Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 18 November 2025: The Kingdom of Morocco has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for ten H225M helicopters, marking a significant modernisation of the Royal Moroccan Air Force fleet. The new aircraft will replace the Pumas that have served for more than four decades.

“We are honoured that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “This is another step in the partnership we have been building over the decades with the Kingdom of Morocco. The H225M is enjoying a strong momentum on the market. This aircraft is a reference for complex missions in tough environments.

This order solidifies the H225M’s reputation as the helicopter of choice for combat search and rescue and special operations across the world.”

The Royal Moroccan Air Force’s H225Ms will be configured for combat search and rescue operations, featuring a double hoist installation, a searchlight and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system. The aircraft will also be capable of carrying machine guns and equipped with an electronic warfare system for self-protection.

The contract includes a support and service package with connected services, ensuring continued operational readiness.

Globally, more than 360 H225 and H225M helicopters are in service, with close to 980,000 flight hours accumulated. Military operators include France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq and Kuwait.

Airbus has maintained a presence in Morocco since 1951 through Airbus Atlantic, which specialises in composite manufacturing, complex metallic sub-assemblies, and avionics maintenance and support. In 2024, Airbus Helicopters announced the creation of a customer centre in Morocco to support the 60 Airbus helicopters operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie. The centre is set to evolve into a full maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and become the regional hub for Airbus helicopters in West Africa.