French Air Force Receives Two H225M Caracal Helicopters

The French General Directorate for Armaments (DGA) delivered two H225M Caracal helicopters to the Air and Space Force on December 20.

These helicopters are part of an eight-aircraft order placed in April 2021 under Airbus Helicopters’ aeronautical support plan.

The latest deliveries bring the Air and Space Force's Caracal allocation to 13 helicopters, while the Army Light Aviation (ALAT) operates eight, for a total fleet of 21. The Caracals feature upgrades including the EUROFLIRTM 410 optronic camera, four 10x8 inch multi-function displays, CMA5024 GPS, communication systems, and additional night-operation lighting.

These aircraft, designed for combat search and rescue, tactical transport, and medical evacuation, replace the Air and Space Force Pumas deployed overseas in locations such as Guyana, New Caledonia, and Djibouti. The twin-engine helicopters support missions with a troop capacity of 28, medical evacuation capability for 10 stretchers and five personnel, and a sling transport capacity of 4.7 tons.

Key technical specifications include a wingspan of 16.2 meters, length of 19.5 meters, empty weight of 7.2 tons, and a maximum takeoff weight of 11 tons. The Caracal has a range of up to 1,300 kilometers with in-flight refueling, a cruising speed of 267 km/h, and a maximum ceiling of 6,000 meters. The helicopter is equipped with defense systems, such as missile launch detectors, radar warning systems, and decoy launchers, as well as armaments including mounted machine guns and cannons.

The program involves key contributions from Airbus Helicopters, Safran Helicopter Engines, Safran Electronics & Defense, and Thales, supporting French industry and operational capabilities.