Airbus has secured a Romanian order for 12 H225M military helicopters, with the aircraft set to begin replacing the country’s IAR-330 Puma fleet for conventional and special operations. The contract was concluded through France’s DGA under the EU’s SAFE defence initiative, giving the deal a wider procurement framework beyond a standard commercial sale.
The H225M order extends Romania’s helicopter modernisation effort and adds another defence win for Airbus in Europe. The Romanian Air Force still operates the locally produced IAR-330 Puma, a licence-built version of the Aerospatiale Puma, and the new aircraft are expected to start that transition. No financial terms were disclosed in the reporting.
Romania has also previously ordered two H215Ms in naval configuration, underscoring its wider interest in Airbus military rotorcraft. The latest contract follows earlier SAFE-linked helicopter purchases in Romania and fits into a broader regional trend of governments updating ageing fleets while using EU-backed procurement structures to support defence spending.