Airbus secures groundbreaking deal to deliver 19 H135 military training helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Airbus Helicopters to Supply 19 H135 Helicopters to Royal Canadian Air Force
Airbus Helicopters has secured a significant contract to provide 19 Airbus H135 helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as part of the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. This marks the entry of Airbus helicopters into the Canadian military market.
The H135 helicopters, which will be assembled and delivered from Airbus Helicopters' facility in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, are set to become the cornerstone of the RCAF's rotary-wing training fleet. Known for their performance, endurance, cost-effective operations, and advanced avionics, the H135 helicopters will foster the development of fundamental skills, enabling a smooth and secure transition to more complex helicopters within the RCAF fleet.
The contract, executed by KF Aerospace on behalf of SkyAlyne, a joint venture between Canadian defense companies CAE and KF Aerospace, also includes a support and maintenance service, ground training solution development, and advanced engineering support for aircraft entry into service. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026.
SkyAlyne's General Manager, Kevin Lemke, expressed satisfaction and gratitude regarding the partnership. Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters Canada, also expressed gratitude for the trust placed in Airbus and the H135 by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The H135 helicopter has over 400,000 hours of dedicated military training flight time and is used for basic, advanced tactical, and instrument flight training by several military allies, including Australia and the United Kingdom. This contract with the RCAF will further expand the H135's military footprint.
Airbus' presence in Canada contributes to the creation of approximately 23,000 indirect jobs and generates over CAD 2 billion in annual revenue for more than 850 Canadian companies. In Canada, over 4,500 people work at ten sites and in Airbus offices and subsidiaries covering the sectors of commercial aircraft, helicopters, defense, and space.
The Fort Erie site is the center of excellence for transmission boxes of light single-engine helicopters and the sole source of critical composite parts supporting platforms worldwide. Each year, Airbus Helicopters ships 34,000 parts from Fort Erie to clients around the world.
The H135 will join other Airbus aircraft in service for Canadian defense, such as the Airbus 310 (CC150 Polaris), the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (CC330 Husky), and the Airbus C295 (CC295 Kingfisher). Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has delivered nearly 600 helicopters to Canada. By 2023, the fleet of 760 Airbus helicopters in Canada had accumulated over 275,000 flight hours in the country.
[1] SkyAlyne signs contract with Airbus Helicopters to provide 19 H135 helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/news/2023/03/skyalyne-signs-contract-with-airbus-helicopters-to-provide-19-h135-helicopters-to-the-royal-canadian-air-force.html
[2] Airbus Helicopters to supply 19 H135 helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force. (2023, March 16). Retrieved from https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2023/03/airbus-helicopters-to-supply-19-h135-helicopters-to-the-royal-canadian-air-force.html
[4] Airbus Helicopters Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.airbushelicopters.com/en/about-us/subsidiaries/airbus-helicopters-canada.html
The H135 helicopters, manufactured by Airbus Helicopters, will be used extensively in the Royal Canadian Air Force's rotary-wing training fleet due to their cost-effective operations and advanced avionics. This contract, executed by SkyAlyne, a venture between Canadian defense companies CAE and KF Aerospace, also includes support and maintenance services, ground training solution development, and engineering support for aircraft entry into service, all related to the finance and aerospace industries.
