A NEW COUGAR FOR THE 2ND EMERGENCY HELICOPTER BATTALION

The Eurocopter factory in Albacete has received a Cougar MK-1 helicopter, which will come into service in the 2nd Emergency Helicopter Battalion in Bétera (Valencia), which belongs to the Army Helicopter Forces. The operational use of this helicopter will correspond to the Military Disaster Relief Unit.

This is the second of the four Cougar MK-1 helicopters scheduled for acquisition before the end of 2011, as the initial phase for completing the equipment of 2nd Emergency Helicopter Battalion helicopter assets. This unit already has four EC-135 light helicpters for observation, reconnaissance, command and control as well as evacuation missions.

The Cougar MK-1 is a very versatile aircraft that reaches cruising speeds of approximately 250 km/h and can transport a 1,500 kg payload when fully fuelled. It has an endurance of nearly 5 flight hours, enough to reach any point of the peninsula without refuelling.

Its digital equipment is the latest generation, which allows it to undertake flights in instument mode and with night vision googles. With this helicopter, search missions may be undertaken thanks to its capabilities of reconnaissance, image capture and transmission by means of a gyrostabilised camera and mission console. Also, this aircraft permits carrying out circumstantial medical evacuations or participating in fire extinction, among other missions.