INTERMEDIATE BUILD

AS565 PANTHER

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

AS565 PANTHER

32 Airfi x Model World

E

urocopter’s (now Airbus

Helicopters) AS565 Panther

is the military version of

its AS365 Dauphin twin-

engined helicopter.

The Panther is

configured for

multiple roles, including

combat assault, fire support,

anti-submarine/surface warfare,

search and rescue, and medical

evacuation. Primary users include

the French Navy and Brazilian

Army, although it has also been

exported

to Israel, Saudi

Arabia and Indonesia.

The former took delivery of 15

AS565s between 1993 and 1998

for maritime operations and since

2008, they have been routinely

dispatched on French frigates in

support of Operation Atalanta, a

long-term pan-European counter-

piracy effort in the Gulf of Aden.

In May 2009, France announced

a major mid-life upgrade

programme for its Panther fleet;

this was focused on upgrades

to the cockpit displays and

defensive/offensive equipment.

The additions and alterations

include night-vision goggle

compatible consoles, improved

electro-optical sensors, a new

anti-jamming radio and Link 11

data link, plus the introduction a

self-protection system. On May

31, 2011 the first of 16 ‘Standard

2’ Panthers was returned to the

urocopter’s (now Airbus

Helicopters) AS565 Panther

is the military version of

its AS365 Dauphin twin-

engined helicopter.

The Panther is

configured for

multiple roles, including

combat assault, fire support,

anti-submarine/surface warfare,

search and rescue, and medical

evacuation. Primary users include

the French Navy and Brazilian

Army, although it has also been

exported

to Israel, Saudi

Arabia and Indonesia.

The former took delivery of 15

AS565s between 1993 and 1998

for maritime operations and since

2008, they have been routinely

dispatched on French frigates in

support of Operation Atalanta, a

long-term pan-European counter-

piracy effort in the Gulf of Aden.

In May 2009, France announced

a major mid-life upgrade

programme for its Panther fleet;

this was focused on upgrades

to the cockpit displays and

defensive/offensive equipment.

The additions and alterations

include night-vision goggle

compatible consoles, improved

electro-optical sensors, a new

anti-jamming radio and Link 11

data link, plus the introduction a

self-protection system. On May

31, 2011 the first of 16 ‘Standard

2’ Panthers was returned to the

Duncan Cooke builds Trumpeter’s 1/35

AS565 Panther straight from the box as

an Aéronautique Navale machine

French

Feline

 Two PE frets were included; these supplied finer details, such as seatbelts, airframe

grilles and antennas.

 Assembly started with the cockpit seating, with each unit comprising ten styrene and

three PE components, which greatly enhanced the overall appearance.