Article Posted on : - Jun 21, 2011

PARIS (BNS): The French Air Force has received the first of five EC725 Super Cougar military transport helicopter from Eurocopter.

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) delivered the helicopter to the Air Force on June 10.

The DGA had awarded a contract worth nearly € 220 million ($314 million) to Eurocopter in 2009 for five such helicopters along with parts.

The remaining four aircraft will be delivered in the second quarter of 2012, the procurement agency said.

The EC725, also called Caracal, is 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 search and rescue in combat zone, long-distance tactical airlift, air ambulance transport, logistics support and naval missions.

The chopper is equipped with special equipment to conduct such missions, such as refueling, a system against measures or tools for locating a pilot ejected.

The Caracal is on display at the ongoing Paris Air Show.