A heavy transport helicopter family fielded in naval anti-submarine and anti-ship combat configurations.
Development
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon was developed by Aérospatiale in France as a maritime-combat aircraft. The family first flew in 1962 and entered service in 1966. Its recorded airframe configuration is rotorcraft, with the family classified in the archive as core combat-aircraft scope.
Operational History
Operationally, Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is represented primarily in the maritime-combat aircraft role. The sourced variant records include service with Aéronautique navale and People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force. The current structured record does not attach a specific conflict authority to this family; operational context remains limited to sourced service and role data. Role tags attached to the family include anti submarine and anti ship.
Variants and Lineage
Major variants represented in the structured record include SA 321G and Changhe Z-8 maritime derivative.
Variants
| Designation | Type | Role | Recorded operators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changhe Z-8 maritime derivative | Production | Maritime Combat | People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
| SA 321G | Production | Maritime Combat | Aéronautique navale |
Representative specifications
Configuration-specific profiles are shown separately so values from different variants are not blended into one false “standard” aircraft.
SA 321G — C015 baseline technical profile
- Crew
- 5
Powerplant: 3 × Turbomeca Turmo turboshafts
Armament: Torpedoes and anti-ship missiles in naval combat variants.
Sources and further reading
Structured references supporting this aircraft family, variants, specifications, and narrative sections.
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1974-75 — Sampson Low, Marston & Co. · Tier 3
- Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1991-92 — Jane’s Information Group · Tier 3