Airbus Helicopters AS365 Dauphin

Making its debut on static display at RIAT 2022 will be a Lithuanian Air Force AS365 N3+ Dauphin Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter. The AS365 is a twin engine medium weight multipurpose helicopter that first flew in 1975 and through a variety of different upgrades has enjoyed significant success in both the civilian and military markets. Two of the most notable operators of the Dauphin are the US Coast Guard as the MH-65 Dolphin and the British Army where it equips 658 squadron of the Army Air Corps who have a primary role of supporting the SAS. The Dauphin is also manufactured under licence in China as the Z-9 and is used by the Chinese military as the WZ-9 attack helicopter. Lithuania have operated the Dauphin since 2015 and currently have a fleet of three which are used for SAR and utility operations.

Photo Credit: Peter Reoch