Germany’s Defence Ministry is reportedly seeking to replace its existing Tiger combat helicopter fleet by purchasing 82 Airbus H-145M civilian helicopters. According to a recent report by Business Insider, the ministry plans to convert some of these helicopters into combat aircraft and arm them with anti-tank missiles.
Photo: Airbus
The H-145M helicopter has been approved for military use but it was not specifically designed for combat use. As a result, the Bundeswehr has expressed concerns over the helicopter’s suitability for combat and its ability to protect crew members. Despite these concerns, the Defence Ministry is reportedly proceeding with the purchase. The ministry has been criticized for ignoring the operational needs raised by the Bundeswehr Technical Service for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment and making the purchase a purely political decision.
The proposed $3 billion deal would see 24 of the H-145M helicopters armed with anti-tank missiles.
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