The Iraqi Ministry of Defence has placed an order for 12 Airbus H225M multi-mission helicopters in a contract signed in Baghdad on 6 September 2024, for deliveries to begin in 2025.

According to the multinational supplier, these helicopters will replace ten older Russian-made Mi-17V5s – though, GlobalData tells us that the Iraqi Air Force operates these units.

Iraq will fly these new rotorcraft for a various missions: counter-terrorism, special operations, tactical troop transport, attack, ground fire support, medical evacuation and combat search and rescue.

This twin-engine helicopter, and a member of the Airbus Super Puma/Cougar family, completed its first flight in November 2000 and is now in service in ten countries worldwide.

The 11-metric-tonne rotorcraft is the chosen medium helicopter of several neighbours across the Middle East and Africa: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Mali and Somalia.

Elswhere, the platform is featured in the inventories of Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore and Thailand; it was also used during the 2011 Nato operations in Libya.

The helicopter’s 700 nautical mile range can be extended with air-to-air or hover in-flight refuelling capabilities.

It is also powered by two Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, the H225M’s five-blade main rotor provides an exceptionally low vibration level, and the modular Spheriflex design for its rotor mechanical assemblies allows for lower maintenance.

The H225M is now equipped with new avionics, an enhanced main gear box, airborne communication systems and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system.

The maximum take-off weight has been increased by 160 kilogrammes (kg) to reach 11,160kg.