FIRST DELIVERY FOR BELGIUM

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H145M helicopter to the Kingdom of Belgium, marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of the country’s defence and security capabilities. The aircraft forms part of a procurement programme signed in 2024 through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for both the Belgian armed forces and the Federal Police.

Belgium has also exercised an option for three additional H145M helicopters, increasing its total order to 20 aircraft.

Growing European operator community

“We are proud to celebrate this first delivery to Belgium and are deeply honoured that they are joining a rapidly growing community of European nations that trust the H145M for their most critical operations,” said Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters.

He noted that the H145M has become a widely adopted military multi-mission platform in Europe and said Belgium’s decision to expand its fleet demonstrates confidence in the aircraft’s operational capabilities.

MULTI-MISSION CAPABILITY

The H145M is a multi-role military helicopter designed to support a wide range of operational requirements. The aircraft can be rapidly reconfigured from a light attack platform equipped with ballistic and guided weapons to a special operations configuration featuring fast-rappelling equipment. Mission packages can also include hoisting and external cargo capabilities.

According to Airbus Helicopters, the aircraft’s digital connectivity enables integration into networked combat environments and cooperation with uncrewed aerial systems, enhancing mission flexibility across multiple operational scenarios.

ESTABLISHED GLOBAL PLATFORM

The H145M is the military variant of the twin-engine H145 helicopter. The global H145 family fleet has accumulated more than 8.5 million flight hours and is operated by military and law enforcement organisations worldwide.

The United States Army operates almost 500 helicopters from the H145 family under the UH-72 Lakota designation, while Germany has ordered up to 82 H145M aircraft. Other military operators include Hungary, Serbia, Luxembourg, Thailand, Ecuador and Honduras.

Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines with full authority digital engine control (FADEC), the H145M is equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite and a four-axis autopilot designed to reduce pilot workload during demanding missions. Airbus Helicopters also notes that the aircraft has one of the lowest acoustic signatures in its class.