Eurocopter EC635

The Eurocopter EC635 was developed to meet a Portuguese Army requirement for a light fire support and medical evacuation helicopter, as part of its programme for the raise of a specialist army aviation unit, the UALE. The EC635 was first revealed at the Aviation Africa exhibition in May 1998 and the Portuguese Ministry of Defence subsequently signed an agreement for nine EC635 T2 helicopters equipped with Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 engines, at a cost of €35 million in October 1999.[http://www.helis.com/news/1999/aeec635.htm Helis.com – Nine EC635 Helicopters For The Portuguese Army] Delivery of the first Portuguese aircraft was expected to begin in 2001; however, continual delays in production led to the Portuguese Ministry of Defence canceling the contract in August 2002, citing Eurocopter's failure to deliver all aircraft between August 2001 and April 2002 as the reason. Eurocopter claimed that disagreements over the integration of weapons systems on the helicopter were the reason for the cancellation.[http://www.helis.com/news/2002/aeec635.htm Helis.com – Portugal Cancels EC635 Contract]

The Royal Jordanian Air Force agreed to purchase the 9 Portuguese helicopters in October 2002 and the first aircraft was delivered in July 2003. Jordan ordered a further 4 helicopters in January 2006[http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/65687/jordanian-af-orders-4-additional-ec635s-(jan-10).html Defense Aerospace - Jordan AF orders 4 additional EC635s] and deliveries of all machines were completed in 2007.

In April 2006, the Swiss Defence Procurement Agency (Armasuisse) ordered 20 EC635s for the Swiss Air Force, to replace the aging Aérospatiale Alouette III in performing transport and advanced training missions. The first four aircraft were built by Eurocopter, with the remaining 16 being built by RUAG Aerospace in Alpnach, Switzerland, and deliveries were as expected completed between March 2008 and December 2009. [http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/68442/swiss-military-order-18-ec635s,-2-ec135s-(apr-26).html Defense Aerospace - Swiss Military order 18 EC635s, 2 EC135s][http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/111059/final-ec_635-delivered-to-swiss-air-force.html Defense Aerospace - Final EC635 delivered to Swiss Air Force][https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ec_635/ Airforce Technology - Projects EC635]

File:Swiss Air Force EC635P2+ T-351 cabin.jpg

The EC635 is based on the Eurocopter EC135, improving upon the design for military operations and making the helicopter capable of carrying weapons systems. The helicopter is fitted with a choice of powerplants, depending on customer requirements, and can be powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 (EC635 P2+), or two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 (EC635 T2+). The powerplant is mounted over the baggage compartment and features a Full Authority Digital Engine Control system. The engines power a fibre-reinforced composite Bearingless Main Rotor (BMR) with four blades, and the familiar Fenestron enclosed tail rotor, both of which reduce vibration and noise levels. Vibration levels are further reduced by a built-in Anti Resonance Isolation System (ARIS). The EC635 can be fitted with either a conventional cockpit consisting of a traditional dashboard or a glass cockpit, which utilizes a Thales 'Avionique Nouvelle' suite with MEGHAS Flight Control Display System and active matrix liquid crystal displays.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}

There are four configurations designed by Eurocopter for the EC635. The Troop Transport version can be fitted with utility seats to carry up to 7 troops with a pilot, or passenger seats to carry up to 6 people and a pilot. The Medical Evacuation version can carry 1 or 2 litters with up to 5 seated medical workers. The Cargo Transport version has 4.9 m³ (173.04 ft³) of space for cargo, while the Armed Mission version is equipped with specialist equipment and weapons for combat (such as the 70-mm-rocket launcher FZ233 from Belgian manufacturer Forges de Zeebrugge). The helicopter can also be fitted with a FLIR camera turret, an infra-red capable search light, SAR weather radar and electronic equipment for Observation Missions.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} Armed EC635s typically feature the Stand Alone Weapon System (SAWS) kit, which comprises a mission and firing control computer onto which various weapon systems and sensors can be integrated; such weapons have included 12.7 mm gun pods, a 20 mm cannon, 70 mm rockets and ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank missiles.

In March 2008, the Swiss Air Force received 18 EC635 P2s. The helicopters are to replace their aging fleet of Alouette IIIs in the utility and training role, two of the aircraft are in VIP configuration.{{cite web|url=http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaffe/en/home/dokumentation/assets/helicopter/ec_635.html|title=Eurocopter EC635|date=15 December 2010|publisher=Swiss Air Force|access-date=27 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620230631/http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaffe/en/home/dokumentation/assets/helicopter/ec_635.html|archive-date=20 June 2015|df=dmy-all}}[http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=480 Eurocopter Press Release – First Eurocopter EC635 For Swiss Air Force Takes To The Air] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222932/http://www.eurocopter.com/publications/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=480 |date=26 September 2007 }}

In 2009, Iraq bought 24 EC635 T2+ helicopters.{{harvnb|Delalande|2016|page=42}} The first two were delivered to Iraq on 8 May 2011.{{harvnb|Delalande|2016|page=43}} The Iraqi Army has used its EC635s in combat against militants of the Islamic State during the Iraqi Civil War.Martin, Guy. [http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40159:iraqi-ec635-stand-alone-weapon-system-ingwe-contract-concluded&catid=124:military-helicopters&Itemid=282 "Iraqi EC635 Stand Alone Weapon System, Ingwe contract concluded."] defenceweb.co.za, 4 August 2015. On 12 December 2014, an Iraqi Army EC635 helicopter was shot down by an insurgent-launched shoulder-fired rocket on the outskirts of the city of Samarra, about 95 kilometers north of Baghdad, killing the two pilots on board.{{cite news |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/islamic-state-group-shoots-down-iraqi-helicopter-1.319073 |title=Islamic State group shoots down Iraqi helicopter |date=13 December 2014 |publisher=Stars and Stripes}} Another EC635 was hit by enemy fire on 22 April 2015 and written off. Both crew members survived.{{harvnb|Delalande|2016|pages=66,76}} On 13 July of the same year, an EC635 was damaged by shrapnel, either from its own ordnance or due to enemy fire, in the Fallujah area. The helicopter caught fire and crash-landed, but both crew members were unharmed.{{harvnb|Delalande|2016|pages=67,76}}

File:Eurocopter EC 635 mock-up ILA 2012.jpg 2012]]

;EC635 T1

:Certified in 2001, same design as the EC135 T1 with structural reinforcement of cabin structure and powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turbine engines.

;EC635 P2 :Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 turbine engines.

;EC635 T2 :Powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turbine engines.

;EC635 P2+ :Certified in 2006, same design as the EC135 P2+ with structural reinforcement of cabin structure and powered by two PW206B2 turbine engines.

;EC635 T2+ :Certified in 2006, same design as the EC135 T2+ with structural reinforcement of cabin structure and powered by two Arrius 2B2 turbine engines.

;{{flag|Iraq}}

• Iraqi Army Aviation Command - 55th Attack Squadron{{harvnb|Delalande|2016|page=72}}

;{{Flag|Jordan}}

• Royal Jordanian Air Force{{cite web |last= |first= |year=2022 |title=World Air Forces 2022 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-international/how-afghanistans-fall-reshaped-world-air-forces-inventory/146576.article |url-access=registration |accessdate=4 February 2022 |publisher=Flightglobal Insight |doi=}}

;{{Flag|Spain}}

• Spanish Navy : 10 H135Ms{{cn|date=December 2022}}

;{{Flag|Switzerland}}

• Swiss Air Force : 19 EC635 P2+
• 20 purchased by the air force.
• 1 of the 20 lost in November 2024.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2024 |title=Swiss army helicopter crashed in Alpnachstad |url=https://defence-blog.com/swiss-army-helicopter-crashed-in-alpnachstad/}}

;{{Flag|UK}}

• Army Air Corps : 5 H135M ordered, Project Matcha, Gazelle replacement. Mothballed upon delivery{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/25/mod-accused-wastefulness-35m-helicopters-mothballed-flying/|title=Helicopters worth £35m mothballed before flying a single minute|first=Dannielle|last=Sheridan|website=The Telegraph|date=25 March 2023 }}

File:Eurcopter EC135 orthographical image.svg

{{Aircraft specs

|ref= Eurocopter EC635{{cite web|url=http://www.eurocoptercanada.com/site/docs_wsw/RUB_38/td_ec635.pdf |title=Eurocopter EC635 Technical Data Manual |access-date=23 July 2007 |publisher=Eurocopter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930093505/http://www.eurocoptercanada.com/site/docs_wsw/RUB_38/td_ec635.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2007 }} fas.org[https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/ec635.htm "EC635 – Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)."] fas.org, 12 May 2009.

|prime units?=met

|crew=1 pilot

|capacity= up to 8 troops or {{convert|1443|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}} payload

|length m=10.21

|height m=3.62

|empty weight kg=1,467

|max takeoff weight kg=2,900

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2

|eng1 type=turboshaft engines

|eng1 kw=609

|rot number=1

|rot dia m=10.2

|rot area sqm=81.7

|max speed kmh=259

|cruise speed kmh=254

|never exceed speed kmh=278

|range km=650

|ceiling m=6,095

|climb rate ms=10.9

}}

{{Portal|Aviation}}

{{aircontent

|related=

• MBB Bo 105
• Eurocopter EC135

|similar aircraft=

• AgustaWestland AW109
• Bell 427
• Bell 429 GlobalRanger
• MD Helicopters MD Explorer

|lists=

• List of rotorcraft

|see also=

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Delalande |first1=Arnaud |title=Iraqi Air Power Reborn: The Iraqi air arms since 2004 |date=2016 |publisher=Harpia Publishing |location=Houston |isbn=978-0-9854554-7-7}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/military-helicopters/light/h135m.html Eurocopter EC635 webpage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027021716/https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/military-helicopters/light/h135m.html |date=27 October 2018 }}
• [http://www.deagel.com/Tactical-Support-Helicopters/EC635_a000165001.aspx Deagel.com – EC635]
• [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/ec635.htm Federation of American Scientists – EC635 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/ec635.htm Global Security.org – EC635 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091228000509/http://www.easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/c/doc/Design_Appro/Rotorcraft/EASA.TCDS.R.009%20EC135%20Issue%203.pdf European Aviation Safety Agency Type Certificate Data Sheet]

{{Eurocopter}}

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