On Wednesday at Laupheim Airfield, the first two helicopters of the type H145M LKH SOF (Light Combat Helicopter for Special Operations Forces) landed. After it was decided in 2023 that Helicopter Wing 64 should receive the Light Combat Helicopter for the Luftwaffe’s special forces, the first of more than 15 aircraft were now handed over to the wing.
A strong emphasis was placed on armament and networking capability. The armament of the special-forces version of the light combat helicopter consists of a 20-mm autocannon and 70-mm rockets. In addition, it can be used for reconnaissance through an advanced camera system and can designate targets for other systems with its laser.
The Bundeswehr had already received the first H145M LKH by the end of 2024
The light combat helicopter is used either alone or in formation and serves fire and close air support for Bundeswehr special forces operations. In December 2023, the Bundeswehr and Airbus Helicopters signed a contract to purchase up to 82 multirole helicopters of the H145M type. In addition to the 62 firm orders, there were also 20 options. Besides deliveries, the contract also includes seven years of support and services.
Thus, the contract became the largest order ever issued for the H145M and, at the same time, the most extensive for the weapon management system HForce. Eleven months after the contract was signed, Airbus Helicopters delivered the first helicopter to the Bundeswehr in November 2024. Now, the Helicopter Wing 64, which already operates an almost identical variant of the H145M SOF, has also received the first machines equipped with HForce.
