The Kingdom of Morocco has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of ten H225M helicopters. The new aircraft will be used by the Royal Moroccan Air Force to conduct combat search and rescue missions, replacing the aging Puma helicopters that have been in service for over four decades.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, commented on the deal: “We are honoured that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M. This is another step in the partnership we have been building over the decades with the Kingdom of Morocco. The H225M is enjoying a strong momentum on the market. This aircraft is a reference for complex missions in tough environments. This order solidifies the H225M’s reputation as the helicopter of choice for combat search and rescue and special operations across the world.”
The new H225Ms will feature equipment such as double hoist installations, a searchlight, and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system. They will also be capable of carrying machine guns and equipped with an electronic warfare system for self-protection.
As part of this contract, Airbus Helicopters will provide a support and service package that includes connected services.
Globally, more than 360 units of both H225 and H225M models are currently operational, accumulating nearly 980,000 flight hours. These helicopters are used by military forces in countries including France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq and Kuwait.
Airbus has maintained operations in Morocco since 1951 through its subsidiary Airbus Atlantic. The company specializes in composite manufacturing as well as assembling metallic sub-assemblies and supporting avionics equipment maintenance.
In 2024, Airbus Helicopters announced plans to establish a customer center in Morocco to support approximately 60 Airbus helicopters operated by Moroccan defense forces. The facility aims to expand into a maintenance hub serving West Africa.
