Iraq signs for H225M helicopters

Iraq has signed for 14 Airbus H225M Caracal medium-lift helicopters, the country's Defense Minister Thabet Mohammad Saeed Al-Abbasi announced on 5 September.

Comprising 12 newbuild and two refurbished airframes, the deal announced by Abbasi is part of a wider revamp of Iraq's helicopter forces, geared at replacing Russian-built models with Western ones.

Airbus Helicopters had not responded to a Janes request for further information at the time of publication, but according to French national media the first helicopters are to be delivered to Iraq in early 2025. No contract value was disclosed.

Based on the Puma family, the H225M (previously known as the EC725) is an 11-tonne twin-engined helicopter that can carry up to 28 people and is typically used for combat search-and-rescue, naval operations, medical evacuation, and military transportation.

As noted by Janes World Armies , Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IAAC), which operates all military helicopters, currently fields seven Bell OH-58C Kiowa, seven Bell 505 JetRanger X (with eight more to be delivered), three Bell T407, 20 Bell IA-407, 20 Bell 206 JetRanger, and 16 Bell UH-1H Huey II US-built helicopters; 37 Airbus H135 (EC135) French-built helicopters; and 15 Mil Mi-28NE/NM ‘Havoc', 23 Mil Mi-35 ‘Hind-E', and 57 Mil Mi-17-series ‘Hip' helicopters.

For more information on Iraqi Army helicopter plans, please seeIraqi army planning to buy Bell helicopters to replace Russian models .