Germany has decided to move forward with an additional purchase of Airbus H145M light combat helicopters, exercising an option included in a 2023 contract and expanding the country’s planned fleet as it continues to modernize its rotary-wing forces.
According to Airbus Helicopters, Germany has ordered 20 additional H145M helicopters, bringing the total number under contract to 82 aircraft. The agreement stems from a contract signed in December 2023 and reflects Berlin’s continued commitment to the H145M platform, known in German service as the Leichter Kampfhubschrauber, or LKH.
“We are honoured and proud that Germany has decided to order 20 additional H145M LKH helicopters. This further commitment by one of our home countries is a powerful sign of trust in the H145M’s exceptional performance and multi-role capabilities,” said Stefan Thomé, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany.
The first H145M LKH helicopter was delivered to Germany in November 2024, less than a year after the original contract was signed, the company says. Since then, additional helicopters have been handed over to German forces as deliveries continue under the program.
Under the current procurement plan, the German Army will receive 72 helicopters, while the Luftwaffe’s special forces units will operate the remaining ten aircraft. The helicopters are intended to support a range of missions, including training, reconnaissance, special forces operations, and light attack roles.
The H145M is a multi-role military helicopter designed to be rapidly reconfigured to meet different operational needs. As noted by the company, the aircraft can be converted within minutes from a light attack configuration—equipped with axial ballistic and guided weapons and an integrated self-protection system—into a special operations variant fitted with fast rappelling equipment. Additional mission packages include hoisting systems and external cargo capabilities.
The aircraft is the military variant of the H145 light twin-engine helicopter, a platform with an established service record. According to Airbus, the global H145 family fleet has accumulated more than eight million flight hours. The helicopter is used by military and law enforcement operators worldwide for a range of demanding missions.
Germany’s armed forces already operate H145 helicopters in special forces and search and rescue roles, providing an existing base of experience with the platform. Internationally, the U.S. Army employs nearly 500 helicopters from the H145 family under the designation UH-72 Lakota, with those aircraft having logged more than 1.5 million flight hours. Other military operators include Hungary, Serbia, Luxembourg, Thailand, Ecuador, Honduras, and Cyprus.
Airbus says recent orders for the H145M have also come from Belgium, which signed for 17 aircraft, Brunei for six, and Ireland for four, underscoring continued international demand for the platform.
The H145M is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and features full authority digital engine control, or FADEC. It is also equipped with Airbus’ Helionix digital avionics suite, which includes a high-performance four-axis autopilot and advanced flight data management functions designed to reduce pilot workload during operations. Airbus notes that the helicopter’s low acoustic footprint makes it the quietest aircraft in its class.
