The United Kingdom is adding six additional units of the H145 helicopter to its original order from Airbus.
According to the aircraft maker, the British Ministry of Defence will deploy the choppers to replace the Airbus Pumas used for emergency response and military training activities carried out by British forces in Cyprus and Brunei.
Lenny Brown, the U.K. managing director of Airbus Helicopters, said that the latest purchase reflects the MoD’s efforts to streamline and optimize the variety of helicopter models used within the U.K.’s transport helicopter fleet.
“The H145 Jupiter, and its sister H135 Juno, continue to demonstrate exceptional reliability and versatility in the training role in the Military Flying Training System and will bring these crucial attributes to their new tasks,” he added.
Under its deal with the MoD, Airbus will deliver the H145s in 2025 to serve with 29 H135s and seven H145s in the Defence Helicopter Flying School, which trains U.K. military pilots under the MFTS program.
The helicopter features a five-bladed rotor that supports a load capacity of up to 150 kilograms and a bearingless main rotor design that simplifies maintenance operations, improves serviceability and reliability, and enhances passenger and crew comfort, the company said.
The new MoD order complements the original November 2023 tender that includes three years of aircraft support and an option for an additional six months of services.