Airbus Helicopters says it has signed a contract with the Kingdom of Morocco for ten H225M helicopters. The H225Ms, the manufacturer says “will be equipped for combat search and rescue operations and will be operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (Forces royales air).” The H225Ms will replace the current Pumas which have been in service for more than 40 years, said Airbus.
“We are honoured that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “This is another step in the partnership we have been building over the decades with the Kingdom of Morocco. The H225M is enjoying a strong momentum on the market. This aircraft is a reference for complex missions in tough environments.”
According to Airbus Helicopters, the Royal Moroccan Air Force H225Ms will be equipped with a double hoist installation, a searchlight and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system. They will be able to carry machine guns and an electronic warfare system for self-protection.
The contract with Airbus Helicopters also includes a support and service package with connected services.
Airbus says it has had a presence in Morocco since 1951 through Airbus Atlantic, a wholly-owned Airbus subsidiary specialising in composite manufacturing, the assembly of complex metallic sub-assemblies, and the maintenance and support of avionics equipment.
“In 2024, Airbus Helicopters announced the creation of a customer centre in the Kingdom, providing support for the 60 Airbus helicopters in service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie. It will develop into a service centre for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) with new dedicated facilities and will become the regional centre for Airbus helicopters in West Africa”, said the manufacturer.