Bundeswehr Secures 20 Additional Airbus H145M Helicopters

The German Federal Ministry of Defense has announced that it will proceed to turn the option for 20 additional multipurpose light Airbus H145M helicopters into a fixed order as outlined in the contract signed in December 2023 with Airbus Helicopters, for the supply of a maximum of 82 H145Ms.

Initially, the German Defense ordered 62 H145Ms, 5 of which are destined for the Special Forces of the Luftwaffe and the remaining units for the Heer.

Multipurpose Role

These helicopters are intended for multirole use and light combat, being thus named ‘Leichter Kampfhubschrauber’ (light combat helicopter), or LKH, in short. In addition to combat duties, these helicopters are entrusted with training missions, reconnaissance, and support to special forces operations.

The Contract

The contract signed at the end of 2023 also includes seven years of support and services, ensuring optimal entry into service and support to the new helicopters.

H145M: A Multifaceted Military Helicopter

The H145M is a multirole military helicopter that provides a wide range of mission capabilities. In just a few minutes, the helicopter can be reconfigured from a light attack role with axial ballistic and guided weapons and a leading self-protection system, to a special operations version with rapid descent equipment. The full mission packages include external lift and load capabilities.

The standard version of the ordered H145Ms is equipped with fixed provisions, including HForce, the weapon management system developed by Airbus Helicopters.