H145M - Det er denne jeg mener er best egnet som ambulansehelikopter med heis - Curt Lewis

Airbus Helicopters' H145M Debuts With Bundeswehr

The Luftwaffe has taken delivery of its first two H145M Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) Special Operation Forces (SOF) at Airbus Helicopters' Donauwörth plant. The Bundeswehr is the launch customer for the military version of the H145, which entered service in 2014.

The H145M LUH SOF will be based with Hubschraubergeschwader (Helicopter Squadron) 64 in Laupheim, from where it will serve the Kommando Spezial Kräfte (KSK) special forces command in Calw. Up until now, KSK used the squadron's CH-53s and Bo-105s.

The two helicopters will be operational starting in January and will be joined by two more H145Ms in March. In 2013, the Bundeswehr ordered 15 H145Ms, which were still designated EC645 T2 during the acquisition phase of the project. 

The €200 million project includes the 15 helicopters and their equipment, such as a fast roping system, a pintle-mounted door gun, ballistic protection and electronic countermeasures, as well as kit for operating over the sea. 

Earlier this year, the Bundeswehr signed a seven-year cooperative full-service agreement with Airbus Helicopters, which is responsible for maintenance and repair management and implementation, material supply and airworthiness. 

The H145M LUH SOF can carry four soldiers and its missions will include reconnaissance, search and rescue, medical evacuation and fire support. Unlike other Bundeswehr helicopters, which have olive grey or spotted camouflage color schemes, the H145M is painted dark grey as most of its missions will be at night.