“We are very proud to see the Royal Netherlands Air Force and COMMIT renewing their trust in Airbus Helicopters. The H225M was selected by the Netherlands in June 2023 after a call for tender and an exhaustive evaluation, after which the Airbus helicopter was considered the best option for the very demanding special forces operations. The proven H225M is unmatched in terms of performance, versatility and range. It can carry extensive mission equipment that can be tailored to each customer’s needs and will be serving its customer’s requirements for the decades to come.”

Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is set to enhance its special operations capabilities with 12 new H225M helicopters from Airbus. The contract, which includes initial support and services, was signed at the Euronaval trade show in Paris by Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman of the Netherlands Command Materiel and IT agency and Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even.

The H225Ms will join the RNLAF’s 300 Special Operations Squadron, which currently operates Cougar helicopters from the H215M family. Airbus and RNLAF will collaborate to customize the H225Ms for special operations, focusing on tactical communication systems and specialized aircraft-system interactions.

The combat-proven H225M features several recent upgrades, including new avionics, an enhanced main gear box, and improved airborne communication systems. The helicopter can be equipped with the HForce weapon system and now boasts an increased maximum takeoff weight of 11,160 kg, up by 160 kg.

The platform has accumulated over 880,000 flight hours globally, with more than 350 H225s and H225Ms in service. Current military operators include France, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, and Hungary.

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Photo credit: Airbus Helicopters