Air support for the KSK

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first two H145M helicopters to the Bundeswehr. The machines, referred to as LUH SOF (Light Utility Helicopter Special Operation Forces), are leading the way for thirteen more multi-purpose helicopters of this type. They will be stationed at the newly established Hubschraubergeschwader 64 of the Luftwaffe in Laupheim, which was formed in 2013, and are primarily intended to support the Kommandos Spezialkräfte (KSK).

The H145M is the military version of the civilian H145, which was first delivered in the summer of 2014 and recently reached the milestone of 10,000 flight hours. With a maximum takeoff weight of 3.7 tons, the agile H145M can fulfill a wide range of tasks.

The German military version H145M (LUH SOF) is equipped with a rappelling system, cargo hook, winch, a gun on the side door, ballistic protection, and an electronic self-protection system. Additionally, the helicopter was designed for day and night flights, as well as in adverse weather conditions and challenging environments. The potential mission equipment for the H145M also includes a helmet-mounted visor and a self-sealing fuel tank. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E gas turbines, which can be controlled via the FADEC (full authority digital engine control) system. Airbus also emphasizes the particularly low noise emissions.

Like other models in the proven series, the H145M is equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite with 4-axis autopilot – the latest generation of helicopter onboard electronics. Helionix provides significant support to pilots during their missions by displaying the right information at the right time, thus taking on a large part of the workload. The system consolidates relevant flight data for intuitive flight management on a few displays, increasing mission awareness and flight safety.

The importance of helicopters from the H145 family to military customers has been demonstrated many times. For example, the US Army has already ordered a total of 427 helicopters of the related UH-72A Lakota model for various purposes. All machines were delivered on time and within budget. The UH-72A achieves an average availability of over 94 percent.

Airbus Helicopters online: www.airbushelicopters.com