Germany confirmed today the acquisition of an additional batch of 20 Airbus H145M helicopters, exercising the contractual option established in the original agreement signed in December 2023. With this move, the total order for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) rises to 82 aircraft.

The operation bolsters the Light Combat Helicopter (Leichter Kampfhubschrauber or LKH) program, which saw its first deliveries in November 2024, less than a year after the contract signature. Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany, noted that this further commitment by one of the manufacturer's home countries confirms the trust in the "exceptional performance" and multi-role capabilities of the model.

Operational distribution within the Bundeswehr

The fleet plan stipulates that the German Army will receive a total of 72 helicopters, while the Luftwaffe special forces will operate ten units. The missions assigned to the H145M range from training and reconnaissance to special forces operations and light attack.

The global fleet of the H145 family, used by armed and law enforcement forces in countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Thailand, and the United States (under the UH-72 Lakota designation), has accumulated more than eight million flight hours. Recently, nations including Belgium, Brunei, and Ireland have also formalized orders for this military variant.

Weapon systems and rapid reconfiguration

The H145M allows for operational transition within minutes. The aircraft can be reconfigured from a light attack role, equipped with axial ballistic and guided weapons alongside self-protection systems, to a special operations version with fast rappelling equipment. Mission packages also include external cargo capabilities and hoisting.

The platform is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). In the cockpit, the helicopter features the Helionix digital avionics suite, which includes a high-performance 4-axis autopilot designed to reduce pilot workload. According to the manufacturer, the H145M maintains the lowest acoustic footprint in its class, a critical factor for tactical operations and urban environments.