U.K. MoD Orders Six Airbus H145 helicopters

The U.K. Ministry of Defence has placed an order for an additional six Airbus H145 helicopters.

These new aircraft will be primarily deployed to Cyprus for emergency response duties and to Brunei to support U.K. military training in jungle warfare, replacing the Airbus Pumas currently fulfilling those roles.

Delivery of the new helicopters is expected next year. They will operate alongside 29 H135s and seven existing H145s at the Defence Helicopter Flying School, which conducts training for all U.K. military pilots as part of the Military Flying Training System (MFTS) based at RAF Shawbury. The expanded H145 fleet is expected to reduce support costs and decrease pilot conversion training time.

The latest version of Airbus' H145 features a five-bladed rotor, increasing the helicopter's useful load by 150 kg. Its bearingless main rotor design simplifies maintenance operations and improves serviceability.

The H145 is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and is equipped with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It boasts a 4-axis autopilot, enhancing safety and reducing pilot workload. The helicopter's low acoustic footprint allows for quiet operation, with minimal CO2 emissions.