Airbus announced the commencement of H145M LKH deliveries to Germany on 18 November. The first of up to 82 helicopters will be used for training, with the first light attack helicopter being handed over in 2025. (Airbus)
The first H145M Leichter Kampfhubschrauber (LKH) helicopter for Germany has been delivered from Airbus Helicopters' Donauwörth production facility.
The manufacturer announced the milestone on 18 November, saying that this first of up to 82 such helicopters will be used for training at the German Army's International Helicopter Training Centre at Bückeburg, in the north of the country. The first helicopter to be used in the light attack role will be delivered in 2025.
The Bundeswehr placed its record-breaking order for 62 (with an option for a further 20) helicopters and accompanying weapons systems to partially replace its Airbus Tigers and to support its special forces in December 2022.
Funded primarily from the Bundeswehr's EUR100 billion (USD106 billion) special fund, the H145M LKH procurement will see the German Army (Heer) receiving 57 helicopters to begin the Tiger replacement process and the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) receiving five for its special forces. It also includes the HForce weapons system and support.
The H145M LKH will take over light-attack duties from the German Army's Airbus Tiger combat helicopters (KH). This will be a bridging solution to avoid a capability gap as the Tiger faces obsolescence issues, following Germany's earlier decision to not partake in the Mk III upgrade. The Bundeswehr Tiger KH fleet will be retired in 2032, with the H145M LKH serving as a bridging solution as it considers the type's long-term replacement.
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