Airbus announced that it has delivered the first H225M in naval combat configuration to the Brazilian Navy.
The Brazilian Navy currently operates the H225M (as the UH-15 Super Cougar), but this is the first time the country will receive the helicopter as a naval combat-ready variant.
This naval version of the H225M was developed by the engineering team at Helibras (the Brazilian subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters), and is the most complex configuration of the multirole helicopter ever produced
The aircraft’s embedded systems include the EWS IDAS-3 (countermeasure system), MBDA Exocet AM39 B2M2 missiles, the APS143 tactical radar and the naval mission system N-TDMS (Naval Tactical Data Management System) developed in partnership with Atech and Airbus Defense and Space. These two companies are responsible for making the command and control of all embedded systems, including the missile system.
Stationed at the naval base in São Pedro d’Aldeia, the aircraft will boost the Brazilian Navy’s mission capabilities including anti-surface warfare and maritime surveillance.
“We are very proud of this achievement, which proves the industrial and technological capability of the Airbus Helicopters teams in France and Brazil to deliver one of the most modern solutions in the world to the Brazilian Armed Forces,” said Alberto Robles, Head of Latin America at Airbus Helicopters, in a statement.
Robles continued: “Designed to meet the most demanding requirements of the Brazilian Navy, the advanced anti-surface warfare and tactical capabilities open new mission capabilities for the H225M utility helicopter.”
The naval H225M is part of a contract signed by the Brazilian government in 2008, which includes 50 H225Ms to be operated by the three armed forces of the country: the Brazilian Army (including the Brazilian Army Aviation), the Brazilian Navy (including the Brazilian Marine Corps and Brazilian Naval Aviation) and the Brazilian Air Force .
So far, 39 H225Ms have been delivered to the Brazilian Armed Forces, all assembled locally by Helibras.
Previously known as the EC725, the H225M is the most advanced member of the Airbus’ Military Super Puma / Cougar family. Its reputation as a combat-ready, multi-role helicopter has made it useful in combat conditions and crisis areas like Lebanon, Afghanistan, Chad, the Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Somalia, and Mali.
As of 2021, the H225M rotorcraft have accumulated more than 140,000 flight hours in service around the world.
