During 1988-1994, twelve Super Pumas were delivered to the FRÄD organisation (the air rescue service of the Air Force). This ten helicopters replaced ten HKP 4 Vertol 107’s, of which four were transferred to the Navy and the rest stored. 

The AS 332M1 Super Puma is manufactured by Aérospatiale (now Eurocopter) in France. The Super Puma was from the beginning a helicopter for civil use, in Scandinavia well-known for its service at the off-shore oil industry in the North Sea, but in 1981, a military variant was designed. The twelve Swedish military Super Pumas got the designation HKP 10.  

Many rescue missions take place over the sea. For this reason, the helicopter is equipped with inflatable emergency floats around the nose and at the landing gear. The landing gear can be fitted with skis if suitably. Another refinement that improves the safety is the double engines. The HKP 10 is powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 engines, each delivering 1.877 hp. Swedish designation TAM 7.  

The helicopter can accommodate 24 passengers. At ambulance transports, eight, alternatively five,  stretchers can be arranged. A salvage winch, capacity 270 kg, is fitted at the outside of the fuselage. 

The crew consists of two pilots, one system operator, one mechanics and one winchman. The winchman in an educated rescue swimmer; in many cases a conscript. 

For transport duties, the HKP 10 can take an internal load of 1,7 tons or an external hanging load of 4,5 tons. It is often used often used for fighting forest fires. 

Advanced navigation and search avionics makes it possible for the HKP 10 to operate even under difficult weather conditions. 

As they are an important part of the Search and Rescue organisation, the helicopters are spread all over the country. 

Photo at top: Gothenburg April 2005

Photo below: HKP 10 # 10041 (tactical number 91) ”Birgitta”. Airshow, F 7 Såtenäs 2000.

Photo at bottom: HKP 10 # 10040 (tactical number 90) ”Christina”. Airshow, Malmen 2001.  

Length 16,29 m. Rotor dia. 15,60 m. MTOW 9.350 kg. Cruising Speed 260 km/h.

© Lars Henriksson

Updated 2010-07-14