New H225Ms Will Replace Outdated Fleet

Airbus recently finalized a contract with the Republic of Iraq for 12 H225M multi-role helicopters. The agreement, signed off in Baghdad by Iraqi Minister of Defense Thabet al-Abbassi and French Ambassador Patrick Durel, will retire the command’s older Mil Mi-17 choppers.

The new rotorcraft are expected to assist the nation in counter-terrorism, special operations, tactical troop transport, attack, ground fire support, MEDEVAC, and combat search and rescue.

Iraq’s current operations run under a mixed fleet of helicopters, including older Soviet-era Mi-17s, which have been in service since the early 1970s. It also includes Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters and several Western models such as the Bell 407. However, many of these are becoming outdated and are no longer sufficient for modern demands. This prompted the need for new models, like the H225M.

Airbus’s H225M chopper has an extensive military operation history. The French Air Force adopted the rotorcraft into their fleet in 2005 and has since used it for combat in Afghanistan and Mali. It is also currently serving in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and Hungary, allowing it to accumulate over 880,000 flight hours.

“The H225M is unmatched in terms of range, payload and also mission systems,” explained Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “It has been designed to operate challenging missions in the most demanding environments. We are looking forward to seeing the H225M contribute to Iraq’s safety and sovereignty.”

As a part of the company’s ‘continuous improvement’ mission, the H225M recently received all-new avionics, an enhanced main gearbox, additional airborne communications platforms, and an option for the HForce weapon system. Its max takeoff weight also got a 160 kg upgrade, allowing it to leave the ground weighing 11,160 kg.

This contract not only awards Iraq with a proven replacement for its aging fleet, but also represents a critical opportunity for Airbus to reinforce its military reputation and address performance concerns with the model.

Deliveries are slated to begin in 2025.

FMI: www.airbus.com