With the first H145M for Belgium now in pre-delivery at Airbus Helicopters’ Donauwörth production facility in Germany, flight testing is to begin in June. (Airbus)
The first Airbus Helicopters H145M rotorcraft for Belgium is now in the pre-delivery phase of its production at the company’s Donauwörth facility in southern Germany, with flight testing to begin in June 2026.
The Directorate General Material Resources (DGMR) at the Belgian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 13 May 2026 that the first of 15 H145M battlefield support helicopters ordered in June 2024 is progressing, as the Belgian Land Component looks to replace its Agusta A109 fleet by the end of 2027.
“The first aircraft is in [the] pre-delivery phase, with integration of the rotor systems,” the DMGR said. “Test flights will start at the beginning of June, carried out by a DGMR test pilot.”
With work on the first helicopter progressing, the DGMR noted that a further two are in their major component assembly of the production process, with six more on the final assembly line (FAL).
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