F
rance has sent two Eurocopter EC725 helicopters back to Afghanistan. The helos were airlifted to Kabul in late April using an Antonov An-124. It is a return visit for the EC725s, which were there last year for almost ten months before being relieved by Cougar helos. This time around, the French air force’s EC725s have replaced the French army’s Cougars.
It didn’t take the EC725s long to see action, either. The French defense ministry says the two rotorcraft performed escort duty for an Italian Chinook on May 11. The Chinook was moving troops between two camps near Kabul.
The EC725s flew along to provide electronic countermeasures protection and fire support in case it was needed. Each EC725 was carrying special operations personnel armed with 5.56 mm light machine guns to suppress potential threats.
The EC725s have now completed around 700 flight hours in Afghanistan. The Cougars, during their stay, flew 240 missions and 480 flight hours. They departed May 1 on an An-124s.
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