The Dutch Ministry of Defence has entered into a contract with Airbus for the procurement of 12 H225M Caracal heavy-lift helicopters, intended to bolster the capabilities of its special operations forces (SOF) and to replace the aging AS532 Cougar fleet. The contract was signed today at the Euronaval trade show by Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Head of the Netherlands Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT), and Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
This agreement follows prior discussions, as Netherlands State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman informed lawmakers in October that the planned acquisition had been reduced from 14 to 12 helicopters due to budget constraints affecting necessary aircraft modifications. The Netherlands has sought a customized configuration of the H225M tailored to meet specific SOF requirements.
Airbus Helicopters expressed its commitment to closely collaborate with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) to enhance the H225M’s capabilities for successful special operations missions, including improvements in tactical communication and a unique interaction design between the aircraft and its systems.
In conjunction with the helicopter procurement, the Dutch Ministry of Defence has established a new unit, the 300 Special Operations Squadron, which will be based at Gilze-Rijen Air Base in southern Netherlands to support the upcoming rotary fleet.
The Netherlands plans to secure additional contracts related to the H225M, including one with Israel’s Elbit Systems for self-protection systems, which are already utilized on Dutch Gulfstream G650ER aircraft and will be integrated into future C-390 tactical airlifters. Airbus will also incorporate L3 Harris radios in alignment with the Dutch Armed Forces’ Foxtrot communications program and combat net radio requirements.
The H225M features advanced avionics, an enhanced main gearbox, improved airborne communication systems, and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system, according to Airbus specifications.
Previously, the expected delivery timeframe for the new helicopters was set between 2030 and 2032; however, this has been revised due to the complexities associated with the integration of specialized mission equipment and the high demand on Caracal helicopter production lines stemming from international orders.
An Airbus Helicopters spokesperson acknowledged the challenges posed by increased demand but stated that the company is not struggling with production. He noted that the tailored configuration requested by the Netherlands necessitates further development work, aligning with customer specifications.
While the spokesperson did not provide an updated delivery schedule, they highlighted that numerous international orders for the H225M are in progress. Aside from the Netherlands, Airbus has secured H225M orders this year from the German Federal Police (38 aircraft), the Iraq Ministry of Defence (12 aircraft), and the Japan Coast Guard (3 aircraft), among others.
In a notable development from the previous year, it was reported that the United Arab Emirates had canceled an $800 million acquisition of H225M helicopters, citing high lifecycle costs and limitations related to modular design.
