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Sep 15 2021

Albania joins NSPA Helicopter Support Partnership for COUGAR

LUXEMBOURG - On 1 July 2021, Albania joined the NSPA Helicopter Support Partnership to benefit from its close cooperation with other NATO partners and from established NSPA maintenance support services.

The Albanian Air Force operates a fleet of COUGAR helicopters requiring maintenance operations. After becoming a participating nation of the partnership, NSPA has inducted the first helicopter against existing contracts.

In August, the first COUGAR flew from Albania to a selected contractor facility; this marked the initial step of the helicopter overhaul process. This will then involve the removal of all the major components (dynamic components, engines, etc.) that require repairs.

The Albanian Air Force operates its COUGAR helicopters fleet from its main base located at Farka Air Base, in central Albania. The COUGAR helicopter is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopters today). The helicopter can lift 4.5 tons by means of a sling and can be configured to perform a wide range of missions, including Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). The COUGAR are interoperable helicopters with those used by other NATO forces in Europe and can be deployed to external theatres in support of NATO missions.

Albania has joined the NSPA Helicopter Support Partnership and has started overhaul for its first COUGAR

The NSPO Helicopter Support Partnership is a multinational cooperation mechanism that counts 12 NATO Nations, including Albania. Through Support Partnerships, Participating Nations combine their efforts from the outset by consolidating procurement activity, enhancing service levels and reducing the logistics footprint while taking full advantage of economies of scale. After joining the Helicopter Support Partnership, Albania is directly benefiting from that consolidation, satisfying their requirements through rapid reaction time.