Morocco has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for ten H225M helicopters, which will replace 24 Pumas the have been in service for over 40 years.
Airbus Helicopters made the announcement at the Dubai Air Show on 18 November. The company said the new H225Ms will be equipped for combat search and rescue operations and will be operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). It did not specify delivery dates nor cost.
The helicopters will be installed with a double hoist installation, a searchlight and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system. They will be able to carry machine guns and an electronic warfare system for self-protection.
“We are honoured that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “This is another step in the partnership we have been building over the decades with the Kingdom of Morocco. The H225M is enjoying a strong momentum on the market. This aircraft is a reference for complex missions in tough environments. This order solidifies the H225M’s reputation as the helicopter of choice for combat search and rescue and special operations across the world.”
The contract with Airbus Helicopters also includes a support and service package with connected services. Maintenance will most likely take place at the Airbus Helicopters customer centre in Morocco, the creation of which was announced in 2024. This is to support the 60 Airbus helicopters in service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie. It will develop into a service centre for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) with new dedicated facilities and will become the regional centre for Airbus helicopters in West Africa.
Airbus has had a presence in Morocco since 1951 through Airbus Atlantic, a wholly-owned Airbus subsidiary specialising in composite manufacturing, the assembly of complex metallic sub-assemblies, and the maintenance and support of avionics equipment.
H225s are already in service with Morocco’s military police, the Gendarmerie Royale, but the RMAF’s order is part of its rotary-wing modernisation, which also includes the delivery of new AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States.
Airbus Helicopters said there are more than 360 H225s and H225Ms in service around the world, totaling close to 980 000 flight hours. Military customers include France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore,Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq and Kuwait.
