The first two Airbus light helicopters commissioned by the Hungarian army are currently performing test flights at the manufacturer’s Donauwörth base in Germany.
Rmx.news points out that earlier this year, the Hungarian Armed Forces placed an order for twenty H145M helicopters with European multinational aircraft builder Airbus at an undisclosed sum, but military analysts put the value of the deal at around EUR 270 million (US$306 million).
Hungary ordered the helicopters with the highest-grade weaponry available for the model which includes infrared-guided air-to-air and laser-guided air-to-ground missiles, a 20mm auto cannon, a 12.7mm machine gun and unguided 70mm missiles.
Airbus is also currently training two pilots and ten mechanics in Donauwörth, with the contract also including training for ten pilots and fifty mechanics.
The Hungarian Armed Forces will use these helicopters in light support, search-and-rescue and multirole capacities. The Airbus H145 is in service with government agencies, law enforcement and militaries of about fifteen countries around the world.
The first four helicopters are slated to be delivered in the last quarter of this year, another 12 in 2020 and the last four in 2021. So far Airbus has sold 51 of the helicopters, with the Hungarian being the largest order.
Photo credit: htka.hu