Airbus Helicopters is under contract to manufacture 12 newly configured H225M Caracal helicopters for Dutch Special Forces (Airbus Helicopters)
BELFAST — A much-needed spike in demand for Super Puma heavy-lift helicopters helped Airbus Helicopters deliver strong annual results in 2024, with the company’s product line recording gross orders, overall, of 455 rotorcraft across the year — a 10 percent increase compared to 2023.
The Super Puma family (comprising civil and military H215/M and H225/M variants) recorded a total of 58 orders, a welcome uptick after a difficult 2023 where Airbus failed to secure a single order for the line. At a military level, 2024 orders for the Super Puma included The Netherlands and Romania.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even told reporters during an annual results call on Monday, “It’s really a strong performance [from the Super Puma], confirming that this helicopter is really well positioned and meeting well the demand of our customers.”
He added, “We are committed to the product, and I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to continue this positive trend in the year to come.”
Even also said that a contract with Iraq for a dozen H225M helicopters is now “in force.”
“I see a good momentum in the [Middle East] region for the years to come,” he said, referring to potential new business not just for the H225M program, but also H145M light-twin and NH90 multirole helicopters.
A standout performer in terms of 2023 business, drawing 186 orders, the H145M saw demand marginally drop off to 114 aircraft last year.
At the other end of the spectrum, the embattled NH90 multirole helicopter did not receive any orders in 2024, with the H160 medium utility type gaining only four.
Even said he was not “at all disappointed” by the H160 low order total because the company is “committed to the market for the long term” and stressed that aircraft performance has so far exceeded customer expectation. The military version of the H160 has a long future ahead, as it is under development to support France’s Light Joint Helicopter program, comprising of 169 aircraft.
On a lack of orders for the NH90, he similarly said that assessment of the multirole rotorcraft is based on a “long-term” market view and that priorities for the program include improving fleet availability rates, reducing maintenance workload issues and preparing for a production ramp up.
The NH90 has been troubled by delivery delays, poor availability rates and contract cancellations, with an Oslo court, for example, set to begin proceedings, this year, relating to Norway’s decision to terminate a contract for 14 aircraft.
On a more positive note for helo-maker NHIndustries, in June 2024, the company announced the launch of the NH90 Block 1/Software Release 3 upgrade, backed by Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy which covers integration of the new Link 22 datalink, Leonardo’s LEOSS-T Electro-Optical gimbal, sonar equipment and “additional weapons integration,” according to the manufacturer.
“Im really optimistic about the future of this helicopter,” added Even. His perspective chimes with Axel Aloccio, NHIndustries CEO, who drew on similar plans last year and said that “commercial opportunities” amounting to sales in the region of “50 to 100” aircraft, are in play.
Broadly speaking, Even shared that the military helicopter market remains “stable,” adding, “we all know the geopolitical context and the decision of many countries to increase defense budgets.”
