First Dutch Caracal special forces helicopter enters production

Lead rotorcraft enters build phase at Airbus Helicopters’ plant in Marignane.
Airbus Helicopters has launched production of a first H225M for the Netherlands, under a contract signed late last year.

Achieved on 7 October, the milestone advances the Netherlands’ acquisition of a dozen H225Ms.

“The construction of the Caracal at Airbus Helicopters in France marks a next step in the development of the Dutch special operations capability,” the Netherlands’ defence ministry says.

“According to the schedule, the test phase for the new Caracal helicopters will begin in 2028 [and] delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for early 2030,” it adds.

Once fielded, the Netherlands’ special forces operations-optimised rotorcraft will be flown by its air force’s 300 Sqn. At the time of contract award last November, Airbus Helicopters said deliveries would run between 2030 and 2032.

“The Caracal must be able to function optimally under diverse flight conditions and in cooperation with NATO and other international partners,” the defence ministry says. “The helicopter can also exchange information with other platforms and units, such as the new Embraer C-390 [and Lockheed Martin] F-35,” it notes.

Meanwhile, Michel Macia, Airbus Helicopters’ head of the Super Puma programme, says the company has a combined backlog of more than 100 H215s and H225Ms, and aims to maintain its production output at a range of 20-25 aircraft annually.

Speaking near the company’s Marignane site in Marseille on 7 October, he said: “This aircraft, we think we can produce for the next 40 years.”

A Romanian contract for 12 H225Ms outlined earlier this year formally came into force on 7 October. Noting that Bucharest needs to replace its entire inventory of aged IAR-330 Pumas, Macia notes: “Twelve is just the beginning of the renewal of their fleet.”

The NATO nation in June pegged its potential total requirement for the Caracal at up to 42 examples, to be acquired using the European Commission’s SAFE financing programme.

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