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French Marine Alouette III Farewell

A momentous occasion: 60 years of service comes to an end

On December 9, 2022, at the Lanvéoc-Poulmic naval airbase (Finistère), the French Navy retired the last three Alouette III (SA319B) helicopters from service.This ceremony, presided over by Admiral Pierre Vandier, was marked by a memorable flyover: three Alouette IIIs followed by three Dauphin AS365N3s, in tribute to the legacy of liaison and rescue helicopters.

Contextualization and History

The SA319B entered service in 1962, with a total of 37 SA316B and SA319B aircraft delivered to the Navy.

The more powerful SA319B version was responsible for instrument flight training and anti-submarine warfare using its Mk-46 torpedoes.The fleet has accumulated approximately 330,000 flight hours and 100,000 deck landings, establishing the Alouette III as a pillar of naval aviation.

Missions and Capabilities

During its service life, the Alouette III has performed a variety of missions:

Sea rescue (SAR), including complex operations such as the rescue of the hostages on the Ponant in 2008, deck landings on aircraft carriers (the Pedro role), anti-submarine warfare aboard frigates (the Tourville), until its replacement by the Lynx and AS565 Panther, training, ship-to-ship liaison, and logistical support.

Why the French Navy is saying goodbye to the "peanut" ?

High operating costs: flight hours climbed from €5,000 in 2010 to over €10,000–13,000 at the end of its service life.

Parts obsolescence: rare parts, complex maintenance, and the mobilization of significant technical personnel.

Outdated performance: Despite their robustness and reliability, the Alouette IIIs no longer met modern requirements.

Predictions and replacements: Avoiding a capability gap

Interim solution

Leasing Dauphin N3s from a Franco-Belgian consortium (DCI/Héli-Union), 12 aircraft leased for 10 years to train pilots and provide a presence on ships.Location of civilian H160Bs (6 units), pending the military versions, for SAR missions and maritime intervention from 2023. Delivery of the H160M "Guépard Marine" (light joint helicopter), planned between 2028 and 2029, with an initial commitment of 49 units for the Navy.

Aspect Key Data

Operations: 330,000 flight hours, 100,000 deployments

Initial fleet: 37 aircraft, 2 versions (SA316B / SA319B)

Remaining fleet: 3 aircraft retired in December 2022

Replacement: Dauphin / H160B (interim) → Guépard H160M (from 2028)

The French Navy has thus ensured a seamless transition between the end of a historic service and the entry into the era of modernized light helicopters.

Conclusion: The End of an Era

After six decades of service, the retirement of the Alouette III marks the end of a symbolic and operational era for naval aviation. They retired with a final flypast, giving way to more modern aircraft. The Navy, for its part, relies on a competent interim fleet to bridge the gap between two generations of helicopters – a superb example of pragmatic and respectful management of this flying heritage.

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