Airbus and Babcock Secure Long-Term Support for French H145 Helicopters

Airbus and Babcock Secure Landmark Deal to Support French Emergency Helicopter Fleets

In a significant move to bolster France’s public safety aviation capabilities, Airbus Helicopters, in a strategic partnership with Babcock International, has secured a comprehensive support contract for the entire H145 helicopters fleet operated by the French Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale. This agreement underscores a commitment to ensuring the highest levels of operational availability for helicopters that are critical to saving lives and maintaining national security. These fleets form the backbone of France’s aerial emergency response, conducting thousands of vital missions annually, from treacherous mountain rescues to critical law enforcement operations.

The collaboration between a leading helicopter manufacturer and a specialist in aviation support services aims to create a streamlined and efficient maintenance ecosystem. For agencies like the Sécurité Civile, whose “Dragon” helicopters are synonymous with emergency rescue, and the Gendarmerie Nationale, which relies on its aerial assets for a wide range of security missions, guaranteed fleet readiness is not just a logistical goal, it is a matter of public trust and safety. This long-term agreement provides the stability and technical backing required to keep these essential services running without interruption, ensuring that crews and aircraft are ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

A Unified Support Framework for Critical Missions

Announced on November 18, 2025, the new contracts with France’s Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate (DMAé) formalizes a co-contracting partnership between Airbus Helicopters and Babcock. The agreement spans up to ten years and covers a total of 46 H145 helicopters. Of this fleet, 40 belong to the Sécurité Civile and six are operated by the Gendarmerie Nationale. This unified structure is a deliberate strategy to maximize the operational efficiency and availability of the entire H145 family, which serves as a modern and versatile tool for both agencies.

The scope of the support package is extensive, designed to cover every aspect of the fleet’s operational lifecycle. It includes the provision of technical support, a steady supply of spare parts, advanced logistics solutions, and comprehensive management of technical data and software. Furthermore, the contract encompasses all necessary Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities, ensuring the helicopters are maintained to the highest standards. This end-to-end service model allows the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie to focus on their core missions, confident that the industrial support structure is robust and responsive.

This latest agreement builds upon a pre-existing foundation of cooperation. In May 2024, a similar 12-year contract was established, also between Airbus Helicopters and Babcock, to support 48 of the older EC145 models, 33 for the Sécurité Civile and 15 for the Gendarmerie. Together, these two contracts create a complete support framework for the entire H145 family of helicopters, covering both the legacy EC145 and the modern H145 variants. This holistic approach signals a major step in modernizing the support infrastructure for France’s aerial public safety assets.

“Ensuring the operational availability of our H145 fleet is critical for the public safety missions carried out by the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale. This comprehensive agreement provides the long-term visibility and industrial support necessary to guarantee their performance.” – Captain Jean-Baptiste Fortin, DMAé.

Modernizing France’s Public Safety Aviation

The H145 helicopter is a cornerstone of the fleet modernization strategy for both the Sécurité Civile and the Gendarmerie Nationale. As a twin-engine light utility helicopter, the H145 is renowned for its versatility and high performance, particularly in demanding environments. It can be rapidly configured for a wide array of missions, including emergency medical services (EMS), search and rescue (SAR), law enforcement, and firefighting support. Its advanced features, such as the high-set main rotor and the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, significantly enhance safety during ground operations, which is crucial for missions in confined or hazardous areas.

The ongoing renewal process involves phasing out older models and integrating new, state-of-the-art H145s. In late 2023, the French Ministry of Interior solidified this commitment by signing a contract for 42 new H145s, with 36 designated for the Sécurité Civile and six for the Gendarmerie. The integration of these modern aircraft, equipped with the Helionix avionics suite, reduces pilot workload and improves situational awareness, allowing crews to operate more effectively during complex and high-stakes missions. This technological leap forward is a critical component of enhancing the nation’s overall public safety response capability.

The partnership with Babcock International is instrumental in this modernization effort. As a global leader in aerospace and defense services, Babcock brings extensive experience in maintaining and supporting critical aviation assets. Their role in this co-contracting agreement ensures that the maintenance and logistics are handled by specialists, allowing for a more focused and efficient support system. This collaborative model between the manufacturer and a dedicated service provider is becoming a benchmark for ensuring the long-term sustainability and readiness of essential government fleets.

“Airbus Helicopters is proud to strengthen its partnership with the French government and to be working alongside Babcock on this essential programme. This contract demonstrates the trust the DMAé places in Airbus to support its critical missions.” – Romain Trapp, Executive Vice President of Customer Support & Services at Airbus Helicopters.

Conclusion: A Long-Term Vision for National Security

The comprehensive support contracts for the H145 and EC145 fleets represent a forward-thinking strategy to secure France’s public safety aviation for the next decade and beyond. By unifying the support structure under a partnership between Airbus Helicopters and Babcock, the French government ensures that its most critical aerial assets receive consistent, high-quality maintenance and logistical backing. This not only maximizes the availability of the helicopters but also provides long-term budgetary visibility and stability, allowing for better resource planning.

This strategic alliance is more than just a maintenance agreement; it is an investment in national resilience. As the nature of emergencies and security threats evolves, having a modern, reliable, and well-supported helicopter fleet is indispensable. The ongoing modernization with the H145 platform, coupled with this robust support framework, positions the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale to meet future challenges effectively, ensuring they can continue to perform their life-saving and security missions for the French public with unwavering capability.

FAQ

Question: Which helicopter fleets are covered by this new agreement?
Answer: The new contract covers a total of 46 Airbus H145 helicopters, with 40 operated by the French Sécurité Civile and six by the Gendarmerie Nationale.

Question: Who are the main partners in this support contract?
Answer: The contract is a co-contracting partnership between Airbus Helicopters and Babcock International, working with France’s Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate (DMAé).

Question: What is the duration of the contract?
Answer: The agreement is set for a period of up to ten years.

Question: Does this contract relate to any other agreements?
Answer: Yes, it complements a previous 12-year contract signed in May 2024, which covers the support for 48 EC145 helicopters also operated by the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie. Together, they provide a comprehensive support framework for the entire H145 family fleet.

Sources

Airbus Press Release