Aerospace firms promote H145M to Bundeswehr

The group, which operates under the name ‘LUH SK – Team H145M’, also includes ecms Aviation Systems, Hensoldt Sensors and Hensoldt Avionics, Liebherr-Aerospace, Rohde & Schwarz, Safran Helicopter Engines and ZF Luftfahrttechnik.

According to a statement released by Airbus: “Safran Helicopter Engines and ZF Luftfahrttechnik are working together to guarantee the customer a high-quality overall package with an attractive price-performance ratio and short delivery times. One of the major focuses, given the political situation, is on providing support for the helicopter from Germany. The team is open to further interested parties.”

“With the formation of the team, we are offering the german military (Bundeswehr) a complete configuration that can be procured quickly and efficiently,” said Wolfgang Schoder, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany.

It is hoped by the group that the Bundeswehr may order up to 55 of the new five-bladed H145M aircraft to operate as a light support helicopter, as the country increases military spending in response to growing tensions in eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The German government previously announced its intention to purchase a fleet of 60 CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopters from Boeing to replace its ageing CH-53 fleet earlier this month.

The Bundeswehr already operate several four-bladed H145Ms

The H145M is a twin-engine light helicopter designed for tactical air transport, crisis response, fire support, evacuation and armed reconnaissance.

The German armed forces already operate a fleet of 15 of the older, four-bladed iteration of the H145M, which it acquired in 2015. The new five-bladed rotor version reportedly increases the aircraft’s payload by 150kg.

German air ambulance DRF Luftrettung has been upgrading its own fleet of H145 civilian helicopters from four-bladed rotors to five blades, and has also been adding new five-bladed H145s to its fleet since December 2020.