Brunei’s Ministry of Defence has ordered six Airbus H145 M helicopters to replace the deactivated Bolkow Bo 105. The Southeast Asian nation intends to deploy the aircraft mainly for close air support and aerial observation operations.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even said the H145M boasts high performance and versatility, a well-regarded helicopter that will improve Brunei’s operational readiness.
“We are greatly honored by the selection of the H145M to support the Royal Brunei Air Force’s expanded missions,” he added.
In a statement, Mindef said the RBAirF will gradually introduce the six helicopters into service beginning in 2026.
Apart from Brunei’s specific operational plans for the H145M, Airbus’s general information on the aircraft indicates support for combat search and medical evacuation missions. It can also function as an airborne command, control, communications, computers and intelligence workstation, Janes reported.
Brunei joins the increasing number of countries, including Cyprus, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Serbia and Thailand, that want to own and operate the multirole military aircraft. Airbus said that to date, H145Ms deployed worldwide have already clocked over 7 million flight hours.
