The Eurocopter/Aerospatiale SA 341/342 Gazelle is a French built light utility helicopter which was first flown in 1967. Military missions include attack, antitank, antihelicopter, reconnaissance, utility, transport, and training. 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. 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.
External stores are mounted on weapons �outriggers� or racks on each side of the fuselage. Each rack has one hardpoint.
The bench seat in the cabin area can be folded down to leave a completely open cargo area. Cargo floor has tiedown rings throughout.
VARIANTS
AS 341 Gazelle: Developed by Aerospatiale in France. Others were built in the UK by Westland, and in Yugoslavia.
SA 341B/C/D/E: Production versions for the British military. Used in training and communications roles.
SA 341F: Production version for the French Army. Upgraded engine to Astazou IIIC.
SA 341H: Export variant.
SA 342K: Armed SA 341F with upgraded 870-shp Astazou XIVH engine, mostly exported to the Middle East.
SA 342L: Export light attack variant with Astazou XIVM engine.
SA 342M: Improved ground attack variant for the French Army. Similar to SA 342L, but
with improved instrument panel, engine exhaust baffles to reduce IR signature, navigational
systems, Doppler radar, and other night flying equipment.
Specifications
Country of Origin
France & UK
Builder
AEROSPATIALE, WESTLAND
Date of Introduction
1973
Role
General utility
Gazelle Hot : close air support, destruction of all type of targets (armoured vehicules, command posts, infrastructure, etc.)
Gazelle Mistral : real time air to air defense, overall defense operations against enemy helicopters and slow-moving aircraft.
Armament
Weapon & Armament Types
1 - 7.62-mm MG or
1 - 20-mm GIAT M.621 cannon [100 rounds] or
2 - 7.62-mm AA-52 FN MG pods [1,000 rounds]
2 - 2.75-in rocket pods (7 ea.)
2 - 68-mm SNEB rocket pods (12 ea)
2 - 57-mm rockets (18 ea.)
4-6 - HOT ATGM
4 - AT-3 SAGGER ATGM
2-4 - AS-11 ASM, or AS-12 ASM
2 - SA-7 GRAIL AAM
2 - MISTRAL AAM
Most Probable Armament:
SA 341F: A GIAT M.621 20-mm cannon is installed on starboard side of some aircraft. Rate of fire is selectable at 300 or 740 rpm.
SA 341H: Can carry 4x AT-3 ATGMs, and 2x SA-7, or 128-mm or 57-mm rockets, and 7.62-mm machinegun in cabin.
SA 342K: Armed antitank version with 4-6x HOT ATGMs.
SA 342L: Either rocket pods or machineguns.
SA 342M: Armed with 4-6x HOT antitank missiles, and possibly fitted with Mistral air to air missiles.
Survivability/Countermeasures
IR signature suppressor on engine exhaust.
AVIONICS
The SA 342M has a roof-mounted stabilized direct view/infrared/laser sight to allow
night firing of HOT ATGMs.
The aircraft is NVG compatible; and by its instruments, avionics, autopilot, and nav
computer, is capable of flight in day, night, and instrument meteorological conditions.
