This year in 2021, the Aérospatiale/EuroCopter/Airbus Helicopter AS532 ‘Cougar’ has been in use with the 300 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force for over 25 years. This unit is part of the Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) and is based at Gilze-Rijen Air Base (ICAO:EHGR).
On October 29, 1993, the contract was signed for the purchase of seventeen AS532U2 Cougar helicopters. The first medium-duty transport helicopters were delivered in April 1996. This means that in 2021 the Cougar has been in service with the 300 Squadron for 25 years. This unit is nicknamed ‘Wildcat’ and that is why the helicopters often fly with this callsign. Read/see more here
