Germany Places Largest Order Yet For Airbus’ Armed H145M

Germany has placed an order with Airbus Helicopters for up to 82 light-attack versions of the OEM’s H145 twin-engine light helicopter.

In what is the largest order yet for the armed H145M, the new helicopters will be an interim replacement for the German Army’s troubled Tiger attack helicopters. Additional H145Ms for the country's air force will be purchased to bolster its existing special forces fleet, Germany’s defense materiel agency—the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support—stated on Dec. 14.  

The purchase of the helicopters had been approved by the German Parliament’s budget committee on Dec. 13, with the country's military’s procurement office immediately commissioning Airbus to supply the aircraft.

Funding for the procurement is coming from Germany’s €100 billion ($109 billion) special fund for military modernization.

As well as the helicopters, Germany has also ordered spares, eight simulators, training of flying and technical personnel and services for the operation of the helicopters over seven years.

The German Army will receive 57 helicopters, while the Luftwaffe's special forces will receive five, adding to the 15 H145Ms already in service. Berlin also has options for a further 20 helicopters, for a total of 82.

A long-awaited procurement, a sizeable order for the H145M has been in the works for several years, under the LUH SK program, which was seeking out a light utility helicopter for a variety of missions including training, liaison and light attack.

However, the German defense materiel agency describes the procurement as a “lightweight attack helicopter” (LKH) primarily and as a multi-role aircraft “that can be used flexibly by the army and the air force.”

That shift toward more of an attack role appears to have been prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which had spurred a rethink among commanders around the numbers of helicopters required.

Germany is no stranger to using light helicopters for the anti-tank mission. During the Cold War, it used the MBB-Bolkow Bo 105 helicopter—equipped with the Euromissile HOT weapon—in an armed configuration for anti-armour duties.

Choosing the aircraft, the German military opted for an existing available type, and indeed, the H145 is already in service in Germany.

As well as those operated for the German Air Force special operations forces, a commercial version of the helicopter is used by the German Army for search and rescue.

The order means that Leonardo’s hopes of throwing its AW169M into the ring have been dashed.

Airbus Helicopters’ CEO Bruno Even said he was proud to secure the order: “The H145M is a robust multi-role helicopter, and the German Air Force has gained a significant amount of operational experience with its H145M LUH Special Operations Forces fleet."

“We will ensure that the Bundeswehr receives the helicopters in accordance with the very ambitious delivery schedule, which includes first deliveries in 2024—less than a year after contract signature,” Even added.

Airbus has already firmly established the H145M on the international market, having sold the platform to Cyprus, Hungary and Serbia. The OEM is also rapidly expanding the H145M’s mission capabilities, adding guided missile firing capabilities for use with weapons like the anti-armor Rafael spike. The further addition of self-defense aids, ballistic protection systems as well as manned-unmanned teaming capabilities will improve its survivability on a contested battlefield.

Spike is likely to be the favored weapon for the German LKHs as the country is already a user of the EuroSpike missile, for man-portable and vehicle use, operated with the MELLS system. The weapon is also produced in Germany by Diehl Defense.

First deliveries of the H145M LKHs are due to begin in 2024 and will be completed by 2028. The helicopters will be based at the German military’s International Helicopter Training Center in Bückeburg; as well as at army bases in Niederstetten, Fritzlar and Faßberg; and the airbase at Laupheim.  

German officials had earlier revealed that the military was planning to retire the Tiger in 2031 after concluding the upgrade program—now being pursued solely by France and Spain—was “highly risky.” It is unclear whether that date will now change with the earlier arrival of the H145M.

Withdrawal of the attack helicopter, which was jointly developed by France and Germany at the end of the Cold War, was originally planned from 2038, but Germany has struggled with availability issues with the platform since the type entered frontline service.  

Then-Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said in the German Parliament at the end of April 2022 that just nine of 51 Tiger machines were operational.