Story ID: 
Airbus Bags Biggest H145M Helicopter Order 
By: Mark Huber
Caption: German armed forces order up to 82 Airbus H145M helicopters
Word Count: 244
Airbus Helicopters has received a contract for up to 82 (62 firm orders and 20 options) of its multi-role H145M twin-engine helicopters from the German Bundeswehr. The contract—worth an estimated $2.3 billion—includes seven years of support services with deliveries beginning in 2024. Of the 62 firm orders, the German Army will receive 57 helicopters, while the Luftwaffe's special forces will receive five. It is the largest order ever placed for the H145M and the biggest for the Airbus HForce weapon management system, which transforms the civil H145 into a military variant.
The H145M offers various mission capabilities and can quickly be converted from a light attack helicopter, with axial ballistic and guided weapons, into a special operations version fitted with fast rappelling equipment. Mission packages include hoisting and external cargo capabilities and options that enable future technologies, including the integration of crewed-uncrewed teaming, upgraded data links, and communication systems. The base H145 is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and equipped with full authority digital engine control (Fadec). It also features the Helionix digital avionics suite and four-axis autopilot.
The global fleet of the H145 family has accumulated more than 7 million flight hours. It is used by armed and law enforcement forces worldwide. The Bundeswehr already operates 16 H145M LUH special operations and eight H145 LUH search-and-rescue helicopters. The U.S. Army employs almost 500 helicopters from the H145 family—designated UH-72A and UH-72B Lakotas—largely as trainers.