IAR 316B

This page is about the French utility helicopter IAR 316B. For other variants, see Alouette (Family).

IAR 316B

IAR 316B

Description

The IAR 316B was a Romanian-licensed helicopter based on the Aérospatiale SA.316B design. The production started in 1971 in Brasov, Romania, and ended in 1987. The helicopter used the Turbomeca Artouste IIIB engine. It had a two-seat cockpit with a large glass canopy that offered good visibility. The cabin had two doors and could fit up to three passengers. The IAR 316B was adapted to carry Eastern-bloc weapons such as 57 mm rockets, 7.62 mm machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. Out of the 250 units produced, 125 were used by the Romanian military and the rest were sold to other countries such as Pakistan, Angola, and Guinea.

It was introduced as a premium pack in Update 1.87 "Locked On" and was removed from the store after the 2019 Birthday Sale. It shares some similarities with the French SA 316B Alouette III, but also has some advantages. It can equip machine guns for aerial combat, as well as Malyutka-2 ATGMs and S-5K rockets for ground attack. However, it still lacks adequate armour and needs careful piloting to avoid being shot down. The IAR 316B is agile and fast, but the pilot must be aware of its limitations and capabilities in order to survive over the battlefield.

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - at sea level)		Max altitude (metres)
	AB	RB
Stock	194	182
Upgraded	230	212

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the helicopter. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The IAR 316B is armed with:

• 2 x 7.62 mm PKA machine guns (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Suspended armament

The IAR 316B can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
S-5K rockets				4, 12	4	4	4, 12
9M14-2 Malyutka-2 missiles	1	1	1					1	1	1

Default weapon presets
32 x S-5K rockets + 6 x 9M14-2 Malyutka-2 missiles 24 x S-5K rockets 16 x S-5K rockets 6 x 9M14-2 Malyutka-2 missiles

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in a helicopter, the features of using the helicopter in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Abundant arsenal of rockets and missiles, offering exceptional air-to-ground firepower
• Effective machine guns capable of providing defense against enemy helicopters

Cons:

• Absence of armour, requiring caution to avoid vulnerability to enemy attacks
• Limited secondary armament options, potentially restricting tactical versatility
• Machine guns are ineffective against heavily armoured targets, necessitating alternative approaches for engaging such threats

History

The IAR-316, alongside with crew members

The IAR 316 was a training helicopter produced by the "Industria Aeronautica Românească" (in translation: "Romanian Aeronautics Industry") as a licensed version of the French "Aérospatiale Alouette III" (SA316 Alouette III Light Utility Helicopter). The production of this model started in 1971 at the IAR Factory in Ghimbav, Romania, and it was halted in 1987. A total of 250 helicopters were built, 125 for the Romanian Army, and the rest exported to countries like Pakistan, Angola, and Guinea. Some helicopters were even modified to use 57 mm rockets and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.

A IAR-317 Skyfox attack helicopter - this is the only example ever made.

There was an attempt to convert the original model of IAR 316 into an attack helicopter named IAR 317 "Airfox", however, only 1 prototype was ever built.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the IAR 316B from live.warthunder.com.

Images

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See also

• SA 316B Alouette III

External links

• [Wikipedia] IAR 316
• [airforce-technology] SA316 / SA319 Alouette III Light Utility Helicopter

Romanian Aeronautic Industry (Industria Aeronautică Română)
Aircraft
Fighters	IAR-81C
Helicopters
Utility	IAR 316B*
	*Licensed version of Aérospatiale's SA 316B Alouette III helicopter.