With advanced electronic systems, high mobility, diverse ωεɑρσռs, AS565 MBe Panther is considered one of the most powerful submarine hunting helicopters today. In addition to its terrifying anti-submarine capabilities, the AS565 Panther is used for a range of other military roles, including combat assault, fire support, anti-surface ωɑɾʄɑɾε, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.
The AS565 Panther was developed by French aerospace firm Aerospatiale in the early 1980s, but currently being built by Airbus Helicopter. Up to now, more than 550 AS565 helicopters have been built in France and a few other countries, exported to more than 20 countries around the world. Panther is a military version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter, one of the most widely used helicopters currently in the world, both civil and military. The Panther is capable of working well at sea, the use of many modern sensors that allow it to patrol, detect and attack targets more accurately.
The design of the AS565 Panther was influenced by its predecessor, the fuselage used more composite materials to provide high durability and low radar signal reflections. The helicopter has a length of 13.68m, 3.97m high, an empty weight of 2.38 tons and a maximum take-off weight of 4.3 tons. A beautiful, slender design from nose to tail, right behind the nose is the cockpit for a pilot and a co-pilot, designed almost entirely of glass for great vision. The crew enter or exit through a pair of car-hinged doors along the front of the fuselage. Behind the cockpit is arranged a passenger compartment, depending on the requirements of each customer, the internal equipment is changed to suit each task. Passengers access through two sliding doors on either side of the body.
In the commando-transport configuration, the Panther may carry up to 10 fully armed soldiers on board at a time in addition to the two pilots flying the aircraft. The main cabin can be rapidly reconfigured to conduct various roles, such as troop-transport, search and rescue, and MEDIVAC missions; optional equipment includes a full medical suite, forward-looking infrared camera, emergency flotation, loudspeaker, variable-speed hoist, cargo sling, search light, and a stretcher-support structure.
In 2014, the Indonesian Navy opted to procure 11 anti submarine ωɑɾʄɑɾε-equipped Panthers through Indonesian Aerospace. The helicopter’s missile system is also quite diverse, from Matra Mistral air-to-air missiles, AS15 anti-ship missiles, to HOT anti-tank missiles. The most feared killer on the AS565 Panther is the MK46 anti-ship torpedo, which is considered one of the most dangerous torpedoes today.
