In under a year since the contract was finalized, Airbus Helicopters has handed over the initial H145M from an order of up to 82 units by Germany, produced at its Donauwörth facility. The German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, have designated these new H145Ms as "Leichter Kampfhubschrauber" (light combat helicopter), abbreviated as LKH. These helicopters are intended for missions such as 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. The H145M LKH will be a true multi-mission asset for the German Armed Forces, supporting their crucial missions,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany.
The initial helicopter is designated for training operations and will be utilized at the German Army's Bückeburg base. The delivery of the first H145M LKH in the light attack capacity to the German client is planned for 2025, as per the contract. Training for the Bundeswehr's pilots commenced in August of this year.
In December 2023, the Bundeswehr and Airbus Helicopters entered into a contract to acquire up to 82 multi-role H145M helicopters (comprising 62 firm orders and 20 options). This marks the largest order ever for the H145M and, consequently, the largest for the HForce weapon management system. The contract also encompasses seven years of support and services to ensure optimal entry into service and maintenance. The German Army is set to receive 57 helicopters, and the Luftwaffe's special forces will obtain five.
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 comprehensive mission packages include hoisting and external cargo capabilities.
The standard model of the ordered H145Ms includes fixed features such as HForce, the weapon management system created by Airbus Helicopters. This enables the Bundeswehr to train its pilots on the same helicopter model used in operations and combat, eliminating expensive type transfers and achieving the highest level of professionalism.
The H145M is the military variant of the proven light twin-engine H145 helicopter. The global H145 fleet has amassed nearly eight million flight hours. It is utilized by military and law enforcement agencies worldwide for highly challenging missions. The Bundeswehr operates 24 H145 helicopters for special forces operations and search and rescue missions. The US Army uses nearly 500 helicopters from the H145 family, known as the UH-72 Lakota, which has accumulated over 1.5 million flight hours. Military users of the H145 family include Hungary, Serbia, Luxembourg, Thailand, Ecuador, and Honduras. Recent orders include Cyprus for six aircraft, Belgium for 17, and Brunei for six.
The H145M, driven by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, features a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. Additionally, it is outfitted with the Helionix digital avionics suite, which includes advanced flight data management and a high-performance 4-axis autopilot, helping to decrease pilot workload during operations. Its exceptionally low noise level makes the H145M the quietest helicopter in its category.
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