Gazelle battalion
The Bataillon d’Hélicoptères de
Reconnaissance et d’Attaque (BHRA),
responsible for the regiment’s Gazelle fleet,
has three Escadrilles d’Hélicoptères de
Reconnaissance et d’Attaque (EHRA 1, 2 and
3) equipped with the SA342M1 and SA342Ma
variants plus a Gazelle maintenance squadron- Escadrille de Maintenance Hélicoptères
de Reconnaissance et d’Attaque (EMHRA).
Introduced in 1992, the SA342M1 is the
reconnaissance and attack version of the
Gazelle, equipped with the Viviane camera
and laser rangefinder system. The optical and
thermal cameras are controlled by a joystick
and are used day and night in combination
with up to four HOT air-to-ground missiles.
The more sparsely equipped SA342Ma
variant is used for crew training and
as an airborne sniper platform (appui
feu tireur embarqué, AFTE).
Both models of
Gazelle are expected
to continue in 3e RHC
service until 2030 before
being replaced by the new
Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger
(HIL, Joint Light Helicopter), based
on the Airbus Helicopters H160.
The 3e RHC’s support battalion – the
Bataillon d’Appui Aéromobile (BAA) –
consists of three squadrons: the Escadrille
de Commandement et Logistique (ECL,
responsible for command and logistics),
Escadrille de Services d’Aérodrome (ESA,
airport services) and Escadrille de Défense
et Protection (EDP), a base defence
unit composed of reserve soldiers.Mali and St Martin
Earlier this year the 3e RHC deployed to Mali,
together with ground troops, for four months.The soldiers had to be
operationally ready as
soon as they arrived
in West Africa, which
required extensive
training and assessment
before their departure.
Once the regiment
returns, the 1e RHC
from Phalsbourg will
take its place in Mali.
Meanwhile, helicopters from
the 3e RHC are currently also
operating in Djibouti and the Ivory Coast.
Last year the unit also deployed to
the Caribbean in response to Hurricane
Irma, which peaked on September 6
with 180mph (285km/h) winds. A pair
of 3e RHC Pumas supported the rescue
and evacuation mission in the region.
Six hours after the call from Paris,
the first SA330B was loaded into an
A400M airlifter which brought it direct
to Saint Martin. The other helicopter
operated between Saint Martin’s airport
and different ships in the area.SA330B serial 1231 (c/n 1231) ‘DDK’ wears the sand and brown scheme developed for operations in Africa. In recent years, the 3e RHC has been deployed in
combat in Afghanistan (Opération Pamir), Libya (Harmattan) and Mali (Serval). It’s now involved in ongoing missions in the Sahel (Barkhane), Central African
Republic (Sangaris) and Djibouti (Atalante).Above: SA330B serial 1176 (c/n 1176) ‘DAS’ in fl ight, close to Étain-Rouvres air
base. As well as overseas missions, the regiment takes part in regular domestic
assignments including Opérations Vigipirate and Héphaïstos, which tackle
terrorism and forest fi res respectively. Right: Of the regiment’s 24 operational
SA330 Puma crews, half are normally engaged in missions outside France and its
European regions.AFM74 // JUNE 2018 #363 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comALAT 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment
being replaced by the new
Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger
(HIL, Joint Light Helicopter), based
on the Airbus Helicopters H160.The soldiers had to be
operationally ready as
soon as they arrivedbefore their departure.returns, the 1e RHC
from Phalsbourg will
take its place in Mali.
Meanwhile, helicopters from
the 3e RHC are currently also