First H145Ms handed over to Thai navy
The first two of five H145M helicopters have been handed over to the Royal Thai Navy by Airbus Helicopters, the company announced on 29 April.
The two helicopters will remain in Germany for now for pilot training at Airbus Helicopters’ Training Academy. The remaining three aircraft are scheduled for delivery in Thailand by September 2016.
The H145M is the military version of the civil H145 that entered service in 2014. The helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 3.7 tons and is designed for use in a wide range of military operations including naval, utility, reconnaissance, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation and armed scout.
The H145Ms being delivered to the Royal Thai Navy are equipped with multi-purpose pylons including aerodynamic fairings, cargo hooks, hoists, HF system for SAR operations, weather radar, internal long range fuel tank system and fixed provisions for future special operations upgrade.
Wolfgang Schoder, CEO, Airbus Helicopters Germany, said: ‘After the H145M made its market entry with the German Air Force at the end of last year, we are very proud that the Royal Thai Navy has become another operator of the new H145M.
‘The helicopter is the most advanced solution for the increasingly challenging demands of our military customers in modern-day missions. It combines state-of-the-art technologies, outstanding performance and true multi-role capabilities while maintaining very high versatility and low operating costs.’
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