Bundespolizei places record 44-aircraft order for H225s
Written by Oliver Johnson and retrieved from Vertical Magazine | June 6, 2024
Airbus has secured a record order for the H225, with the German Ministry of the Interior signing for up to 44 Super Pumas for the German federal police — the Bundespolizei.
The contract — including a firm order for 38 H225s and options for six more — was announced during the ILA Berlin Air Show in Germany. It includes training and spare part packages.
Deliveries are set to begin in 2029, with the aircraft set to perform a range of law enforcement and homeland security missions.
“I would like to thank Germany for its continued and renewed trust in our helicopters, and in particular, in our H225 family,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “We’re proud that our H225 will contribute to the security of Germany and help its citizens in need. The Bundespolizei can look forward to a modern helicopter thanks to the continuous improvements we’ve made to our H225 in recent years.”
The order is further confirmation of the H225’s appeal to the market following its general withdrawal from service in its primary offshore role. While Airbus still believes the type will have a role to play offshore, it is achieving impressive sales numbers without it —delivering over 100 of the type for work in the military and in parapublic/government support roles over the last five years.
Airbus has spent considerable time and effort enhancing the Super Puma over the last few years. Last year, it introduced an enhanced main gearbox (eMGB) for the H225. Standard on all new-build Super Pumas, it is also being retrofitted on the existing fleet as gearboxes come in for overhaul.
In the cockpit, new avionics provide enlarged displays with a simplified pilot interface, while a cockpit and tail boom camera will help provide enhanced situational awareness.
Future changes will include upgrades to the aircraft’s navigation and communications systems, and a crash resistant fuel system is in development.
The Super Pumas will replace the Bundespolizei’s aging fleet of H155s and AS332s. The agency currently operates 94 Airbus helicopters, ranging from the H120 for pilot training, to the H135 for various missions, including emergency medical services.
The H225 has a maximum takeoff weight of 11,160 kilograms (24,600 pounds), an external payload of 4,750 kg (10,470 lb.), and a range of 832 kilometers (517 miles).
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