New helicopters for Honduras
Six new helicopters and another six second-hand, modernised helicopters, will be taken on strength by the Fuerza Aérea Hondureña (FAH, Honduran Air Force).
The project to acquire new helicopters has been launched last year, and following a bidding process, the Airbus H145M has been chosen. Six examples of this successful helicopter-model have been ordered by the Honduran government for the air force.
Airbus helicopters is projected to deliver two H145M helicopters per year to the FAH, with the first pair expected to arrive in December 2024 or January 2025. The helicopters will be used for Search and Rescue, fire-fighting, medical evacuations and counternarcotics operations, as well as transport of personnel.
Moreover, six upgraded Bell 412s will be delivered to the air force. It became clear these are not existing FAH helicopters waiting for parts and modernisation, but will be additional airframes that will be acquired by the Honduran Air Force.
Most of the current fleet of Bell 412s has been delivered in 1988 and is in urgent need of modernisation. The first upgraded Bell 412s will be (re)delivered before the end of 2023.
Photos by Wim Sonneveld