Germany receives final H145M multi-role helicopter from Airbus

The German Air Force has received the last of 15 H145M multi-role helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, as part of a contract awarded in 2015.

The German Air Force has received the last of 15 H145M multi-role helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, as part of a contract awarded in 2015.

Airbus received the order from the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) for 15 of these high-performance helicopters as part of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Special Operations Forces (SOF) project.

Airbus Helicopters Germany CEO Wolfgang Schoder said: “The LUH SOF project is an excellent example of what a constructive cooperation between the Bundeswehr, the authorities, and industry can achieve."

The H145M, which is the military version of the light twin-engine H145 civil helicopter, features a fast roping system to transport special forces, a high-performance camera system for reconnaissance, and equipment for fire support during deployment.

"The LUH SOF project is an excellent example of what a constructive cooperation between the Bundeswehr, the authorities, and industry can achieve."

The helicopter is also equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC), Helionix digital avionics suite, which, alongside innovative flight data management, includes a four-axis autopilot, Airbus stated.

According to the company, the H145M LUH SOF helicopters can be used by special forces in a wide variety of new fields.

The helicopter’s ballistic protection and electronic countermeasures system is said to provide a high level of security during deployment.

With a maximum take-off weight of 3.7t, the H145M can be used for transport, supply, surveillance, air rescue, armed reconnaissance, and medical evacuation.

Image: The H145M is the military version of the light twin-engine H145 civil helicopter. Photo: courtesy of Airbus SAS.