The EC725 Cougar Helicopter Is Spotlighted
The high-profile presence of Eurocopter at this week’s
LAAD Defense & Security 2011 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro is
focused on the growing importance of its Helibras affiliate in the
manufacture, assembly, modernization and mission-outfitting of the
company’s rotary-wing aircraft for Brazil and the Latin
American marketplace.
EC725
Among the helicopters spotlighted on Helibras’ exhibit is
the twin-engine EC725 Cougar helicopter, which is being acquired by
the Brazilian Armed Forces – and will be built in a new
center of excellence created at its Itajubá facility in the
Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The Eurocopter parent company also
is participating in the LAAD 2011 event, presenting an overview of
its rotary-wing aircraft family on the stand of EADS.
As the only Brazilian helicopter manufacturer, Helibras has the
capability of producing a variety of aircraft in Eurocopter’s
product line. It supplies over 50 percent of the country’s
turbine-powered helicopters – having delivered more than 500
aircraft in its 33 years of operation to meet the requirements of
governmental, military and civil customers.
“Helibras is on the way to becoming a cornerstone in
Eurocopter’s global industrial base, with all the skills
necessary for helicopter manufacturing, assembly, integration,
upgrades and support,” said Eurocopter President & CEO
Lutz Bertling. “Our presence in Brazil positions Eurocopter
for future growth in the country and across Latin America, while
also ensuring excellence in support and training for operators
throughout the region.”
At Itajubá, Helibras is preparing for the assembly of
EC725s, which the Brazilian government contracted in 2008 to
acquire 50 helicopters for transport and civil security missions.
Construction is underway on Helibras’ new EC725 production
factory for completion in 2012 – doubling the company’s
employment, bringing total staff to approximately 1,000.
The EC725 is Eurocopter’s latest member of the Super
Puma/Cougar helicopter family. In addition to building this
11-metric-ton-class rotary-wing aircraft at Itajubá,
Helibras is to become involved in such industrial activities as the
manufacture of EC725 tailbooms and electrical harness, plus the
assembly of gearboxes. Helibras also is working with Brazilian
companies to develop a local supply chain, and it is supporting the
acceleration of in-country technical and university courses for
aeronautics and aerospace.
At this week’s LAAD 2011 defense and security show,
Helibras also is exhibiting the AS550A2 Fennec, operated by the
Brazilian Army Aviation Command – and which will be
modernized by the company in a program that incorporates a tailored
complement of armament, a new glass cockpit, an Automatic Flight
Control System (AFCS) with autopilot, and the installation of
improved pilot seats for enhanced crash protection.
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