Updated 11/7/2024 at 05:02 ET with comment from the Dutch Ministry of Defence
EURONAVAL 2024 — The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Airbus today for the acquisition of 12 H225M Caracal heavy-lift helicopters to equip special operations forces (SOF) and replace aging AS532 Cougars.
The deal, worth in the region of €1 billion ($1.1 billion) and €2.5 billion, was signed at the Euronaval trade show by Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Head of the Netherlands Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT) agency, and Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. It also includes support and services.
The order was widely expected after Gijs Tuinman, Netherlands State Secretary of Defence, wrote a letter to lawmakers in October to explain that a proposed procurement of 14 aircraft had been reduced to 12 because funding was “not sufficient” enough to absorb costs for aircraft modifications. The Netherlands has requested a tailored H225M configuration to support SOF requirements.
“Airbus Helicopters and the RNLAF [Royal Netherlands Air Force] will work closely together on the development of the H225M adapted to the requirements of the users, enhancing capabilities and efficiency for special operations missions success, through tactical communication and a unique design of interaction of the aircraft and its systems,” said the manufacturer in a statement.
“The Caracal has a number of innovative systems…the helicopter will have a new capacity for the Netherlands, namely Helicopter Air to Air Refueling (HAAR),” a spokesperson for the Dutch MoD told Breaking Defense. The addition of HAAR “increases the possibilities of operation with the Caracal helicopter because it gives more options in the planning and execution of SOF operations,” added the spokesperson.
The Netherlands plans on issuing a number of other H225M-related contracts, including an agreement with Israel’s Elbit Systems for self-protection systems — equipment already installed on Dutch Gulfstream G650ER aircraft and due for integration on future C-390 tactical airlifters. Additionally, in line with the Dutch Armed Forces Foxtrot communications program and combat net radio requirement, Airbus will integrate L3 Harris radios on the rotary wing platforms.
At a design level, the H225M aircraft itself features “new avionics, an enhanced main gear box, airborne communication systems and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system,” according to Airbus company literature.
In October, the Dutch Ministry of Defence also announced that a new unit, 300 Special Operations Squadron, based at Gilze-Rijen Air Base, southern Netherlands, had been formally stood up to support the future rotary fleet.
Delivery of all 12 aircraft is planned for 2030 to 2032, later than originally scheduled, “partly due to the technical complexity” of integrating specialised mission equipment and “great pressure on the production lines of the Caracal helicopter due to international orders,” according to an online translation of Tuinman’s letter.
In response to the suggestion that the H225 production line is having problems keeping up with demand, an Airbus Helicopters spokesperson told Breaking Defense, “I would not say that we are struggling, but the fact is there will be a lot of helicopters to deliver in the coming years.”
He added: “The other factor to take into account is the fact that the NL [Netherlands] are asking for a new advanced configuration of the H225M matching their specific needs. We can’t go into specifics, but new development work will be needed. It’s always the case when a customer asks for new types of equipment.”
Outside of the Dutch deal, this year alone Airbus has secured new H225M orders from the German Federal Police (38 aircraft), Iraq Ministry of Defence (12 aircraft) and Japan Coast Guard (3 aircraft). Other defense customers include Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand.
Breaking Defense reported exclusively last year that the United Arab Emirates had decided to cancel a $800 million H225M acquisition, citing high lifecycle costs and modular design limitations.