Fri, May 01, 2009
What? They Couldn't Have Ordered One More For An Even
Half-Dozen?
Eurocopter has scored another major military buy with the French
Defense Ministry's purchase of five additional EC725 helicopters --
as part of the government’s economic recovery plan.
This new acquisition is part of a plan to revitalize the
economy, introduced in December 2008. The five helicopters are
scheduled for delivery between late 2010 and early 2012. The
contract was placed by the French DGA (Délégation
Générale pour l’Armement) and comprises the
delivery of five EC725s plus the related support services. It
secures work for 100 Eurocopter personnel and 150 suppliers’
employees over a period of 3 years. The aircraft will be built at
the Eurocopter plant in Marignane, in the Bouches-du-Rhône
area of France.
“This order is confirmation that the French Armed Forces
and Eurocopter made the right decisions when the program was
launched,” explained Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling. “It
is also further proof of the strong trust that a customer like the
French Armed Forces has placed in us. The Army and Air Force are
already operating these helicopters on a daily basis.”
The five helicopters will join the 14 EC725s that are currently
in operation with the French Armed Forces. Since December 2006, the
EC725 has been used to support France’s NATO operations in
Afghanistan, performing emergency medical services, search &
rescue missions and escort duties, and providing humanitarian
aid.
The EC725 is the latest addition to the Cougar family. The EC725
is a twin-engine helicopter with a five-bladed main rotor in the
medium-lift category (11 metric tons). The aircraft has a flight
endurance of five-and-a-half hours and can also be refueled in
flight. The multi-purpose EC725 has been designed to perform
various missions, including combat search and rescue (CSAR), long
distance transport, logistics support, and special operations.
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