Airbus Helicopters: Romania signs contract for 12 H225M helicopters
Romania signed a contract for 12 Airbus H225M military helicopters using European Union financing to launch the replacement of its aging fleet of IAR-330 Puma aircraft, Airbus Helicopters said on October 7. The procurement aims to modernize both conventional and special operations units across the Romanian Air Force.
Financing Through European Union Frameworks
The acquisition carries a defense ministry valuation of roughly €757 million, which equals about $848 million. This price tag covers initial logistics support alongside crew training. The purchase order operates inside a total approved project budget of €852 million, or about $954 million, allocated through the European Union’s Security Action for Europe loan program.
SAFE provides low-interest loans allowing member states to acquire defense equipment rapidly from European manufacturers. Romania secured €16.6 billion under the program, representing the second-largest allocation among applying nations. The Romanian parliament approved the H225M deal as part of a broader military enhancement package that also brings Lynx infantry fighting vehicles and Piranha 5 armored personnel carriers into national service.
Industrial Partnerships in Brasov
French defense procurement agency DGA finalized the contract with Airbus Helicopters. Matthieu Louvot, chief executive of Airbus Helicopters, noted that the selection strengthens Romanian defense capabilities while boosting national industrial output through a long-term partnership with IAR, the country’s sole helicopter manufacturer.
State-owned IAR built the predecessor IAR-330 Puma fleet under license in Brasov beginning in the 1970s. The incoming H225M machines will step into those traditional transport and special missions roles. The defense ministry’s procurement documentation outlines plans to purchase approximately 30 additional helicopters after 2030 funded directly from the national budget. That subsequent acquisition carries an estimated price tag of €2 billion, roughly $2.24 billion, and is intended to transition H225M production directly to the Brasov plant.
Airbus Schedules H225M Deliveries 38 Months After Signing
Airbus schedules the arrival of the first H225M 38 months after the formal signing of the order. The H225M serves as the military variant of the Super Puma family, utilizing twin engines for medium-heavy transport duties including troop movement, search and rescue, and special operations.
Global operators of the platform exceed 350 units across more than a million flight hours. Romania joins a roster of 13 customer nations that includes Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Thailand.
The October contract marks the second major agreement between Romania and Airbus Helicopters under the SAFE instrument. In June, the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered seven H160 and five H145 helicopters destined for emergency response, civil protection, and public order duties. That followed a 2023 order for two H215M helicopters configured for naval operations.