The Cyprus government has signed a contract with Airbus for the delivery of six H145M helicopters that will be operated by the Cypriot National Guard.
The contract has an option for another six aircraft, and follows the retirement of Cyprus Air Command Mi-35 helicopters that were taken out of service in late 2021. The 11 Soviet-designed helicopters are earmarked for a potential sale to Serbia.
Airbus announced the contract after local reports said a parliamentary meeting from June 20 approved an initial 53 million euros for the acquisition. In total, Cyprus intends to spend up to 140 million euros for the purchase of helicopters, as well as weapons and related support equipment.
“The implementation of this agreement will provide the National Guard with a cost-effective and high-performance helicopter solution that satisfies the operational requirements set by the General Staff and addresses many of the future challenges of light attack helicopter fleets. Able to operate in very demanding environments, the H145M will enhance the National Guard’s day and night capabilities in delivering rapid response, fire power and precision, providing effective combat support, and acquiring critical information,” said Andreas P. Louka, the Republic of Cyprus defense ministry secretary.
“There are now five different customers for the H145M in Europe, adding to the interoperability of armed forces on the continent,” Olivier Michalon, executive vice president at Airbus Helicopters, added.
“We see a strong interest for the H145M across the world and we have several ongoing campaigns, which is very promising for this aircraft.”
The H145M is a multi-role light utility military helicopter. Derived from the civil H145, the latest version of the H145M features a new, five-bladed rotor that increases the helicopter’s payload by 150 kg. The design of the new bearingless main rotor also simplifies maintenance operations, according to the company.
Equipped with the Airbus HForce weapons system, the H145M can also be operated as a light attack helicopter. The weapons range includes guns, rockets and missiles are currently being integrated.
