Safran Helicopter Engines has secured a Support-By-the-Hour contract for the Airbus H145 engines powering the German Bundeswehr’s fleet, enhancing operational readiness and maintenance.
Under this agreement, Safran will oversee the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support for more than 124 Arriel 2E engines, spanning from the helicopters’ entry into service through 2030.
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The contract, managed by Safran Helicopter Engines Germany in Hamburg, marks a move to bolster operational capabilities across Germany, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. With a fleet encompassing 2,000 engines and servicing 300 helicopter operators, Safran’s expanded MRO capacity underlines its commitment to ensuring equipment availability while optimising costs.
With three previous contracts spanning various regions, Safran Helicopter Engines continues strengthening its global footprint. In the UK, Safran secured a £300m ($384m) contract to enhance the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopter fleet. Meanwhile, in India, Safran Helicopter Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have joined forces to establish a joint venture.
Additionally, Safran Helicopter Engines Australia signed a support-by-the-hour contract with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for the NH90 helicopter fleet.
Mathieu Albert, Executive Vice-President of Support and Services at Safran Helicopter Engines, emphasised the agreement’s significance: “Through this contract, we are further consolidating our support offer to German forces.
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By GlobalDataWhether through the SBH contract for the H145 fleet or the Global Support Package (GSP) contract for the NH90 fleet, we support the German forces with the best possible service models, maximising equipment availability while optimising costs. Added to this is the construction of new facilities for Safran Helicopter Engines Germany near Hamburg, which will significantly enhance our MRO capacity in this area.”
Several nations have recently bolstered military helicopter capabilities with Airbus H145 acquisitions. Germany finalised a contract for 62 H145M helicopters, with an option for 20 more. Concurrently, Honduras confirmed the procurement of two additional H145s. In parallel efforts, the UK and Brunei have expanded their helicopter fleets with Airbus H145 models.
According to GlobalData’s intelligence on the German defence market, the German Armed Forces currently has seven H145s in its Army fleet and 22 H145Ms in its Air Force fleet.
Safran Helicopter Engines’ SBH service is designed to streamline operational efficiencies by providing transparent visibility into engine operating costs. Leveraging digital services such as Health Monitoring and Expert Link, the SBH framework ensures proactive maintenance operations, which is key for mission-critical deployments.
The Safran propulsion systems power a majority of the German Armed Forces’ helicopter fleet, including the H145 and H145M with the Arriel 2E engine, the NH90 equipped with the RTM322, and the Tiger UHT utilising the MTR390 engine, jointly developed with MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce, and ITP Aero. Additionally, the H135 training helicopters benefit from Safran’s Arrius 2B1 engine, reinforcing its support across military aviation needs.
