To modernize its aviation assets, the Iraqi Army has confirmed the purchase of twelve (12) new Airbus H225M helicopters, which will replace the older Russian-made Mil Mi-17s. The announcement was made by Airbus Helicopters on September 6, following the signing of the acquisition contract by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.
Currently, the Iraqi Army Aviation Command operates a substantial and diverse fleet of light and medium helicopters from various origins. This includes Bell OH-58C Kiowa, Bell 505 JetRanger X, Bell T407, Bell IA-407, Bell 206 JetRanger, and Bell UH-1H Huey II, complemented by Airbus H135s. However, another significant portion of their fleet consists of Russian-origin aircraft, notably the Mil Mi-28 and Mil Mi-35 Hind-E, in addition to the Mil Mi-17s used for transport duties.
According to the September 6 announcement from Airbus, the twelve new H225M helicopters will replace the Mi-17s in an effort to phase out various Russian-made equipment subject to Western sanctions. While the financial details of the contract, signed on September 5 in Baghdad, were not disclosed, the delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2025.
“We are very pleased to welcome a new member to the H225M family,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H225M is a proven combat platform, used worldwide by many operators, including the French Air Force, for combat search and rescue missions. It has demonstrated its worth and saved many lives since it entered service,” he added. “The H225M is unmatched in terms of range, payload, and mission systems. It is designed to operate in challenging missions in the most demanding environments. We look forward to seeing the H225M contribute to Iraq’s security and sovereignty.”
Once in service, the new H225Ms in the Iraqi Army will be employed in a wide range of operations and missions, including counterterrorism, special operations, tactical troop transport, attack, fire support, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and combat search and rescue.
With this acquisition, Iraq joins a large group of operators of the aircraft, both in its original H225 version and the H225M, including France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and Hungary, totaling a global fleet of 350 aircraft in service.
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