In a ceremony held at the Airbus Helicopters factory at Donauworth in Germany, Serbian Minister of Defense Alexander Vulin received the first Airbus H145M from Klaus Przemek, the Head of Airbus Helicopters’ German Military Support Center.  The event held late last week marks the first export handover of an H145M under the HForce program

Equipment noted in images posted online show hoist fitment facility on both sides of the aircraft, with a Goodrich Model 44301 hoist mounted to starboard for the handover.  Additionally, the aircraft had FLIR Systems Star Safire 380HDC EO/IR turret fitted to starboard, and a TrakkaBeam A800 searchlight to port.  The customer will fit locally-source armaments in due course.

The contract signed by Serbia provides for nine  H145M aircraft with associated logistical support package (spare parts, tools and documentation), along with an engineering training program to allow the purchaser to maintain their new fleet.  This will eventually lead to the certification of the Moma Stanojlovic Aircraft Institute as an helicopter maintenance center by Airbus Helicopters.   As is common with military orders, the OEM also committed to a “technology transfer” boost Serbian industrial capacities, and procurement of local goods and services.

The nine H145M helicopters due are reportedly split as follows – 2 for SAR, 4 armed and 3 for law enforcement.  Some will be delivered in a blue and silver scheme reminiscent of a certain German police force, while the majority will be in camouflage.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com