German Armed Forces receive first of 82 H145M helicopters
The global fleet of the H145 family has accrued close to eight million flight hours, according to Airbus. (Photo: Airbus)
The German Armed Forces has received the first of 82 Airbus H145Ms at its Donauwörth site, Airbus has announced. This first helicopter will be dedicated to training operations and used at the German Army’s Bückeburg base.
The contract for 82 multi-role H145M helicopters – 62 firm orders plus 20 options – was signed in December 2023. Airbus said that at the time, it was the largest order ever placed for the type, with the German Army receiving 57 and the Luftwaffe’s special forces set to receive five.
The contract also included seven years of support and services for the helicopter. The first delivery of a light-attack version of the H145M will be expected by 2025.
Related Articles
Germany seals record-breaking contract for up to 82 Airbus H145M helicopters
“We remain a reliable partner of the German Bundeswehr,” said Stefan Thomé, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “Delivering the first H145M LKH in less than a year after the contract signature demonstrates our commitment. The H145M LKH will be a true multi-mission asset for the German Armed Forces, supporting their crucial missions.
The H145M is a multi-role military helicopter that can be reconfigured from a light attack role into a special operations version, Airbus said. The standard version of the H145M is equipped with fixed provisions include HForce.
The incremental, plug-and-play weapon system was designed to fit any Airbus Helicopters military model, such as the H125M, H135M, H145M and H225M helicopters, for light attack missions.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
Turkey’s Eurofighter process going to plan despite German block, says minister
The comment, made by Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler, also noted that the 40-strong sale of Eurofighter Typhoons was primarily managed by the UK, not Germany.
-
Belgium considers additional F-35 order to boost fleet
The statement from Prime Minister Bart De Wever during a parliamentary session follows the country’s Easter Agreement which would see it increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by the end of 2025.
-
Northrop Grumman notes $477 million loss as it manages higher B-21 programme costs
In its Q1 earnings call, the company disclosed a US$477 million pretax loss related to the programme as it works to scale up.
-
India set to sign Rafale-M deal
New Delhi gears up to sign Navy Rafale deal as talks swirl around a potential assembly line in Nagpur.
-
Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss
The investment in technologies developed for Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft bid will now be applied to its F-35 and F-22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet.