Canada embraces European technology with new H135 helicopters
Canada has decided to purchase H135 helicopters for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), marking the first presence of this European giant in the country's armed forces. Here's what Canada purchased.
The contract for 19 helicopters for the RCAF is part of the larger Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme. The ordered helicopters will be produced at Airbus Helicopters' plant in Fort Erie, Ontario, and will be equipped with many Canadian-specific solutions, including those related to avionics, communication systems, and custom cockpit solutions.
Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026. It is also noteworthy that Canada will become the 12th country to use the training variant of the H135 helicopters. These helicopters will join other aircraft currently operated by the Canadian air force, such as the Airbus CC150 Polaris, CC330 Husky, and CC295 Kingfisher.
"On behalf of SkyAlyne, I express satisfaction with the successful conclusion of negotiations with our partners from KF Aerospace and Airbus Helicopters in Canada. The timely delivery of H135s for the RCAF is an important endeavour for SkyAlyne and the FAcT programme, as it is a crucial element of the programme's timeline," commented Kevin Lemke, Executive Director of SkyAlyne. "The selection of the H135 will significantly contribute to the development of the Canadian economy, and SkyAlyne is committed to building the pilot and crew training programme for the RCAF, supporting the creation of jobs in the country."
H135 helicopters - a variant of a machine well known in Poland
The multi-purpose H135 helicopters are a twin-engine design based on the civilian EC135, used among others by the Polish Air Ambulance Service (LPR). The H135 variant is a helicopter with a maximum takeoff weight of about 3,000 kg, capable of carrying 5 or 6 passengers in addition to two pilots.
Its engines have a power of approximately 492 kW each, with a digital engine control system (FADEC), and the maximum cruise speed is 254 km/h. The fuel tank allows for covering a distance of 632 km or staying airborne for 3 hours and 36 minutes.
Utilising modified civilian machines with flight hours exceeding 400,000 for pilot training is a good solution, as it significantly simplifies operation and access to spare parts. It can be assumed that in the future, more European machines may be included in the RCAF.
