Rotorhub
Super Frelon bows out
The last French Navy Super Frelons are being withdrawn from active service tomorrow.
The last four aircraft serving with 32 Flotille at Lanvéoc-Poulmic will bow out on Friday, 30 April.
The aircraft was developed by Aerospatiale in the 1960s designed for the French Navy's anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission operating from the decks from French warships. They also operated from shore bases screening the areas outside submarine bases to protect ballistic missile submarines as they left harbour on their patrol duties. Others were modified to fire Exocet anti-ship missiles.
More recently the type was being used for the long range Search and Rescue missions, rescuing more than 2,000 people during its career.
Unfortunately, the type has become extremely costly to maintain in recent years, with servicability levels falling dramatically according to the French Defence Procurement Agency, the DGA.
The aircraft will be replaced in the ASW role by the NH90, of which the French Navy is buying 27 examples. The first naval NH90 is due to arrive in 2011.
In the interim, two EC225 helicopters have been purchased to operate in the long-range SAR role. The first of these arrived at Lanvéoc on 22 April as reported on Rotorhub.com earlier today.
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