TSAMTO, March 25. Airbus Helicopters has announced the transfer of the last of the seven ordered H-145 LUH SAR light search and rescue helicopters to the German Federal Armament, Information Technology and Maintenance Agency (BAAINBw).
Previously delivered helicopters are used for training and testing, and are available around the clock and seven days a week at the Niederstetten and Nervenich air bases for search and rescue operations. The use of the seventh H-145 LUH SAR will begin in the near future from the base in Holzdorf.
As reported by CAMTO, in December 2018, the Federal Agency for Armament, Information Technology and Maintenance of Germany signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the supply of 7 H-145 LUH SAR (Light Utility Helicopter Search and Rescue) helicopters, designed to replace the search and rescue UH-1D of the country's Armed Forces, which have been in operation since the 1970s.
The exact cost of the delivery was not disclosed, but at the end of November 2018, the Bundeswehr budget Committee approved the allocation of 72.4 million euros for the purchase of 7 light multi-purpose search and rescue helicopters (LUH-SAR) from Airbus Helicopters.
The H-145s are part of the 30th Transport Helicopter Regiment (Niederstetten) and will be stationed at bases in Niederstettenn, Holzdorf and Nerfenich. Airbus Helicopters will also be responsible for the material support, repair and maintenance of the machines.
Delivery of the first H-145 in the search and rescue version was completed in December 2019.
The new search and rescue H-145s are equipped with high-resolution cameras, floodlights, emergency beacon detection systems, a full set of medical equipment, rescue winches and cargo hooks that can be used to attach fire-fighting tanks.
Under an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Bundeswehr is responsible for search and rescue operations in the event of an accident in Germany. Therefore, the fleet of search and rescue helicopters is in constant readiness. Helicopters can also be used in national disaster response operations.
