Airbus has announced it is to deliver the first of nine H145M helicopters to Serbia next month. Serbian Defence Minisiter Aleksandar Vulin visited the Airbus Helicopters site in Donauwörth, Germany to accept the first vehicle on behalf of the Serbian Air Force.
Five of the helicopters will become part of the Air Force and the remaining four will be delivered to the police force, Vulin said. Four of the aircraft used by the Air Force will be equipped with the HForce weapon management system.
The contract between Airbus Helicopters and the Serbian government was signed in December 2016 and includes spare parts, tools, transfer of technology as well as repair and maintenance documentation. Airbus will also provide support to Serbian research and development institutions and manufacturing plants.
Airbus H145M helicopter
Source: Christian D. Kellers / Airbus Helicopters
“We assess the implementation of the contract as an example of successful cooperation and positive business practice,” said Aleksandar Vulin. “All the activities so far have been carried out within the agreed deadlines, and we expect the future activities to be implemented in the same manner. We are particularly pleased to point out that the activities of the industrial cooperation covered by the contract are taking place within the planned timelines.”
“I would like to thank the Serbian government and personally Defence Minister Vulin for their trust in the latest member of our H145 family and for the smooth cooperation since the negotiations started in 2016,” said Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany. “We see a lot more opportunities for the H145M in Europe and beyond.”
The H145M is a tried-and-tested twin Safran Arriel 2E engine helicopter and can be used for a range of tasks, including air rescue, troop transport, armed reconnaissance, utility, surveillance and medical evacuation and has several equipment packages that can be removed or installed depending on the mission. After being rolled out in 2015, the H145M was first delivered to the German Armed Forces and since then has been ordered by Hungary, Thailand and Luxembourg.
Back to Homepage
Back to Aerospace & Defence