The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) ordered 42 new H-145 helicopters at the end of 2023, on behalf of the Ministry of Interior, with deliveries set to start in 2024. Of these 42 aircraft, 36 are destined for the French rescue and emergency response agency, Sécurité Civile, while the French law enforcement agency, Gendarmerie Nationale, will use six ones. The contract includes an option for a further 22 H-145s for the Gendarmerie Nationale and a range of support and service solutions from training to spare parts, as well as a complete initial support package for the aircraft.
 
The Sécurité Civile currently operates four five-bladed H-145s, ordered in 2020 and 2021. The 36 units will progressively replace the 33 EC-145s currently in operation for rescue and air medical transport services, throughout France.
 
The six H-145s will initiate the renewal of the Gendarmerie’s fleet, composed of Ecureuils, EC-135s and EC-145s. They will be equipped with an electro-optical system and a mission computer to perform the most demanding law enforcement missions.
 
 Certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in June 2020, this new version of Airbus’ best-selling H-145 light twin-engine helicopter brings a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission helicopter, increasing the useful load by 150 kg. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the model is equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H-145 the quietest helicopter in its class. Today, Airbus has more than 1,675 family helicopters in service around the world, logging a total of more than 7.6 million flight hours.