Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of up to 82 H145Ms ordered by Germany’s Bundeswehr at its site at Donauwörth in southern Germany, the company announced on 18 November 2024.
The Bundeswehr ordered up to 82 multi-role H145Ms (62 firm orders plus 20 options) from Airbus Helicopters in December 2023: the largest order so far placed for the H145M and consequently the largest for the helicopter’s HForce weapon management system. The German Army will receive 57 examples of the H145M, which will be known as the Leichter Kampfhubschrauber (Light Combat Helicopter – LKH) in German service, while the Luftwaffe’s special forces will receive five.
The helicopter’s missions will include training, reconnaissance, special forces operations and light attack.
This first helicopter delivered will be 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 Bundeswehr is scheduled for 2025. The training of the Bundeswehr’s H145M pilots started in August 2024.
Airbus’ German H145M contract includes seven years of support and services, ensuring optimal entry of the aircraft into service.
“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,” Stefan Thomé, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The H145M LKH will be a true multi-mission asset for the German Armed Forces, supporting their crucial missions,” he added.
The H145M, the military version of the twin-engine H145, is a multi-role 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 aircraft’s various mission packages include hoisting and external cargo capabilities.
Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145M is fitted with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) as well as the Helionix digital avionics suite, which, alongside innovative flight data management capabilities, includes a high-performance four-axis autopilot, reducing pilot workload during missions.
Airbus states that the H145M’s low acoustic footprint makes it the quietest helicopter in its class.
The Bundeswehr already operates 24 H145s for special forces operations and search-and-rescue missions.
