LONDON/PARIS - Airbus Helicopters is set to market its made-in-America light attack helicopter - the AH-125/MH-125 Ares - a derivative of the H125 Ecureuil/Squirrel/AStar single-engine light helicopter - at the Paris Air Show this coming week.
The AH-125 light attack and MH-125 multi-mission aircraft have been developed to meet an “untapped market niche” for a more affordable and configurable fleet of helicopters, Scott Tumpak, VP of military business for Airbus space and defense in the U.S., told journalists June 15 ahead of next week’s show.
Although Airbus has an armed version of the H125 - the H125M, featuring the HForce weapons package developed in Europe - Tumpak says some customers have an “alignment with U.S.-made weapons and equipment.”
To meet that need, Airbus is offering U.S.-assembled H125s produced at the company’s plant in Columbus, Miss.
Those aircraft are being turned into AH-125s that will be equipped with a weapons system package developed by MAG Aerospace of fton Beach, Fla., enabling the use of U.S.-made guns, unguided rocket systems and potentially guided missiles in the future.
Many of the modifications for the MH-125 version, including equipment for search and rescue, casualty evacuation and disaster response, have already largely been developed through the commercial H125 program, allowing the MH-125 to be offered first.
Tumpak says that some work is still needed to complete development of the AH-125, the aircraft could be ready for market in two years.
By selling from the U.S., Airbus can offer the aircraft through either direct commercial sale or the government’s Foreign Military Sales system; and because the aircraft meets U.S. content rules, buyers can also access Foreign Military Funding to acquire the platform. (Aviation Week 06/15/23)
AHI Columbus also assembles UH-72B Lakota light utility helicopters for the US Army and National Guard. Airbus’ AH-125 Seeks U.S.-Aligned Light Attack Helicopter Customers | Aviation Week Network
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