The first of 62 H145M helicopters, recently ordered by the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), completed its maiden flight at Airbus Helicopters’ plant in Donauwörth, Germany.
In tandem with this milestone, the first German pilots began training on these newly delivered aircraft.
Airbus Helicopters announced the successful flight on September 27, 2024, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
It’s lift-off time – the first of 62 #H145M 🚁 ordered by the German Armed Forces recently completed its maiden flight at our Donauwörth site in Germany! 🇩🇪
At the same time, the first German pilots began training on their brand new helicopters. pic.twitter.com/xvwOXeWpba— Airbus Helicopters (@AirbusHeli) September 27, 2024
The order for the 62 H145M helicopters was first confirmed by Airbus on December 14, 2023, with an additional option for the Bundeswehr to procure 20 more units. Of the 62 aircraft, 57 will be assigned to the German Army, while five will go to the Luftwaffe’s special forces. The contract includes seven years of comprehensive support and services to ensure the long-term operational capability of the fleet.
The H145M helicopter is not entirely new to the German military. The Bundeswehr already operates 16 H145M LUH SOF (Light Utility Helicopter Special Operations Forces) and eight H145 LUH SAR (Search and Rescue) helicopters.