Aérospatiale Super Frelon The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon , ( " Super Frelon " - Super Hornet ) is a three - engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France . The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z - 8 . Development . The SA - 3210 Super Frelon was developed by Sud - Aviation from the original SE - 3200 Frelon . Sikorsky was contracted to supply the design of a new six - bladed main rotor and five - bladed tail rotor . Fiat supplied a design for a new main transmission . The first flight of the Super Frelon was December 7 , 1962 . A modified prototype Super Frelon helicopter was used on July 23 , 1963 to break the FAI absolute helicopter world speed record with a speed of 217 . 7 mph . Both civilian and military versions of the Super Frelon were built , with the military variants being the most numerous by far , entering service with the French military as well as being exported to Israel , South Africa , Libya , China and Iraq . Three military variants were produced : military transport , anti - submarine and anti - ship . The transport version is able to carry 38 equipped troops , or alternatively 15 stretchers for casualty evacuation tasks . The Naval anti - submarine and anti - ship variants are usually equipped with a navigation and search radar ( ORB - 42 ) , and a 50 metre rescue cable . They are most often fitted with a 20 mm cannon , counter - measures , night vision , a laser designator and a Personal Locator System . It can also be refueled in flight . Operational history . People ' s Republic of China . China acquired 13 Super Frelon SA321 naval helicopters in 1977 - 78 . These helicopters came in two variants : anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) and search and rescue ( SAR ) versions . The Super Frelon was the first helicopter of the PLA to be capable of operating from the flight deck of surface vessels . China also produces the Super Frelon locally under the designation Z - 8 ( land or ship based ASW / SAR helicopter ) . The Super Frelon remains operational with the PLA Navy today . Since the early 1980s , the Super Frelons have been frequently used by the PLAN for shipborne ASW and SAR operations . For ASW missions , the Z - 8 is equipped with a surface search radar and a French HS - 12 dipping sonar while carrying a Whitehead A244S torpedo under the starboard side of the fuselage . The aircraft were also used to ferry supplies from replenishment ship to surface combatants , and transport marines from the landing ship to the shore . A naval SAR version called the Z - 8S with upgraded avionics and a searchlight , FLIR turret and a hoist flew in December 2004 . Another rescue variant with dedicated medivac equipment onboard was also developed for the Navy as the Z - 8JH . The Z - 8A version was developed as an army transport variant and certified in February 1999 . Two Z - 8As were delivered to the Army for evaluation in 2001 , but it decided to purchase more Mi - 17V5s . Only one batch of about six Z - 8A were delivered to the Army in November 2002 , with the nose weather radar and side floats retained . Starting in 2007 , the PLAAF also acquired dozens of upgraded Z - 8Ks and Z - 8KAs for SAR missions ; they were equipped with a FLIR turret and a searchlight underneath the cabin , plus a hoist and a flare dispenser . China also developed a domestic civil helicopter variant of the Z - 8 , the Avicopter AC313 . The AC313 has a maximum takeoff weight of 13 . 8 tonnes and can carry 27 passengers , It has a maximum range of 900 km ( 559 miles ) . France . In October 1965 the SA321G ASW helicopter joined the French " Aeronavale " . Apart from ship - based ASW missions , the SA321G also carried out sanitisation patrols in support of " Redoutable " class ballistic missile submarines . Some aircraft were modified with nose - mounted targeting radar for ' Exocet ' anti - ship missiles . Five SA321GA freighters , originally used in support of the Pacific nuclear test centre , were transferred to assault support duties . In 2003 , the surviving Aeronavale Super Frelons were assigned to transport duties , including commando transport , VertRep and SAR . The SA321G Super Frelon served with " Flottile 32F " of the French " Aviation navale " , operating from Lanvéoc - Poulmic in Brittany in the Search and Rescue role . They were retired on 30 April 2010 , replaced by two Eurocopter EC225 helicopters purchased as stop - gaps until the NHI NH90 came into service in 2011 - 12 . Iraq . Designated the SA321H , a total of 16 Super Frelons were delivered from 1977 to the Iraqi air force with radar and Exocets . These aircraft were used in the Iran - Iraq conflict and the 1991 Gulf War , in which at least one example was destroyed . Israel . Israel ordered 12 helicopters in 1965 to provide her air force with a heavy lift transport capability . The first aircraft arrived on April 20 , 1966 , to inaugurate 114 Squadron operating out of Tel Nof . Four helicopters had arrived by the start of the 1967 Six Day War , during which they flew 41 sorties . The aircraft saw extensive service during the War of Attrition , participating in such operations as " Helem " , " Tarnegol 5 " and " Rhodes " . The type was once again in service during the Yom Kippur War , following which Israel replaced the original Turbomeca Turmo engines with the 1 , 870shp General Electric T58 - GE - T5D engine . The Super Frelons also took part in the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982 and were finally retired in 1991 . Libya . Six radar - equipped SA - 321GM helicopters and eight SA321M SAR / transports were delivered to Libya in 1980 - 81 . South Africa . The South African Air Force ordered 16 Super Frelon helicopters and used them in counter - insurgency fighting and in the South African Border War in Angola . The Super Frelons were withdrawn from service in 1990 , and replaced by the Puma and the Oryx . The SAAF discovered that the Super Frelon performances were excellent at sea level , but at high altitudes and in dry places it was outperformed by the Puma . Syria . Syria is believed to have purchased 21 Super Frelons , although it seems the country never operated them . These helicopters may have been diverted to Iraq or Libya .