For Airbus’ heavy helicopter, the H225 or the Caracal in its military version, the years follow one another but are not alike. After a lean year in 2023 in terms of sales, Airbus has just won a third contract this year. On Thursday, September 5, Iraq signed an agreement for the purchase of 14 machines, including two second-hand ones. The amount of the acquisition has not been disclosed. For comparison, the French army had ordered 8 machines of this type in 2021 for around 300 million euros.
The helicopters will mainly respond to combat rescue missions with first deliveries planned for 2025. To deliver to the Iraqi forces so quickly, Airbus has agreed with another customer to switch delivery schedules. Already equipped with H135 aircraft, Baghdad is thus confirming its interest in the Airbus Helicopters range. With this new order, the aircraft manufacturer’s heavy aircraft is enjoying great commercial success. This year, it has already been ordered in its civilian version by the Japanese coast guard and the German police forces.
Good news for the Marignane factory
Enough to bring a significant industrial load to the Marignane (Bouches-du-Rhône) plant of Airbus Helicopters and those of its partners. Three years are needed between the order and the delivery. The blades are produced at the Airbus plant in Dugny (Seine-Saint-Denis), the engines are produced by Safran. When the French Ministry of the Armed Forces ordered 8 machines of this type in 2021, it had specified that such an order would save the equivalent of 960 jobs for three years at the helicopter manufacturer and all of its partners.
With a take-off weight of over 11 tonnes and a carrying capacity of nearly thirty soldiers, the H225 is the largest machine manufactured by Airbus Helicopters along with the NH90 transport helicopter. Put into service in 2006 to succeed the Super Puma, it has recently been updated. The aircraft, which can be refuelled in flight, has been equipped with new avionics, a new transmission chain, new optronics, etc. “The successor to the H225 is the H225”we can tell from the manufacturer, which favors continuous improvement of its product.
The aircraft has been sold in more than 350 units worldwide, both in its civil and military versions. Iraq is Airbus’ ninth military customer after France, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The Netherlands also announced last year that it will replace part of its current helicopter fleet with H225s.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
