As part of its pilot training enhancement programme, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has signed an order for six H135 military training helicopters from Airbus Helicopters. Announced on 12 February 2020, this order of six H135s will complement the RTAF’s existing H225M fleet, bringing its Airbus fleet to 18 units.
Equipped with Airbus Helicopters’ state-of-the-art Helionix avionics suite, the H135 offers optimal safety conditions for basic and advanced mission training, while providing a platform for easy and safe pilot transition onto more advanced helicopters. Besides, the RTAF’s H135s will each be configured with two external cameras, providing pilots with a 360-degree view of the external Environment. They will also be equipped with tactical systems, air-conditioning systems, tinted windows, height-adjustable pilot seats, and the Euronav7 moving map.
Deliveries of the H135s will begin in 2021. Prior to this order, Thailand has proved a strong customer in the region for Airbus Helicopters: the air force currently operates 12 H225Ms heavy-twins, and its army and navy are customers for the UH-72 Lakota and H145M, respectively. The RTAF will benefit from the support of the Airbus Helicopters Thailand team, having access to a dedicated local pool of parts.
(Sources: Airbus; FlightGlobal)
