H125s delivered to DPS Ukraine

On 2 December 2021, three Airbus H125 Ecureuil helicopters were delivered to the Derzhavna Prykordonna Sluzhba Ukrayiny (DPSU, Ukraine Border Guards) at Lviv in the west of the country. Weather conditions permitting, the Ecureuils will continue their journey on 3 December to the capital Kyiv.

With this latest delivery, the DPS Ukraine will have seven Ecureuils in their active inventory. The three aircraft delivered today were registered 41 Blue (c/n 8945, test registration F-WMXI), 42 Blue (c/n 8930, F-WMXP) and 45 Blue (c/n 8925, F-WMXH) and are painted in a a distictive light grey/green colourscheme. Two of the earlier delivered DPSU Ecureuils have a yellow/blue colourscheme and are registered 63 Blue and 64 Blue. The other two, 61 Blue and 62 Blue also have the grey/green colours.

The H125s are equipped with an optoelectronic surveillance system that allows monitoring, including in infrared mode. The thermal imaging camera can detect a vehicle at a distance of up to 20 kilometers. They are also equipped with a warning system with loudspeakers and specialized aircraft searchlights, which can be used synchronously with the system of optoelectronic surveillance.

The H125s are part of an order for 55 Airbus helicopters: 21x H225, 24x H125 and 10x H145. From this order the 24 H125s are destined for the DPSU. The order, valued at USD 642 million, was signed on 29 May 2018. The helicopters will be delivered to the Ministry of Internal Affairs agencies State Emergency Service, the National Guard, the National Police as well as the State Border Guard Service.

Photo by Oleksii Trenin