The Aérospatiale Alouette III (Skylark) is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation and later manufactured by Aérospatiale of France. The Alouette III is the successor to the Alouette II, being larger and having more seating. Originally powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine, the Alouette III is recognised for its mountain rescue capabilities and adaptability.

Development
The first version of the Alouette III, the SE 3160 prototype, first flew on 28 February 1959. Production of the SA 316A (SE 3160) began in 1961 and remained in production until 1968, when it was replaced by the SA 316B.

Operational History
The Alouette III entered in service with the French Armed forces in 1960. From April 1964-1967, three machines were delivered from France for local assembly in Australia, and were used by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the Woomera Rocket Range for light passenger and recovery of missile parts after test launches at the Range.

Served in Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 when 2 planes of the PAF were lost in the war, and the Portuguese Colonial War, during 60's and 70's with large utilization in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea, where it proved its qualities.

The SA 316B and the SA 319B both remained in series production up to the early 1980s, when the main production line in France was closed down. However, HAL of India continues to licence-build Alouette IIIs as the Chetak. Versions of the Alouette III were also either licence-built or assembled by IAR in Romania (as the IAR 316), F+W Emmen in Switzerland, and by Fokker and Lichtwerk in the Netherlands.

Production numbers are as follows:
- France: 1453
- India: 300+ (Still in production.)
- Romania: 230
- Switzerland: 60

In June 2004, the Alouette III was retired from the French Air Force after 32 years of successful service. It will be replaced by the Eurocopter EC 355 Ecureuil 2. In the same year, the Swiss Armed Forces announced the retirement of the Alouette III, from the front line by 2006, and entirely by 2010. Venezuelan Air forces retired their Alouette IIIs in the late 90s.

On 21 September 2007 after 44 years of successful service, in which hundreds of lives were saved, the Alouette III was retired from the Irish Air Corps.

Variants
- Irish Air CorpsSA-316B Alouette III, 212 from 3 Operations Wing at RNAS Yeovilton in July 2006

- The SA 316A was the first production version. Original designation SE 3160.

- The SA 316B is powered by a 425 kW (570 shp) Turboméca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine, with strengthened main and tail rotor for greater performance. The SA 316B was built under licence in India as the HAL Chetak, and again under licence in Romania as the IAR 316.

- HAL Chetak : Indian production version of the SA 316B.

- IAR 316 : Romanian production version of the SA 316B.

- The SA 319B was a direct development of the SA 316B, it was powered with a 649 kW (870 shp) Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft engine, but it was derated to 447 kW (660 hp).

- The SA 316C was powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIID turboshaft engine. The SA 316C was only built in small numbers.

- G-Car and K-Car : Helicopter gunship versions for the Royal Rhodesian Air Force. The G-Car was armed with two side-mounted Browning machine guns. The K-Car was armed with one 20mm Mauser cannon, fitted inside the cabin, firing from the port side of the helicopter.

- IAR 317 Skyfox: A Romanian helicopter gunship project based on the IAR 316. Only three prototypes were ever built.

- Atlas XH-1 Alpha: A Two-seat attack helicopter project. It was used in the development of the Denel AH-2 Rooivalk‎.

When used as an aerial ambulance, the Alouette III can accommodate a pilot, two medical attendants and two stretcher patients.

Operators
- United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
- Albania (SA 319)
- Angola
- Argentina (SA 316)
- Austria (SA 316, SA 319)
- Australia - Royal Australian Air Force In Service 1964-1967. 3 Aircraft. A5:165-167
- Bangladesh
- Belgium (SA 319)
- Biafra - Biafran Air Force operated few helicopters.
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burma
- Burundi (SA 316)
- People's Republic of China
- Cameroon (SA 319)
- Chad (SA 316)
- Chile (SA 316)
- Republic of the Congo (SA 316)
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador (SA 316)
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia (SA 316)
- France (SA 316, SA 319)
- Gabon
- Ghana (SA 316)
- Greece (SA 319)
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau (SA 316)
- Hong Kong - Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
- India (SA 319)
- Indonesia (SA 316)
- Iraq (SA 316)
- Iran
- Ireland (SA 316)
- Israel
- Jordan (SA 316)
- Laos
- Lebanon (SA 316) 12 aircraft
- Libya (SA 316)
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia (SA 316)
- Malta (SA 316)
- Mexico (SA 319)
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Pakistan
- Pakistan Navy (SA 316, SA 319)
- Peru (SA 319)
- Portugal -Portuguese Air Force (SA 319 - 18 in service, expected to retire in 2008-2011)
- Rhodesia - Rhodesian Air Force
- Romania (IAR 316)
- Rwanda (SA 316)
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Republic of Singapore Air Force
- Sri Lanka (SA 316)
- South Africa (SA 316) - South African Air Force
- South Korea
- Republic of Korea Navy (SA-319B)
- South Vietnam
- Spain
- Suriname (SA 316)
- Switzerland (SA 316)
- Tunisia (SA 316)
- Venezuela (SA 316)
- Yugoslavia - SFR Yugoslav Air Force
- Zaire (SA 316)
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe (SA 316)

Civilian operators
- United States - Flight for Life

Specifications (SA 316B)

General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 5 passengers
- Length: 10.03 m (32 ft 11 in)
- Rotor diameter: 11.02 m (36.2 ft)
- Height: 3.09 m (10.14 ft)
- Empty weight: 1,108 kg (2,442 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Turboméca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, 425 kW (570 shp)

Performance
- Maximum speed: 210 km/h (110 knots, 130 mph)
- Range: 540 km (290 nm, 335 mi)
- Service ceiling m (14450ft)
- Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s (885 ft/min)