The Aerospatiale Alouette III is a French Skylark single engine used as a light utility helicopter, developed by Sud Aviation and manufactured by French Aerospatiale. The first version of the Alouette III, the SE 3160 prototype, first flew in 1959.
Production of the SA 316A (SE 3160) began in 1960 and continued until 1968. It was replaced by SA 316B. The Alouette III is the successor to the Alouette II, with a bigger engine and more seats.
The
Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine is the original production variant, the Alouette III is known for its mountain rescue and adaptability to land and marine applications. The Argentine Navy purchased 14 helicopters, 3 of which were of the original SE3160 design, 7 had more powerful and stronger engines than the SA316B, and 4 SA319B machines were more powerful than the other two versions.
Alouette III served in the French Armed Forces in 1960. Many were used by the Foreign Legion from 1964 to 1967. Three machines were delivered from France to be assembled locally in Australia and used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Pakistan purchased 35 machines and used them in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. Two of the PAF's aircraft were shot down during the war, and during the Portuguese colonial wars of the 60s and 70s, a large number of helicopters were used in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea, proving their quality in dusty and hot flying conditions.
An SA316B purchased by Argentina was carried on the ARA General Belgrano when it was sunk by an HMS Conqueror S48 during the 1982 Falklands War with the United Kingdom.
The SA 316B and SA 319B remained in series production until the closure of the main production line in France in the early 1980s. However, HAL in India continued to manufacture the Alouette III under the Chetak name.
In 2004, most of the Alouette IIIs were retired from the French Air Force after 32 years of successful service. It will be replaced by the Eurocopter EC 355 Ecureuil 2. That same year, the Swiss Army announced the complete withdrawal of Alouette III from the front in 2006 and 2010 in the late 1990s.
Many units are still in service in Africa and parts are available from India.
- Ground Attack
- Close-Air Support (CAS)
- Reconnaissance (RECCE)
42. 13 ft (12. 84 m)
36. 15 ft (11. 02 m)
9. 84 ft (3 m)
2,474 lb (1,122 kg)
4,850 lb (2,200 kg)
130 mph (210 kph; 113 kts)
7,379 feet (2,249 m; 1. 4 miles)
298 miles (480 km; 259 nm)
885 ft/min (270 m/min)
Mission specific armament can include any of the following:
1 x 7. 62mm machine gun (mounted on tripod in right-side doorway).
1 x 20mm cannon fixed to left-side of fuselage.
2 or 4 x AS. 11 anti-tank missiles.
2 x Mk. 44 Torpedoes.
SE 3160 Alouette III - first designated model
SA 316A Alouette III - original production designation; uses Turbomeca engine.
SA 316B Alouette III - Improved transmission, increased take-off weight.
SA 319 Alouette III Atazou - with 600 hp Turbomeca Astazou turboshaft engine.
IAR 316 - Locally-produced (under license) Romanian Air Force model based on the SA 316B.
IAR-317 "Airfox" - Romanian-produced attack helicopter prototype based on Alouette III.
"Chetak" - the Indian production version of the SA 316B model.