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Airbus delivers first of up to 82 H145M helicopters to German Armed Forces
November 21, 2024 By Helicopters Staff
The H145M is a multi-role military helicopter that provides a broad range of mission capabilities. Within minutes, the helicopter can be reconfigured from a light attack role with axial ballistic and guided weapons and a state-of-the-art self-protection system into a special operations version with fast rappelling equipment. The mission packages include hoisting and external cargo capabilities. (Photo: Airbus) Airbus Helicopters delivered the first of up to 82 H145Ms ordered by Germany at its Donauwörth site. The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) have named its new H145Ms “Leichter Kampfhubschrauber” (light combat helicopter), or LKH for short. The helicopter’s missions include training, reconnaissance, special forces operations and light attack.
“We remain a reliable partner of the German Bundeswehr. Delivering the first H145M LKH in less than a year after the contract signature demonstrates our commitment,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. “The H145M LKH will be a true multi-mission asset for the German Armed Forces, supporting their crucial missions.”
This first helicopter is dedicated to training operations and will be used at the German Army’s Bückeburg base. The first delivery of an H145M LKH in the light attack role to the German customer is scheduled for 2025, as contracted. The training of the Bundeswehr’s pilots started in August this year.
In December 2023, the Bundeswehr and Airbus Helicopters signed a contract for the purchase of up to 82 multi-role H145M helicopters (62 firm orders plus 20 options), the largest order ever placed for the H145M and consequently the largest for the HForce weapon management system. The contract also includes seven years of support and services. The German Army will receive 57 helicopters, while the Luftwaffe’s special forces will receive five.
The standard version of the ordered H145Ms is equipped with fixed provisions, including HForce, the weapon management system developed by Airbus Helicopters. This allows the Bundeswehr to train its pilots on the same type of helicopter that is used for operation and combat.
The H145M is the military version of the light twin-engine H145 helicopter. The global fleet of the H145 family has accumulated close to eight million flight hours. It is used by armed and law enforcement forces around the world. The Bundeswehr already operates 24 H145 helicopters for special forces operations and search and rescue missions. The US Army employs almost 500 helicopters from the H145 family under the name of UH-72 Lakota which have clocked more than 1.5 million flight hours. Military operators of the H145 family are Hungary, Serbia, Luxembourg, Thailand, Ecuador and Honduras. Recent orders include Cyprus, signing for six aircraft, Belgium for 17 and Brunei for six.
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