France Orders Additional Airbus H225M Gunships

The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has signed an order to purchase additional Airbus H225M multi-role, long-range, tactical transport military helicopters to be operated by the French Air Force.

The aircraft will be delivered in a configuration that allows it to be interoperable with the existing fleet of 10 H225Ms in the French Air Force, and in particular it will be capable of in-flight refuelling, an essential operational advantage that this helicopter offers, the company said in a statement Friday.

The aircraft will be based in Cazaux and will be used for Special Forces and Search and Rescue missions. The helicopter’s avionics and four axis autopilot, range and payload capacities, combined with a large cabin designed to carry up to 28 troops and air-to-ground, air-to-surface armament, and electronic warfare systems enables it to carry out the demanding missions. The helicopter has an all-weather capability supported by its night vision goggle compatibility.