Aérospatiale Gazelle Totally Explained

Everything about Aerospatiale Gazelle totally explained

The Gazelle is a French-designed helicopter, created by the company Sud Aviation, which later became Aérospatiale, and later still Eurocopter.

Design and development

The Aérospatiale Gazelle originated in a French Army requirement for a lightweight utility helicopter. The design quickly attracted British interest, leading to a development and production share out agreement with British company Westland Helicopters (later AgustaWestland). The deal, signed in February 1967, allowed the production in Britain of 292 Gazelles and 48 Aérospatiale Pumas ordered by the British armed forces, in return Aérospatiale were given a work share in the manufacturing programme for the 40 Westland Lynx naval helicopters for the French Navy.
   Though the general layout resembles that of the Alouette series, the Gazelle featured several important innovations. 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.
   In service with the French Army Light Aviation, the ALAT, the Gazelle is used primarily as an anti-tank gunship (SA 342M) armed with HOT missiles. A light support version equipped with a 20 mm cannon is used (SA 341F) 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. The Gazelle is being replaced in frontline duties by the Eurocopter Tiger but will continue to be used for light transport and liaison roles.
   It also served with all branches of the British armed forces—the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines) and the British Army in a variety of roles. Four versions of the Gazelle were used by the British Forces. The SA.341D became the Gazelle HT.3 in RAF service, equipped as a helicopter pilot trainer (hence HT). The SA 341E was used by the RAF for communications duties and VIP transport as the Gazelle HCC.4. The SA 341C was purchased as the Gazelle HT.2 pilot trainer for the Royal Navy. The training variants have now been replaced by the Squirrel HT1. The SA 341B was equipped to a specification for the Army Air Corps as the Gazelle AH.1 (from Army Helicopter Mark 1). It was used as an Air Observation Post (AOP) for directing artillery fire, Airborne Forward Air Controller (ABFAC) directing ground-attack aircraft, casualty evacuation, liaison, and command and control, and communications relay.
   The Gazelle flown by the British Army Air Corps has recently been enhanced with a Direct Voice Input (DVI) system developed by QinetiQ. It allows for voice control of avionics equipment using standard aircrew helmet microphones and intercom. Being speaker independent, the system doesn't need to be trained to recognize a specific user. This means high command recognition rates may be achieved whether or not the user has operated the system before. It gives aircrew the ability to control aircraft systems using voice commands and access information without removing their hands from the flight controls or their eyes from the outside world.
   Gazelles were also manufactured in Egypt by ABHCO and in Yugoslavia by SOKO.

Operational history

France ť The French army deployed the Gazelle on many occasions, especially during interventions in Africa and peacekeeping operations. This includes Chad (1980s), the former Yugoslavia (1990s), Djibouti (1991-1992), Somalia (1993) and Cote d'Ivoire (2002-Present). During Operation Desert Storm, HOT-carrying Gazelles were used against Iraqi armour.

Iraq ť Iraq received an important number of Gazelles and HOT missiles in the '70s and '80s. They were used intensively in the Iran-Iraq War. During the Gulf War they saw little use, because of allied air supremacy.

Syria ť Syrian Gazelles were used during 1982 Lebanon War. They had some success against Israeli armour, but suffered heavy losses.

United Kingdom ť The Gazelle was used in combat in the Falkland Islands, Kuwait, Iraq and Kosovo and with 8 Flight Army Air Corps in support of 22 Special Air Service Regiment. It was also used for air patrols in Northern Ireland. British Gazelles were only armed when used in the Falklands, where they were fitted with machine guns and rocket pods, but these were not used.

Ex-Yugoslavia ť SA 341/342 Gazelle GAMA (Yugoslav version) was used by Republika Srpska Air Force and Republika Srpska Krajna Militia Air Force during the Yugoslav civil wars (1991-1995), and by the Yugoslav air force during the Kosovo war.

Lebanon ť The Gazelle was used by the Lebanese Air Force against the Al Qaeda-inspired militants of Fatah al-Islam during the battle of Nahr el-Bared.

Ireland ť The Irish Air Corps formerly operated two Gazelle helicopters as pilot training aircraft.

Variants

SA 341.001 ť Prototype.

;SA 341 ť Four pre-production machines.

SA 341.1001 ť First French production machine.

;SA 341B (Westland Gazelle AH.1) ť Version built for the British Army.

SA 341C (Westland Gazelle HT.2) ť Training helicopter version built for British Fleet Air Arm.

;SA 341D (Westland Gazelle HT.3) ť Training helicopter version built for British Royal Air Force.

SA 341E (Westland Gazelle HCC.4) ť Liaison helicopter version built for British Royal Air Force.

;SA 341F ť Version built for the French Army version.

SA 341F/Cannon ť French Army SA 341Fs fitted an M621 20-mm cannon.

;SA 341G ť Civil variant, powered by one Astazou IIIA turboshaft engine.

SA 341H ť Military export variant, powered by one Astazou IIIB turboshaft engine.

;SA 341H Partizan ť Built under licence in Yugoslavia.

SA 341M ť French Army version fitted with the more powerful 649-kW (870-shp) Astazou XIV turboshaft engine.

;SA 342J ť Civil variant, fitted with the more powerful 649-kW (870-shp) Astazou XIV turboshaft engine.

SA 342K ť Military export version, fitted with the more powerful 649-kW (870-shp) Astazou XIV turboshaft engine.

;SA 342L ť Military version of the SA 342J civil model built for the French Army, fitted with the more powerful 649-kW (870-shp) Astazou XIV turboshaft engine.

SA 342L1 ť Export version of the SA 342L.

;SA 342M ť French Army anti-tank helicopter, it can be armed with four HOT anti-tank missiles.

SA 342M1 ť Standard SA 342M retrofitted with three Ecureuil main blades and received some minor modifications concerning its weight balance, in order to integrate a night sighting unit.

;Soko HO-42 ť Yugoslav-built version of SA 341H.

Soko HI-42 Hera ť Yugoslav-built scout version of SA 341H.

;Soko HN-42M Gama ť Yugoslav-built attack version of SA 341H.

Soko HN-45M Gama 2 ť Yugoslav-built attack version of SA 342L.

;Soko HS-42 ť Yugoslav-built medic version of SA 341H.

Operators

Military operators

People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola operates about 7 aircraft.
:
Burundi Army Aviation operates 2 aircraft.
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Cameroon Air Force operates 2 aircraft.
;:
Cyprus Air Force operates 4 aircraft.
:
Ecuadorian Army operates about 20 aircraft.
:
Egyptian Air Force operates about 84 aircraft.
:
French Army
:
Gabon Air Force operates 5 aircraft.
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Guinea Air Force operates 1 aircraft.
;
;:
Kuwait Air Force operates 13 aircraft.
;:
Air Defense operates 4 aircraft
:
Royal Moroccan Air Force operates 24 aircraft.
;
;:
Serbian Air Force operates 61 aircraft
- 252. Mixed-Aviation Squadron
- 138. Mixed-Transport-Aviation Squadron
- 714. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron
- 119. Combined-Arms Helicopter Squadron
  :
Syrian Air Force operates 38 aircraft.
;
:
United Arab Emirates Air Force operates 1 aircraft.
:
Army Air Corps
Royal Air Force
- No. 32 Squadron RAF
Royal Marines
Royal Navy

Law Enforcement operators

Republika Srpska Police operates 6 aircrafts donated from ex-Republika Srpska Air Force

Montenegro Police operates 3 aircraft

Serbian Police operates 10 aircraft

Former military operators

Republika Srpska Air Force operated total about 20 helicopters, 6 passed to Republika Srpska police and Republika Srpska government, other passed to Bosnian Military

728. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron
89. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron
:

FR Yugoslav Air Force

890. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron Pegazi
897. Mixed-Helicopter Squadron Stršljeni
712. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron Škorpioni
714. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron Senke
:

SFR Yugoslav Air Force operated about 207 helicopters, passed to successor states

890. Transport Helicopter Squadron
782. Helicopter Squadron
782. Helicopter Squadron
783. Helicopter Squadron
712. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron
714. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron
333. Aviation Squadron
711. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron
713. Anti-Armoure Helicopter Squadron
EIV of 1st Army region
EIV of 2nd Army region
EIV of 3rd Army region
EIV of Navy region

Specifications (SA 341)

Further Information

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