Hungary Conducts First Weapon Tests with Airbus H225M Helicopters

27 February, 2025 Airbus H225M helicopter of the Hungarian military. February 2025. Source: lhsn.hu

The Hungarian military has tested the Airbus H225M helicopter with suspended machine gun containers for the first time. The helicopters were tested in the Bakony mountain range in the Central Transdanubian region of Hungary. Hungary will receive the first Airbus H225M helicopters in 2023 under a 2018 contract.

Sixteen helicopters are to be delivered under the contract. Hungary has ordered the helicopters in the Airbus HForce configuration, which allows for the installation of a wide range of weapons.

Airbus H225M helicopter of the Hungarian military. February 2025.

Source: lhsn.hu

This particular configuration allows the use of the FN Herstal HMP400 suspended container with a .50-caliber machine gun, the Thales FZ231 container for unguided missiles, and the Nexter NC621 20-mm automatic cannon. Hungary has also ordered 20 H145M multi-role helicopters as part of its fleet modernization, which it also tested with weapons in Bakony. The H225M multi-role helicopter is based on the Eurocopter AS532 Cougar.

It is capable of carrying up to 28 soldiers and 2 crew members, depending on the configuration.

H145M helicopter of the Hungarian military.

February 2025. Source: lhsn.hu

The helicopter is designed for troop transportation, evacuation of the wounded, and search and rescue operations. It is equipped with two Makila 2A1 engines and a five-blade rotor for low vibration, has a range of 920 kilometers, a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour, and a maximum takeoff weight of 11 tons.

Airbus H225M helicopter of the Hungarian military.

February 2025.

Source: lhsn.hu

In 2024, Sweden confirmed an agreement with Hungary to purchase additional Gripen C fighter jets and transfer ownership of existing aircraft.