Romania Orders 7 H160 and 5 H145 from Airbus Helicopters for Emergency, Civil Protection, and Public Safety Operations

Romania – Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs for 12 multirole helicopters — seven H160 and five H145 — under the European Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, representing a significant fleet modernisation for Romania's emergency response, civil protection, and public safety operations.

• The contract includes seven H160 multirole helicopters, of which four will be dedicated to civil protection and disaster relief missions, while three will support public order, aerial surveillance, and tactical security operations. All five H145 aircraft will be allocated to Romania's SMURD emergency rescue service and mountain rescue operations for rapid emergency medical intervention, specialised medical evacuation, and search-and-rescue missions.
• The fleet will be operated by the Ministry's General Inspectorate of Aviation under the coordination of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), modernising Romania's national capabilities across integrated emergency management and civil protection.
• The H145 has more than 1,800 family aircraft in service globally with over 8.5 million flight hours logged, powered by twin Safran Arriel 2E engines with FADEC and the Helionix digital avionics suite including a high-performance 4-axis autopilot.
• The H160 features Blue Edge main rotor blades and canted Fenestron tail rotor reducing perceived sound by up to 50% compared to conventional designs, alongside Safran Arrano engines delivering 18% reduction in fuel burn — design characteristics directly relevant to public service mission profiles requiring operational discretion and community noise mitigation.
• Airbus has maintained a presence in Romania for over 20 years through its three business divisions, including an Airbus Helicopters customer centre that generates approximately 75% of its turnover from export contracts.

Statements

• "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. 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," said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

Source: Airbus Helicopters