Germany receives final SAR-configured H145

Airbus Helicopters has handed over the seventh and final H145 for the search and rescue (SAR) service of the Bundeswehr to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).

The on-schedule delivery was announced by the manufacturer on March 19. The previously delivered helicopters are used for training and field testing and are available 24/7 at Niederstetten and Nörvenich air bases for rescue operations. Operations with the new H145 LUH SAR will begin shortly, as planned, at the third SAR station in Holzdorf.

Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany, said: "We are pleased that we have completed this order from start to finish on time and within budget and that the commissioning is proceeding according to plan. The feedback we have received from our customers has been very positive. Because of their flexibility and very high availability, the helicopters of the H145 family have proven themselves in the Bundeswehr. We see considerably more possibilities for a wide range of tasks in all branches of the armed forces for the reliable model."

Among other features, the helicopters are equipped with high-performance cameras, searchlights, emergency beacon locator systems, a full suite of medical equipment, rescue winches and load hooks that can be used for fire-extinguishing tanks, for example. They are easy to identify thanks to the characteristic bright orange paintwork on their doors, featuring ‘SAR’ in blue lettering.