EC725 Caracal

The EC725 Caracal is now known as the Airbus H225M. It is the military member of the Super Puma/Cougar family and serves as a heavy multi-role helicopter for special operations, combat search and rescue, tactical transport, and medical evacuation. Airbus describes the H225M as serving 12 nations with more than 150 aircraft in service. The French armed forces use the Caracal as a tactical and logistical transport helicopter, giving France a long-range rotorcraft for operations where reach and payload matter.

The Caracal's design is built around range and multi-mission endurance. Airbus lists a 920 km range, extendable to 1,253 km with auxiliary tanks, and notes air-to-air or hover in-flight refueling capability. The helicopter uses two Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines and a five-blade main rotor with low vibration and modular Spheriflex mechanical assemblies. All-weather, night-vision-compatible operation from land or ships makes the aircraft useful for high-threat, austere, and maritime environments.

Operationally, the H225M/EC725 is a theater mobility and rescue platform rather than a simple utility helicopter. Airbus cites combat use since 2007 and operational theaters including Lebanon, Afghanistan, Chad, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Somalia, Mali, and Libya-related NATO operations. Its combination of range, refueling, sensors, self-protection, and cabin capacity supports missions where crews must recover personnel or insert forces far from secure bases. That makes it strategically more valuable than a short-range transport helicopter.