Last Hungarian H145Ms delivered
In November and December 2021, the last two Airbus Helicopters H145Ms were delivered to the Magyar Légierö (HuAF, Hungarian Air Force).
Serial 06 (test registration D-HCBY and construction number 20286) was delivered on 23 November 2021 and serial 05 (test registration D-HADO and construction number 20284) was delivered on 2 December 2021.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence ordered a total of twenty H145Ms as part of the Zrinyi 2026 Defense and Military Development Programme in June 2018.
Delivery of the helicopters started in 2019 with the first four. Twelve were delivered in 2020 and the last four in 2021. According to Airbus Helicopters all were delivered on time, on budget and on quality.
The H145Ms are equipped with attack capabilities, called "HForce" Modular Weapon System, which offers the air force the option to arm the helicopter with 70mm rockets and a 20mm gun. Besides armament, the helicopters will get missile protection, a fast roping system, an electronic countermeasures system and an electro-optical targeting camera.
The first firing tests with the 20mm gun on the armed H145Ms were carried out in September 2021. During the exercise Break Through 2021 (last week of September 2021), H145Ms fired the gun at the Bakony range just north of former air base Szentkiralyszabadja. The first tests with firing rockets are planned for 2022, most probably at the same range.
Photos by and Airbus Helicopters and René Sleegers