Rotorcraft
French Navy Revamps Its Helicopter Fleet
AS 365s and H160s helicopters are being leased to cover a gap between the retirement of the Aérospatiale Alouette III and the arrival of the H160M.
A French navy Flottille 35F crew poses with one of the squadron's six SAR-configured AS 365N helicopters during recent trials aboard the frigate La Fayette. (Photo: Ministère des Armées)
A French navy Flottille 35F crew poses with one of the squadron's six SAR-configured AS 365N helicopters during recent trials aboard the frigate La Fayette. (Photo: Ministère des Armées)

In late April the French navy conducted the first deployment of an Airbus AS 365N Dauphin helicopter to a frigate. A single aircraft and seven sailors from the navy's Flottille 35F squadron embarked aboard the La Fayette for a week of evaluation while the vessel sailed near Toulon, clearing the search and rescue (SAR) version of the Dauphin for service at sea in advance of the acquisition of new AS 365Ns for the role.