Less than a year after the contract was signed, Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of up to 82 H-145Ms ordered by Germany at its Donauwörth site. The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) have named their new H-145Ms “Leichter Kampfhubschrauber” (light combat helicopter), or LKH for short. The helicopter's missions include training, reconnaissance, special forces operations and light attack.

This first helicopter is dedicated to training operations and will be used at the German Army's Bückeburg base. The first delivery of an H-145M LKH in the light attack role to the German customer is scheduled for 2025, as contracted. The training of the Bundeswehr’s pilots started already in August this year.

In December 2023, the Bundeswehr and Airbus Helicopters signed a contract for the purchase of up to 82 multi-role H-145M helicopters (62 firm orders plus 20 options), the largest order ever placed for the H-145M and consequently the largest for the HForce weapon management system. The contract also includes seven years of support and services, ensuring optimal entry into service and support. The German Army will receive 57 helicopters, while the Luftwaffe's special forces will receive five.

The H-145M is a multi-role military helicopter that provides a broad range of mission capabilities. Within minutes, the helicopter can be reconfigured from a light attack role with axial ballistic and guided weapons and a state-of-the-art self-protection system into a special operations version with fast rappelling equipment. The comprehensive mission packages include hoisting and external cargo capabilities.

The standard version of the ordered H-145Ms is equipped with fixed provisions, including HForce, the weapon management system developed by Airbus Helicopters. This allows the Bundeswehr to train its pilots on the same type of helicopter that is used for operation and combat. Costly type transfers are eliminated and the highest level of professionalism will be achieved.

The H-145M is the military version of the tried-and-tested, light twin-engine H-145 helicopter. The global fleet of the H-145 family has accumulated close to eight million flight hours. It is used by armed and law enforcement forces around the world for the most demanding missions. The Bundeswehr already operates 24 H-145 helicopters for special forces operations and search and rescue missions. The US Army employs almost 500 helicopters from the H145 family under the name of UH-72 Lakota which have clocked more than 1.5 million flight hours. Military operators of the H-145 family are Hungary, Serbia, Luxembourg, Thailand, Ecuador and Honduras. Recent orders include Cyprus, signing for six aircraft, Belgium for 17 and Brunei for six.

Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines, the H-145M is fitted with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC). In addition, the helicopter is equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite which, alongside innovative flight data management, includes a high-performance 4-axis autopilot, reducing pilot workload during missions. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H-145M the quietest helicopter in its class.

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