SA.365 N Dauphin 2, F-AZGG

Mathll · September 7, 2026, 1:53pm

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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I am presenting a new helicopter to be added to the French tech tree, a rather unique aircraft: the DGA’s SA.365 N Dauphin 2.

During the 1960s, the French military began looking for a replacement for its aging fleet of Alouette II and Alouette III light transport helicopters. A tender was therefore issued for a new multi-role helicopter capable of performing a variety of missions, including transport and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

Sud Aviation, drawing on its extensive experience in helicopter design and production, responded to the requirement with two different concepts: a single-engine aircraft designated SA.360/361 Dauphin 1, and a twin-engine aircraft designated SA.365 Dauphin 2. The latter was ultimately selected, and deliveries of the first production aircraft followed soon afterward.

Like many successful aircraft, the Dauphin underwent several upgrades throughout its career. The version presented here is the SA.365 N, which introduced more powerful engines and enlarged control surfaces, improving the helicopter’s overall performance and handling characteristics. This version remains in service with the French armed forces today, although the surviving aircraft have since been upgraded to the more advanced N3 standard.

The specific aircraft I am proposing is one of these SA.365 N models, registered as F-AZGG. Unlike the standard Dauphins operated by the French military, however, this particular aircraft was operated by the DGA, the French government’s agency responsible for defense procurement, testing, and evaluation.

F-AZGG is a particularly interesting example because it was extensively modified by the DGA to accommodate additional equipment and serve as a dedicated test platform for various weapon systems. Among the most notable systems tested from this helicopter was the ANL missile, known in British service as Sea Venom.

These modifications gave the aircraft a unique role within the French defense industry, turning an otherwise conventional Dauphin into a specialized weapons testbed. Its combination of the Dauphin’s performance and the additional equipment carried for weapons trials makes the DGA’s AS365N a particularly unusual and interesting candidate for the French tech tree.

Characteristics

Length : 13.73 m

Width : 11.94 m

Height : 4.06 m

Mass :

Empty : 2,389 kg
Max : 4,000 kg

The aircraft is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C engines, each delivering 838 hp, enabling it to reach a top speed of 306 km/h and a service ceiling of 5,865 m. It has an operational range of 827 km.

The crew consists of a pilot and a co-pilot, with space for 11 additional passengers in the rear cabin.

Equipment

To effectively employ its weaponry, the aircraft is equipped with an optronic targeting system, specifically, the Chlio FLIR pod mounted on the port side, which allows for precise missile guidance during engagement.

Weapons

The aircraft’s armament configuration is relatively simple, featuring a single hardpoint on each side of the cabin. It carries the ANL (Light Anti-Ship Missile), an infrared-guided missile with a range of approximately 20 km and a warhead weighing around 30 kg; it supports “man-in-the-loop” control and can also be used against land targets.

In-game, this aircraft would be an excellent addition to the French tech tree, offering significant strike capabilities while being balanced by a lack of other weaponry or defensive systems, such as countermeasures.

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