Illustrative photo (© Juan Manuel Gibaja)
On 2 May 2024, Airbus Helicopters announced it has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence of Brunei for the manufacture and delivery of six H145M twin-engine light utility helicopters.
This deal is the second part of the country's Support Helicopter Project. The first phase was the purchase of twelve Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk medium transport/utility helicopters in the early 2010s.
It is expected that the new H145Ms will be delivered to the Angkatan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (ATUDB, Royal Brunei Air Force) from 2026 onwards. They will replace the six Bo105s of which the last one was withdrawn from service in 2022.
The H145M means an enhancement of the air force's operational capabilities for missions such as close air support and aerial observation.
In April 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence also announced the acquisition of six H145M helicopters for services with British forces in Cyprus and Brunei. The benefits of operational commonality between UK and Brunei helicopters can perhaps be seen as a major contributor to Brunei's choice of hardware.
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