Berlin, Germany. Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania for the acquisition of 12 multirole helicopters, comprising seven H160 and five H145 aircraft. This significant investment is part of the European initiative Security Action for Europe (SAFE), which aims to strengthen European civil protection, emergency response, and public safety frameworks.
“We are deeply honoured by the trust that the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs has placed in Airbus to complement their aeronautical fleet through this landmark multi-platform order. The selection of both the H160 and the H145 highlights the unique capability of our product range to deliver an integrated, highly efficient response to complex missions,” said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “By deploying these advanced platforms under the SAFE programme, Romania is significantly enhancing its operational readiness, reducing emergency reaction times, and positioning itself as a robust contributor to European integrated rescue and security mechanisms. We are fully committed to supporting their critical life-saving and public safety operations,” he added.
The state-of-the-art fleet will be operated by the Ministry’s General Inspectorate of Aviation, under the coordination of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU). The aircraft are destined to modernise Romania’s national capabilities in integrated emergency management, civil protection, and public order enforcement.
The H160 fleet will provide a high-performance multirole capability, with four aircraft dedicated to civil protection and disaster relief missions, whilst three will support public order, aerial surveillance, and tactical security operations. The H145 fleet will be fully allocated to the country’s emergency rescue service (SMURD) and mountain rescue operations, serving as the primary resource for rapid emergency medical interventions, specialised medical evacuations, and complex search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
Airbus has been present in Romania for over twenty years through its three businesses: an Airbus Helicopters customer centre, a successful enterprise since its creation with about 75 percent of its turnover achieved through export contracts, Airbus Defence and Space providing turn-key secure communications and systems engineering services through its engineering department and manufacturing detached parts for Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
In total, there are more than 1,800 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of more than 8.5 million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class, while its CO2 emissions are the lowest amongst its competitors.
The H160 is one of the world’s most technologically advanced helicopters, designed and built to deliver the highest levels of operational safety alongside the extended range and spacious cabin required for demanding multirole operations. Equipped with the Helionix avionics suite, the H160 offers intuitive flight controls, enhanced situational awareness and reduced pilot workload.
Beyond cabin ergonomics, the H160’s design reduces environmental and community impact while boosting mission performance. Its innovative Blue Edge main rotor blades and canted Fenestron tail rotor cut perceived sound by up to 50% compared to conventional designs – providing vital operational discretion for public service missions while remaining a quieter neighbor to local communities. Optimised with Safran Arrano engines, the H160 delivers 18% reduction in fuel burn.
