Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV
Romanian helicopter manufacturer IAR has begun flight testing the IAR330 Puma Anti-Tank Optronic Search and Combat System (SOCAT) upgrade. The helicopter made its first flight from Brasov in late May.
While the prototype was displayed at the Paris air show last year, its new avionics system was only recently cleared for flight trials, says IAR.
The SOCATavionics and weapons upgrade gives IAR-built Puma airframes anti-armour, close air support and reconnaissance capabilities, alongside their normal transport role. The programme is being run in co-operation with Elbit Systems of Israel, which is leading a team of international partners including GEC-Marconi of the UK, the USA's Honeywell and Rafael of Israel.
"The upgraded IAR330 SOCAT will furnish the Romanian air force with the capabilities required for performing multiple missions at least until 2015," says Romanian defence ministry procurement chief Dan Zaharia.
Weapons for the IAR330 could include Rafael NT-D anti-tank missiles, a Giat 20mm gun turret and rockets and air-to-air missiles. The helicopter also carries an electro-optical system fitted with a daytime television camera.
The Romanian armed forces want 24 SOCATs by 2002. With the planned procurement of 96 AH-1RO Dracula helicopters - Bell AH-1W Cobras licence-produced in Romania - this will bring the country up to its internationally agreed attack helicopter limit.
The AH-1RO programme is stalled over lack of funding, although efforts continue to beat the defence cuts made in Romania at the insistence of the International Monetary Fund. Romanian sources close to the project say that a funding concept involving a Swiss bank and US investment house Merrill Lynch is awaiting Romanian Government clearance.
Source: Flight International