The first out of 3 Pumas modified for sea operations made the first flight on January 30 at IAR Brasov. The main exterior difference compared to land-based Puma/Puma Socat are the inflatable floaters for emergency water landing and the searchlight located on the starboard side of the lower front fuselage. The avionics/navigtion suite and electro-optical ball sensor in the nose are the same as those used by the Puma Socat gunship.
The helos will be based on board of the 3 Romanian Navy frigates (2 former RN Type 22 and the local-built “Marasesti”)
Hi-res: http://www.mapn.ro/fotodb/20070130
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February 2, 2007 at 3:13 pm