The Frêne was the first twin-engined SFR helicopter, designed as a transport aircraft to replace captured Bashers with an helicopter based on a more reliable, compact rotor setup. In comparison to the Basher, the Frêne has less climbing capacity, both due to having less rotor area and diverting part of it's power to the tail rotor. However, it has a similar lifting capability at longer ranges while still being a large maintenance improvement. However, as it was initially a sidegrade designed without the intention of being used as an assault aircraft, Basher spares were still produced for a few years to maintain the captured fleet.

While not intended for combat, as the SFR's forces had seen in their experience that the helicopters that could be made with the weak engines available in this fairly early era of post-Crumbling aviation were vulnerable in combat, their use as troop transports still made them vastly important in seizing the bastions of the last Nova Evropan remnants.