SA342 Gazelle
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SA 341/342 Gazelle light multi-role combat helicopter
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The SA-342 Gazelle is a multi-role light combat helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation, and has also been manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom (as the Westland Gazelle), by SOKO in Yugoslavia, and ABHCO in Egypt. Military missions of the SA342 Gazelle include attack, antitank, antihelicopter, reconnaissance, utility, transport, and training |
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- SA 341B Gazelle AH.l: British army version; Astazou I1IN engine: Nightsun searchlight, Decca Doppler 80 radar and automatic chart display: first Westland-assembled example flown on 31 January 1972: first entered operational service on 6 July 1974 (total 158)
- SA 341C Gazelle HT.2: Fleet Air Arm training version: Astazou II1N engine; stability-augmentation system and a hoist incorporated: first flown on 6 July 1972 and first entered service on 10 December 1974 (total 30) - SA 341D Gazelle HT.3: RAF training version: Astazou IIIN engine: stability-augmentation system: Schermuly flares installation: first deliveries to service on 16 July 1973 (total 14) - SA 341E Gazelle HCC.4: RAF communications version: Astazou IIIN engine (total 1) - SA 341F Gazelle: basic French army version: Astazou IIIC engine (total 166) - SA 341G Gazelle: civil commercial version: Astazou IIIA engine: officially certificated for passenger service on 7 June 1972: subsequently became first helicopter to obtain US approval for operations under IFR Cat.l conditions with a single pilot: also developed into a so-called 'Stretched Gazelle', with rear section of the cabin modified to provide additional 8-in (20-cm) legroom for the rear passengers - SA 341H Gazelle: military export version: Astazou IIIB engine: subject to licence-production agreement signed on 1 October 1971 with SOKO in Yugoslavia (total 112) - SA 342J Gazelle: civil version of SA 342L; 870-shp (649-kW) Astazou XIV engine, improved fenestron tail rotor, increased take-off weight: approved for service on 24 April 1976: deliveries commenced in 1977 - SA 342K Gazelle: military export version for 'hot and dry' areas: 870-shp (649-kW) Astazou XIVH engine with momentum-separation shrouds over air intakes: first flown on 11 May 1973: initial sales to Kuwait - SA 342L Gazelle: military counterpart of SA 342J: 870-shp (649-kW) Astazou XIV engine: adaptable for wide range of armaments and equipment, including six Euromissile HOT anti-tank missiles - SA 342M Gazelle: French army anti-tank version with four Euromissile HOT missiles, SGIM APX M397 stabilized sight. |
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The teardrop-shaped fuselage has a round, glassed-in cockpit and landing skids. The tapering tail boom mid-mounted on the fuselage has a swept-back tail fin which is tapered with a square tip and rectangular flats with small fins. The fan rotor housing is built into the lower tail. This was the first helicopter to carry a Fenestron or fantail, which allows considerable noise reduction. Also, the rotor blades were made of composite materials, a feature now widely used in modern helicopters.
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The SA 342M has a roof-mounted stabilized direct view/infrared/laser sight to allow night firing of HOT ATGMs. The helicopter is NVG (Night Vision Goggles) compatible; and by its instruments, avionics, autopilot, and navigation computer, is capable of flight in day, night, and instrument meteorological conditions. |
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The three-blade main rotor is mounted on top of the fuselage at the rear of the cabin. The single turboshaft engine, mounted on top of the fuselage and to the rear of the rotor shaft, features a prominent, upturned exhaust.
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The Gazelle is used primarily as an anti-tank gunship (SA 342M) armed with Euromissile HOT missiles. A light support version (SA 341F) equipped with a 20 mm cannon is used as well as anti-air variants carrying the Mistral air-to-air missile (Gazelle Celtic based on the SA 341F, Gazelle Mistral based on the SA 342M). The latest anti-tank and reconnaissance versions carry the Viviane thermal imagery system and so are called Gazelle Viviane.
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