Brunei orders six H145M helicopters following UK’s lead
Brunei has ordered six Airbus H145M helicopters, just weeks after the UK finalised its H145 order to fulfil missions in Brunei and Cyprus.
The medium helicopters will replace the Royal Brunei Air Force’s BO105 fleet to conduct close air support, aerial observation and other missions.
The H145M (formerly known as the EC645 T2) is the military version of the H145 medium-sized (3.7t) helicopter.
Integration of new Safran engines, four-axis AFCS and Fenestron tail rotor was intended to improve safety and mission efficiency on the aircraft. The H145M’s unobstructed main cabin has been equipped with a flat floor and two rows of rails that are reconfigurable.
The sliding side and rear clamshell doors, along with a high-set main rotor and Fenestron, offer 360° approachability for loading/unloading of armament, passengers or cargo while the rotors are turning. It can seat two pilots and up to 10 passengers in crash-worthy and foldable seats.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
US Air Force A-10s to exit South Korea in favour of fourth- and fifth-gen fighter jets
The US Air Force will transition away from its ageing A-10 aircraft in 2025, in favour of updating and enhancing its F-16, and introducing F-15EX and F-35 Lightning II jets in the region.
-
German Armed Forces receive first of 82 H145M helicopters
The H145s have been named “Leichter Kampfhubschrauber” (light combat helicopter), or LKH for short, by the German Armed Forces.
-
US Air Force aiming to have CCA operational by end of the decade
By making “tough choices”, the US Air Force’s CCA programme has continued to move forward with Increment 2 on the horizon.