Airbus H145M receives EASA certification
Airbus Helicopters announced the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification of its H145M helicopter on 15 May, paving the way for military type approval and the first two deliveries to the launch customer in 2015.
The first customer of the multi-role twin-engine military H145M helicopter is the German armed forces, which has ordered 15 aircraft for the air force. The second customer is the Royal Thai Navy, which will receive its helicopters from 2016.
The H145M is based on Airbus Helicopters' H145 civilian and parapublic helicopter. It has a maximum take-off weight of 3.7 metric tonnes, and can be equipped with a pintle-mounted door gun, external pylons for carrying weapons, electro optical/infrared targeting sensors and military avionics for navigation, communications and flight management.
The H145M features crew ballistic protection, self-sealing fuel tanks and electronic warfare missile protection. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel-2E engines with dual-channel full authority digital engine controls.
Manfred Merk, H145 programme director, Airbus Helicopters, said: 'The H145M is tailored for a wide range of military operations – including transportation, reconnaissance, search and rescue, fire support and evacuations of wounded personnel.
'By using a civil certification for the H145M, we pursued a low-risk and low-cost approach for our customers, avoiding a costly and duplicative military qualification. This process also benefitted from the H145's own civil certification last year, ensuring that the latest standards for safety and airworthiness are met.'
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
