The Kingdom of Belgium has entered into a contract to procure 15 multi-role H145M helicopters for its army and two helicopters, plus three options, for its Federal Police. The agreement was signed between the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), on behalf of Belgium and Airbus Helicopters.
The H145M is a versatile military helicopter offering a wide array of mission capabilities. It can be rapidly reconfigured from a light attack role, equipped with ballistic and guided weapons and a state-of-the-art self-protection system, to a special operations version featuring fast-roping equipment. The helicopter’s comprehensive mission packages include hoisting and external cargo capabilities. Additionally, it has options for future enhancements, including data links, advanced communication systems and digital mission capabilities.
The H145M is the military variant of the well-established H145 light twin-engine helicopter. The global fleet of H145 helicopters has accumulated more than seven million flight hours. It is used by armed and law enforcement forces worldwide for the most demanding missions. Germany operates 16 H145M LUH SOF and eight H145 LUH SAR helicopters and has recently ordered up to 82 additional helicopters of this type. The US Army employs nearly 500 helicopters from the H145 family under the name UH-72 Lakota. Current operators of the H145M include Hungary, Serbia, Thailand, and Luxembourg; Cyprus has ordered six aircraft, as have Brunei and the United Kingdom.
Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines, the H145M features full authority digital engine control (FADEC). It also includes the Helionix digital avionics suite, which offers advanced flight data management and a high-performance four-axis autopilot, significantly reducing pilot workload during missions. The H145M’s low acoustic footprint makes it the quietest helicopter in its class.
