The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS550 Fennec and AS555 Fennec 2 are lightweight, multipurpose military helicopters manufactured by Eurocopter Group (now Airbus Helicopters). Based on the AS350 Ecureuil and AS355 Ecureuil 2 series, they are named after the fennec fox. The armed versions of the AS550 and AS555 can be fitted with coaxial weapons, rockets, torpedoes and various other munitions.
As a result of the Vienna Treaty, military variants of the Écureuil were marketed under a separate designation; thus from 1990 onwards the type was marketed as the Fennec.
In February 2007, India selected the AS550 C3 Fennec over the Bell 407 helicopter in a deal for 197 helicopters worth 500 million USD. This deal was suspended in June 2007 because of concerns of alleged corruption in the bidding process, and cancelled outright on 6 December 2007. The contract is now being re-competed, and the AS550 C3 is among the helicopters competing for the deal. However India chose Kamov Ka-226T over AS550 C3 in the refreshed tender.
On 20 January 2011, Royal Malaysian NavyPASKAL commandos rescued a hijacked Malaysian chemical tanker and its crew from Somali pirates. A Fennec helicopter provided reconnaissance and aerial gunfire to keep the pirate's mother ship at bay while commandos boarded the tanker.
Variants
Single engine
AS350 L1/L2 Ecureuil – Original military variants of AS350.
AS550 C2 Fennec – Armed version based on AS350 B2.
AS550 U2 Fennec – Unarmed version based on AS350 B2.
AS550 C3 Fennec – Armed version based on AS350 B3.
Twin engine
AS355 M/M2 Ecureuil 2 – Original military variants of AS355 F.
AS555 AF Fennec 2 – Armed version based on AS355 N.
AS555 AN Fennec 2 – Armed military version, can be fitted with a 20 mm cannon.
AS555 AR Fennec 2 – Armed with cannon and rockets.