Vietnam EC-155B1 helicopter is equipped with fire guidance radar?
Vietnam's EC-155B1 is still known as the civilian version of the AS565 Panther series with anti-submarine and anti-ship functions in the improved variant.
Eurocopter Dauphin, also known as AS-365/ EC-155, is a twin-engine multi-purpose helicopter primarily used for transport, rescue and anti-submarine purposes. Vietnam's Dauphin helicopter is a transport-rescue version assigned to Vietnam Helicopter Corporation.
The aircraft is operated by a crew of two; it is 13.73 m long; rotor diameter 11.94 m; height 4.06 m; empty weight 2,411 kg, maximum take-off weight 4,300 kg.
The heart of the EC-155B1 helicopter is two Turbomeca Arriel 2C engines with a capacity of 625 kW (838 shp) each for a maximum speed of 306 km/h, a flight range of 827 km, a ceiling of 5,865 m, and a capacity of 11 passengers.
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| Vietnam EC-155B1 helicopter |
One detail that needs attention is that Vietnam's EC-155B1 helicopter is a civilian version, meaning it is not integrated with equipment optimized for combat missions such as sonar or guidance radar.
However, recently in the People's Army newspaper, in an articleYoung engineers fight on many "battlefronts"There are images of Vietnam's EC-155B1 helicopter equipped with radar in the front cowl.
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| Radar of Vietnam EC-155B1 helicopter |
It is not clear what type of radar this is, whether it only has a patrol function or can also serve as a guidance role for anti-ship missiles like the type installed on the AS565 Panther version.
But with the actual situation in Vietnam, the helicopters assigned to economic units for exploitation such as Mi-8, Mi-17 or Mi-171 are all capable of carrying rockets to perform fire support missions when necessary. Therefore, we have the right to hope that Vietnam's EB-155B1 is equipped with missile fire control radar.
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| KLC-3B multi-function radar equipped for China's Z-9D naval helicopter |
Looking at the Chinese Navy, they are using a lot of Z-9C/D shipborne helicopters, which are distant relatives of the EC-155B1 currently serving in the 18th Corps of Vietnam.
Thanks to the KLC-1 and KLC-3B multi-function radars, it plays a very good role as an extension of the warship. If Vietnam's EC-155B1 helicopter has a multi-function radar, its future role when urgently mobilized for defense missions will be no less than the Z-9C/D.
