Marignane, France – Airbus Helicopters announced the French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) took delivery of 2 upgraded AS532 Cougar helicopters for the French Army Aviation on Friday the 13th March.

Airbus Helicopters was awarded with the modernization program, by the French General Directorate for Armament, for the 26 Cougar aircraft operated by the French Army Aviation.

The upgrade includes, a new avionics suite and an exceptional automatic pilot similar to that of the H225M (formerly the EC725) which brings a similar human machine interface between the two aircraft.

Three AS532 Cougar were upgraded in 2013, and five more in 2014 and an additional seven aircraft will be delivered in 2015.

In April 2014, the modernized Cougar participated in its first operational deployment in Mali as part of Operation Barkhane alongside the Tiger.