Military type certification of the Airbus H225M medium transport helicopters has been completed in France.Continue reading
The first two Airbus H225M helicopters of the Hungarian Defense Forces arrived at the air base in Szolnok on Monday. The medium transport (Troop Transport Helicopter) configuration aircraft with side numbers 70 and 71 were greeted with two water jets at the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade.
The aircraft, piloted by French and Hungarian pilots, were welcomed by Brigadier General József Koller, Acting Commander of the Air Force, Colonel Zsolt Simon, Deputy Commander of the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade, among others.
Photo: MTI/Mészáros János
The two helicopters were handed over in July at Airbus Helicopters’ production center in Marignane, France. The Ministry of Defense has ordered sixteen of these helicopters as part of the Defense and Force Development Program.
The Hungarian military type certification of the H225M helicopter started in 2021, with a special focus on the configuration of the helicopter, which is specifically designed and manufactured to meet Hungarian military needs.
Photo: MTI/Mészáros János
The Ministry’s experts visited the manufacturer for the first time in March 2022, where they held technical discussions with the experts responsible for the design and production of the helicopter type and its operation and maintenance system. At the end of the process, type certification test flights were carried out on the helicopter with the manufacturer’s identification number IRO 011 between 28 February and 1 March 2023.
Infographics: Airbus
The H225M are to replace the aging fleet of Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopters (variant of the Mi-8). The old soviet designed aircraft was capable of carrying as many as 24 passengers and 3 crew. The new Airbus 225M, on the other hand, can carry as many as 28 passengers, depending on the amount of equipment they carry. The Mi-17, introduced in 1975, can carry 4000 kg internal cargo, the H225M’s carry capacity is similar. The Russian helicopter’s maximum speed is around 250 km/h with a range of 620km, the Airbus’s 325 km/h, with a range of over 820km.
Via MTI; MTI/Mészáros János