Belgium Receives First H145M, Expands Fleet Order to 20

Airbus Helicopters delivered the first H145M to the Kingdom of Belgium on June 24, 2026, at its Donauwörth, Germany facility, while concurrently announcing that the nation has exercised options for three additional aircraft to bring its total fleet order to 20.

In a press release issued by Airbus, the manufacturer confirmed the delivery marks a major milestone in modernizing Belgium’s defense and law enforcement aviation capabilities. The original procurement contract, facilitated through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in 2024, initially covered 15 helicopters for the Belgian Armed Forces and two for the Belgian Federal Police. The three newly exercised options are designated for the Federal Police, finalizing the 20-aircraft fleet structure.

Fleet expansion and delivery details

The handover ceremony in Donauwörth solidifies Belgium’s commitment to the multi-role platform. Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters, emphasized the significance of the expanded orders and the operational trust placed in the aircraft.

“This platform has become the definitive European reference for military multi-mission capabilities. Belgium’s decision to extend their fleet to 20 aircraft is a powerful testament to the deep trust placed in our team and the H145M’s ability to meet today’s evolving security challenges,” Hein stated.

Hein also noted that Airbus is honored Belgium is joining a growing community of European nations utilizing the H145M for critical operations. The global fleet of the H145 family has accumulated 8.5 million flight hours to date, providing a proven operational baseline for the new Belgian aircraft.

Technical capabilities and mission flexibility

The Airbus H145M is engineered for rapid reconfiguration to support diverse mission profiles. According to the manufacturer, operators can convert the aircraft within minutes from a light attack configuration, which includes axial ballistic and guided weapons alongside self-protection systems, to a special operations setup equipped with fast-rappelling gear.

The helicopter features advanced digital connectivity designed to integrate into networked combat environments and operate alongside uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). Power is delivered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The flight deck utilizes the Helionix digital avionics suite, which incorporates a 4-axis autopilot to reduce pilot workload during complex missions.

AirPro News analysis

We view Belgium’s decision to exercise its remaining options so early in the delivery cycle as a strong indicator of the H145M’s established reputation within NATO and European defense frameworks. By utilizing the NSPA for procurement and selecting a platform already widely adopted across the continent, Belgium ensures streamlined maintenance, training, and interoperability with allied forces. The dual-allocation strategy, splitting the fleet between the Armed Forces and the Federal Police, also highlights a growing trend among European nations to leverage single-platform economies of scale across both military and civil law enforcement domains.

Sources: Airbus