AS.350 L1 Ecureuil, F-ZVLT

Mathll · September 7, 2026, 1:55pm

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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I am presenting a new French helicopter: the AS.350 L1 Écureuil, registered F-ZVLT.

In the early 1970s, Aérospatiale, already renowned for successful helicopters such as the Alouette and the Dauphin, began developing a new lightweight utility helicopter. The objective was to create a single-engine aircraft capable of combining a relatively low weight with good flight performance and sufficient versatility to fulfill a wide range of civilian and military missions.

After several years of development, the first prototype made its maiden flight in 1974, and serial production began in 1978. The aircraft quickly became a major success, both in France and abroad. Over the following decades, more than 7,000 examples of the Écureuil family were produced, making it one of the most successful helicopter designs in history.

In France, the Écureuil has primarily been operated by the Gendarmerie since 1982, with 18 aircraft entering service. Several remain operational today, although they are expected to be replaced in the coming years. The French Air Force, meanwhile, operates the militarized twin-engine version of the design, better known as the Fennec.

The aircraft I am presenting today, however, is a rather unique example: an AS.350 modified specifically to evaluate the integration of weapons. This particular helicopter, registered F-ZVLT, was loaned by Aérospatiale to GAM STAT at Valence, where it was converted into a test platform for various armament configurations.

The trials proved successful and eventually led to the development of the AS.350 L1 armed variant. This version featured two hardpoints, one mounted on each side of the fuselage, allowing it to carry a variety of weapons and external payloads.

Presented publicly at the 1995 Paris Air Show, the armed Écureuil attracted interest from several potential customers, notably Brazil, Singapore, and Chad. Despite this international interest, France never adopted the armed version beyond the original experimental aircraft.

As a result, F-ZVLT remained a unique machine: a one-off French testbed combining the agility and versatility of the Écureuil with an experimental weapons capability, making it a particularly interesting candidate for the French helicopter tree.

Characteristics

Length : 12.94 m

Width : 10.69 m

Height : 3.34 m

Mass :

Empty : 1,162 kg
Max : 2,150 kg

The aircraft is powered by a single Turbomeca Arriel 1D turboshaft engine producing 693 hp (maximum), allowing it to reach a speed of 272 km/h and a service ceiling of 4,500 m. Its range at a cruising speed of 230 km/h is 655 km.

The crew consists of a pilot and a co-pilot.

Weapons

The helicopter’s armament is mounted on two hardpoints (plus an internal cabin installation), allowing for a wide range of weapon configurations. The available armament includes:

Cannons:

1 x 20 mm GIAT M621 (fixed starboard hardpoint or cabin-mounted turret)
2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (fixed port and starboard hardpoints)

Rockets:

2 x Telson JF 12 rocket pods (12 x 68 mm) (fixed port and starboard hardpoints)
2 x Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 x 70 mm) (fixed port and starboard hardpoints)

Missiles (unlikely):

2 x Mistral missiles (an image shows the aircraft carrying two missiles on a static display stand; however, no source corroborates this configuration)

In-game, this aircraft would be a welcome addition to the French tree, offering a versatile platform with moderate firepower that could complement the early Battle Ratings and ranks of the French tech tree.

Pictures

Sources