Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of dozens of its multirole H145M light attack helicopters to Germany’s military less than a year after the country’s Bundeswehr armed forces signed a contract for their purchase.
Last December, Germany signed a deal for up to 82 helicopters, including 62 firm orders with an option to buy 20 more. At the time of the order, 57 of the aircraft meant to replace the military’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters were headed to the German Army and five to the Luftwaff special forces.
The Bundeswehr intends to deploy the aircraft that it named “Leichter Kampfhubschrauber“—or LKH—for training, reconnaissance, special forces operations, and light attack missions, Airbus said.
The first H145M delivered will be used for training, according to the manufacturer. Light attack configurations of the H145M LKH will be delivered in the coming year, with the remaining deliveries being made by 2028.
“The H145M LKH will be a true multimission asset for the German armed forces, supporting their crucial missions,” Stefan Thomé, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany, said in a statement.
The military variant of the light, twin-engine H145 helicopter is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines and is equipped with hoisting and external cargo capabilities and has the ability to potentially operate with manned-unmanned teaming integration.
The aircraft will be based at the International Helicopter Training Center in Bückeburg, Germany, Army locations in Niederstetten, Fritzlar, and Faßberg, as well as the Air Force’s Laupheim Air Base, the Bundeswehr said.
