The original HAP (French: Hélicoptère d'Appui Protection, English: Support and Escort Helicopter) version of the helicopter was introduced into service in 2003 and is armed with a 30mm chin-mounted autocannon and can carry 68mm SNEB rockets or 20mm autocannons in gun pods, as well as Mistral missiles for air-to-air combat. Other variants have mounted 70mm Hydra and AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles rockets for ground attack, while FIM-92 Stinger missiles have been mounted for air attack.