Romania orders 12 Airbus H225M helicopters to replace IAR-330 Puma fleet

Romania has signed a contract for 12 Airbus H225M multirole military helicopters, Airbus Helicopters announced on October 7, 2026.

The agreement was concluded through the French defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), and is funded under the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program. 

SAFE is an EU financing instrument that helps member states speed up defense investments, with a focus on closing critical capability gaps and supporting the European defense industry.

The order is Romania’s second with Airbus Helicopters under SAFE. The country recently ordered seven H160s and five H145s for public service missions.

Romania orders 12 Airbus H225M multirole military helicopters

Read the press release: https://t.co/BevTT7700O https://t.co/1YZjjehMWV— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) October 7, 2026

Replacing the IAR-330 Puma

The Romanian Air Force currently operates the IAR-330 Puma, a version of the Aerospatiale Puma built locally under license by local manufacturer Industria Aeronautică Română. The 12 H225Ms will mark the start of the Puma fleet’s replacement for conventional and special operations missions.

According to the Romanian Defense Ministry, the helicopters will be configured to engage ground targets and carry out attack, reconnaissance, surveillance, tactical protection and specialized day and night airborne assault missions.

Romania has also previously ordered two H215M helicopters in a naval configuration.

Industrial partnership with IAR

Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvot said the selection would also strengthen Romania’s industrial capabilities through the company’s long-term partnership with IAR, the country’s only helicopter manufacturer. Romania’s Defense Ministry says IAR Brașov will account for around 15% of the overall joint H225M procurement program.

He described the H225M as “a key asset of Europe’s defence.”

Airbus has operated in Romania for more than 20 years across its three divisions. Airbus Helicopters runs a customer center that supports the country’s Airbus fleets and also serves export customers. Airbus Defence and Space provides secure communications and systems engineering services, while the company’s commercial aircraft business manufactures parts in the country.

Airbus and IAR have cooperated on helicopters for decades. Their industrial agreement, originally centered on the H215M, was revised in 2025 to include the H225M.

A growing H225M operator base

More than 350 H225 and H225M helicopters are in service worldwide, with over one million combined flight hours. 

Before Romania’s order, the military variant was operated by 12 customers: Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Singapore and Thailand.

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