Morocco has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the acquisition of ten H225M helicopters, the European manufacturer announced from Dubai on Oct. 18.
The aircraft will be operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force for combat search and rescue missions, replacing the aging Puma helicopters that have served for more than 40 years.
“We are honored that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.
“This is another step in the partnership we have been building over the decades with the Kingdom of Morocco. The H225M is enjoying strong momentum on the market and is a reference for complex missions in tough environments,” he said.
The new helicopters will feature double hoist installations, a searchlight, and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, and can be equipped with machine guns and electronic warfare systems for self-protection.
The contract also includes a support and service package with connected solutions to optimize availability and maintenance.
Airbus has maintained a presence in Morocco since 1951 through Airbus Atlantic, specializing in composite manufacturing and avionics support.
In 2024, Airbus Helicopters announced the creation of a customer center in Morocco, which will evolve into a regional maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hub for West Africa, supporting the 60 Airbus helicopters already in service with Moroccan armed forces.