The Aérospatiale (formerly Sud Aviation) SA321 Super Frelon (Super Frelon – "Super Hornet") is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) of France. The helicopter is still in use in the Republic of China where the locally produced version is known as the H-8.
Variants[]
- SE.2000 Frelon: Prototype transport helicopter powered by three 597 kW (800 hp) Turbomeca Turmo IIIB engines driving a four-bladed rotor of 50 feet (15.24 meters) diameter. Two built, the first flying on June 10th, 1958.
- SA321: Preproduction aircraft. Four built.
- SA321F: Commercial airline helicopter, powered by three Turbomeca IIIC-3 turboshaft engines, with accommodation for 34 to 37 passengers.
- SA321G: Anti-submarine warfare version for the French Navy, it was powered by three Turbomeca IIIC-6 turboshaft engines; 26 built.
- SA321Ga: Utility and assault transport helicopter for the French Navy.
- SA321GM: Export version for Libya, fitted with Omera ORB-32WAS RDF.
- SA321H: Export version for Iraq, it was powered by three Turbomeca Turmo IIIE turboshaft engines, fitted with Omera ORB-31D search RDF, and armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles.
- SA321J: Commercial transport helicopter and accommodation for 27 passengers.
- SA321Ja: Improved version of the SA 321J.
- SA321K: Military transport version for Israel.
- SA321L: Military transport version for South Africa, fitted with air inlet filters.
- SA321M: Search and rescue, utility transport helicopter for Libya.
- CAMCO H-8: Chinese built version with three Changzhou Lan Xiang WZ6 turboshaft engines.
- CAMCO H-8A: Army transport version.
- CAMCO H-8F: Chinese built version with Pratt & Whitney PT6B-67A turboshaft engines.
- CAMCO H-8AEW: Chinese AEW helicopter with retractable radar antenna, AESA radar, 360 degree coverage, redesigned nose similar to the AC313, and FLIR.
- CAMCO H-8L: Chinese variant with enlarged fuel sponsons, first spotted in January 2019.
