Airbus has announced that the German Ministry of Interior has placed a record order for up to 44 H225 helicopters for the Federal Police.
The deal includes 38 firm orders with options for a further six H225 helicopters, which is popular among commercial operators and governmental agencies for its long range and all-weather capabilities. The contract also includes training amenities and spare part packages.
The H225’s payload, range and advanced systems make it a versatile aircraft capable of conducting a large array of law enforcement and homeland security missions ranging from special forces transport to firefighting and disaster relief.
The H225 will replace the H155 and AS332 helicopters that have been in service with the German Federal Police for over 20 years. The order for the H225 will ensure a seamless transition for pilots and maintenance personnel.
The new fleet of H225 helicopters will be powered by Safran’s Makila 2A engines. According to Safran, the Makila 2A, powering all variants of the H225, is a 2,100 shaft horsepower (shp) engine which will contribute to expanding the Bundespolizei’s operational capabilities.
The German Bundespolizei currently operates 94 Airbus helicopters, ranging from the single-engine H120 used for pilot training, to more than 40 twin-engine H135 family helicopters for several missions including emergency medical services. The Bundespolizei will receive support from Safran Helicopter Engines’ Germany facility in Hamburg.
Germany’s partnership with Airbus began in 1962, when the Bundespolizei (at that time Bundesgrenzschutz) started operation of its Alouette II, manufactured by Airbus predecessor company Aérospatiale.
“The Bundespolizei can look forward to a modern helicopter thanks to the continuous improvements we’ve made to our H225 in recent years. It will remain one of the most advanced helicopters available on the market for the decades to come,” Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters said in a statement.
Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2029.