As Defence Industry Europe reported, earlier this year, Airbus handed over the first two H225Ms to the Hungarian Defence Forces. According to the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, another two helicopters are expected to be delivered in December. The whole contract for eighteen helicopters is scheduled to be completed in 2024 when the final H225M will be delivered to the Hungarian Defence Forces.
According to Airbus, the H225M helicopters selected by Hungary will be equipped with state-of-the-art communication capabilities and will be used for transport, combat search and rescue, and special operations missions. Its state-of-the-art avionics and four-axis autopilot, exceptional range and payload capacities, combined with a large cabin designed to carry up to 28 troops and powerful air-to-ground and air-to-surface armament, as well as electronic warfare systems, allow the H225M to carry out the most demanding missions. The helicopter has an all-weather capability supported by its night vision goggle compatibility.
In addition, the Hungarian version of the H225M helicopter is equipped with the HForce weapon management system.
These deliveries are carried out under the contract for sixteen H225M multi-role helicopters, which the Hungarian Ministry of Defence signed with Airbus in 2018. As Hungary plans, the new H225Ms will replace a fleet of post-Soviet Mi-17 helicopters in the Hungarian Defence Forces.
Hungary is the second NATO member country, after France, which operates H225M helicopters. The next user will be the Netherlands. In June of this year, the Dutch Ministry of Defence announced the acquisition of fourteen H225M helicopters for the Special Operation Forces.
