The Belgian government has approved the acquisition of 15 H145M light utility helicopters for its armed forces, as well as two additional aircraft for the Federal Police. The announcement was made on 31 May 2024 by the Belgian Ministry of Defence.
The order, for a total undisclosed amount, was placed with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). Its purpose is to modernise and expand the air capabilities of the Belgian Defence and National Police forces. For Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder, this purchase ‘strengthens our European roots’. The H145Ms are already being used by neighbouring countries such as Germany and Luxembourg, enabling a pooling of efforts in terms of training, maintenance and crew training.
The H145M is a multi-purpose helicopter developed for day and night operations in extremely difficult conditions. Equipped with two high-performance Turbomeca Arriel 2E turboshaft engines, it benefits from a digital electronic engine control (FADEC) that optimizes its operation.