Air

H145M Special Forces Helicopter

Side view of a H145M type helicopter

Der H145M LUH SOFLight Utility Helicopter – Special Operation Forces– ganz speziell für Spezialisten

The H145M LUH SOFLight Utility Helicopter – Special Operation Forces (Light Utility Helicopter – Special Operations Forces) is a light utility helicopter designed for the support of special operations forces. It caters perfectly to their needs. Each H145M is capable of transporting four fully equipped soldiers of the special operations forces – for example of the Special Operations Forces Command or the Navy Special Operations Forces Command – to their operation location. In the future, the helicopter will also be able to provide aerial fire support and air reconnaissance. In addition, it will soon be possible to evacuate wounded personnel with this helicopter.

When deciding on the helicopter to be procured, the Bundeswehr deliberately opted for the EC145, a commercially available helicopter. This helicopter was then adapted to the needs of the soldiers. With its special technologies, the H145M is equipped for special land and maritime operations.

Quickly and quietly

During the flight, the pilots are assisted by a 4-axis autopilot. Thanks to its two powerful gas turbines, the H145M achieves a peak velocity of 268 kilometers per hour. It can fly by day and night.

With the helicopter, special operations forces can be transported to their destination in an unobtrusive and particularly quiet manner. Its color makes the helicopter difficult to identify in poor visibility conditions. The shrouded tail rotor (Fenestron) makes the H145M one of the quietest helicopters in its class. Soldiers can use the rappelling systems to rappel from the sides of the hovering aircraft. Thanks to the small rotor diameter of the H145M, this is also possible in an urban environment.

Flying by day and night

The helicopter can be fitted with various types of equipment: electronic self-protection systems, ballistic protection or additional equipment for an employment over sea. In addition, the helicopter has powerful reconnaissance sensors. They enable the crew to fly reconnaissance missions by day and night. This makes the H145M LUH SOFLight Utility Helicopter – Special Operation Forces (Light Utility Helicopter – Special Operations Forces) extremely flexible, which is a particularly important characteristic for the changing requirements of special operations.

A total of 15 helicopters of this type was procured for the Bundeswehr.

Technical data

MANUFACTURERAirbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbHGesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (Limited Liability Company)
TYPE AND SERIES DESIGNATIONH145M LUH SOFLight Utility Helicopter – Special Operation Forces (Light Utility Helicopter – Special Operations Forces)
TOTAL LENGTH13,64 m
FUSELAGE LENGTH6,17 m
HEIGHT4,00 m
SKID WIDTH2,40 m
CABIN WIDTH1,73 m
MAIN ROTOR DIAMETER11,00 m
TAIL ROTOR DIAMETER1,15 m
ENGINE2x Turbomeca Arriel 2E turboshaft engine
CONTINUOUS OUTPUT2x 419 KW (570 HP)
MAXIMUM SPEED268 km/h
MAX. RANGE663 km
MAX. FLIGHT ALTITUDE6.095 m
EMPTY WEIGHT2,315 t
MAX. TAKE-OFF WEIGHT3,700 t
CREW2 (Pilot und Co-Pilot)
PASSENGERSmax. 9 Persons

Der H145M LUH SOFLight Utility Helicopter – Special Operation Forces in Aktion

  • Soldiers kneeling on the ground under the helicopter at the training area

    The constantly changing conditions of special operations place very high demands on personnel and equipment.

    Bundeswehr/Torsten Kraatz
  • H145M flying over the Jordanian desert.

    The H145M has proven its worth even in extreme weather conditions, for example in the desert

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • An H145M helicopter lands in a snowy landscape.

    Its paintwork makes the H145M difficult to identify in poor visibility

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • A lot of dust is being whirled up while an H145M is hovering over a desert.

    Hostage rescue operations and vehicle tracking are possible operational scenarios for the H145M.

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • H145M on the ground in a snowy landscape at night.

    One of the special capabilities of the H145M: Approaching the enemy as quietly as possible without being detected, even in the dark.

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • Two soldiers secure a building roof while an H145M helicopter hovers in the air next to the building.

    On their missions, the pilots and the special operations forces must be a well-attuned team.

    Bundeswehr/Jana Neumann
  • Two H145M land at an airfield.

    Two H145M of 64 Helicopter Wing with soldiers of the Special Operations Forces Command on board take off from Holzdorf Air Base during the European Air Chief Conference 2017.

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • Soldier with dog rappels from an H145M.

    Rappelling is a procedure in which the soldiers are additionally secured. They can control the speed of rappelling by means of a special hook with a break lever.

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • Airborne H145M, photographed from diagonally below.

    The H145M has an empty weight of about 2.3 tons.

    Bundeswehr/Susanne Hähnel
  • Soldiers rappelling from H145M onto containers

    A normal landing is sometimes impossible even for the small, maneuverable helicopter. Then the special operations forces soldiers are forced to leave the helicopter via a thick rope.

    Bundeswehr/Jerg Maier
  • Aerial photograph: Several H145M next to each other on the ground

    The H145M of the German Air Force are based at 64 Helicopter Wing in Laupheim.

    Bundeswehr/Johannes Heyn
  • An H145M LUH SAR helicopter in flight.

    At the end of 2919, the Bundeswehr received its first H145M of the SARSearch and Rescue (Search and Rescue) version.

    Bundeswehr/Maximilian Schulz
  • An H145M LUH SAR helicopter on the ground.

    The helicopter's insigne is the blue “SARSearch and Rescue” (Search and Rescue) lettering on the side doors.

    Bundeswehr/Maximilian Schulz
  • An H145M LUH SAR helicopter flies over a landscape; another helicopter flies in front of it.

    The H145M SARSearch and Rescue (Search and Rescue) is the core element of the Bundeswehr search and rescue service.

    Bundeswehr/Maximilian Schulz