Brazil’s Navy and Air Force are to receive new Airbus H125 light helicopters for rotary-wing training.
The two armed services jointly ordered 27 of the single-engine light helicopters, which will be built by Airbus Helicopters local affiliate Helibras in Itajuba near Sao Paulo.
The Brazilian Air Force will receive 12 H125s to replace a fleet of AS350 Esquilos—an earlier version of the H125—while the Brazilian Navy will receive 15 H125s to replace Bell 206 JetRangers.
“This joint procurement contract represents the realization of a project that will equip both the Brazilian Air Force and Navy with modern aircraft that will meet the needs of the forces for the next 30 years,” says Air Force commander, Lt. Brig. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Jr.
According to Airbus, the new H125s will be equipped with Garmin G500H TXi double glass cockpits and Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Displays and be compatible with the use of night-vision goggles.
The aircraft will be fitted with different types of mission equipment including a rescue hoist and a hook for underslung loads to ensure training can be representative of their missions.
According to Brazilian defense officials, joint acquisition of the helicopters under the same contract is a step toward more standardized training between the services.
Airbus says Brazil’s armed forces operate 156 Airbus-built helicopters from eight bases across the country, including H125s and H225 twin-engine heavy helicopters.
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