The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) placed an order for 42 new H145 helicopters at the end of 2023 on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2024.
Out of these 42 helicopters, 36 are designated for the French rescue and emergency response agency, Sécurité Civile, while the remaining six will operate for the Gendarmerie Nationale.
The contract includes an option to purchase an additional 22 H145s for the Gendarmerie Nationale, along with a range of support and service solutions, from crew training to spare parts, as well as a comprehensive initial support package.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, stated: «We have a long-standing relationship with the Gendarmerie Nationale and Sécurité Civile, and I am very proud that we are adding another chapter to our shared history. The H145 has already proven its worth with Sécurité Civile in performing many rescue missions in the challenging mountainous terrain of the French Alps.»
«The H145 is operated by many law enforcement agencies worldwide. The Gendarmerie will benefit from a state-of-the-art helicopter equipped with the most advanced mission systems,» Even added.
Sécurité Civile currently operates four five-blade H145s, commissioned in 2020 and 2021. The 36 H145s will gradually replace the 33 EC145s currently in service for rescue and aeromedical transport services throughout France.
The six H145s will initiate the renewal of the Gendarmerie’s fleet, comprising Ecureuils, EC135s, and EC145s. They will be equipped with an electro-optical system and a mission computer to undertake the most demanding police missions.
