Photo: Airbus Helicopters / Anthony PecchiThe Kingdom of Morocco has signed a contract with
Airbus Helicopters for 10 H225M helicopters, which will be operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force and configured for combat search and rescue missions. The new aircraft will replace the current Puma fleet that has been in service for more than 40 years.
Bruno Even, chief executive officer of Airbus Helicopters, said: “We are honoured that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M. 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 Royal Moroccan Air Force H225Ms will feature a double hoist installation, a searchlight and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system. They will also be capable of carrying machine guns and an electronic warfare system for self-protection. The contract includes a support and service package with connected services.
More than 360 H225 and H225M helicopters are currently in service worldwide, with close to 980,000 flight hours accumulated. Military operators include France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq and Kuwait.
Airbus has maintained a presence in Morocco since 1951 through Airbus Atlantic, a wholly-owned subsidiary specialising in composite manufacturing, assembly of complex metallic sub-assemblies, and maintenance and support of avionics equipment.
In 2024, Airbus Helicopters announced the creation of a customer centre in the Kingdom to support the 60 Airbus helicopters operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie. The centre will evolve into a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility with new dedicated infrastructure and will serve as the regional hub for Airbus helicopters in West Africa.