The Airbus Group announced on June 26 the delivery of its 15th and final H-145M multi-role helicopter to Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces.
The Airbus contract was ordered in 2013, and the first aircraft was delivered at the end of 2015 for Bundeswehr’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Special Operation Forces (SOF) project. The French aircraft manufacturer will now begin a service contract for the helicopters to provide maintenance and repair support through at least 2021.
The H145M is Airbus’ military-version of its’ light twin-engine H145 civil helicopter, and incorporates ballistic protection and electronic countermeasure systems for supply, surveillance, air rescue and armed reconnaissance missions. The aircraft has a maximum carrying capacity of 3.7 tons. and is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines.
“The LUH SOF project is an excellent example of what a constructive cooperation between the Bundeswehr, the authorities and industry can achieve,” CEO of Airbus Helicopters in Germany Wolfgang Schoder said in a statement. “This close cooperation between industry and operator has proven its worth in the civil sector and is also becoming increasingly important for military customers. There is still more potential to be realized with the Bundeswehr in this area.”
The helicopters delivered to Bundeswehr were also equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite for the latest in-flight data management and a four-axis autopilot system meant to reduce pilot workload during missions.
Airbus also has contract orders for its H-145M helicopters for nine units in Serbia and five units in Thailand.