajubá. Their Brazilian-supplied content will increase to a minimum of 50 per cent through 2016, when the final EC725s from the 50-aircraft order are delivered, Eurocopter said.

The EC725s, being acquired by Brazil, are the latest version of Eurocopter’s Super Puma/Cougar family of military choppers.

The twin-engine rotary-wing aircraft has been designed to perform multiple missions, such as combat search and rescue, long-distance tactical airlift, air ambulance transport, logistics support and naval missions.