Newsroom
Cyprus took a big step forward in modernizing its defense capabilities with the official arrival of the first two H145M helicopters at the “Andreas Papandreou” Air Base in Paphos on Wednesday. These new choppers have now joined the 450th Helicopter Squadron of the National Guard’s Hellenic Air Force, marking a milestone in Cyprus’s military upgrade.
The ceremony was attended by top officials, including Defense Minister Vassilis Palmas and National Guard Chief Lieutenant General George Tsitsikostas. Former Defense Minister Charalambos Petrides and ex-Director General of the Ministry of Defense Andreas Loukas also came out to witness the event.
Back in June 2022, Cyprus signed an agreement with Airbus to acquire six of these state-of-the-art H145M helicopters, with the option to buy six more down the road. As part of the deal, the National Guard is also selling its 11 older Russian Mi-135P attack helicopters to Serbia.
So, what makes the H145M special? These helicopters can cruise at speeds up to 240 km/h and fly almost 640 kilometers on a single tank, staying airborne for over three and a half hours. They can carry up to 10 people, including two crew members, a pilot and a weapons operator, and have powerful twin engines delivering 894 horsepower each.
Beyond transport, the H145M packs a punch with advanced weapons options. It can be equipped with SPIKE ER missiles, different types of rockets, machine guns, and cannons, making it a versatile tool for defense missions. It also has modern tech that lets it work closely with drones, a feature known as Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUT-T).
With a maximum takeoff weight of 3,800 kilograms and the ability to carry external loads up to 1,600 kilograms, these helicopters are designed to handle a range of missions, from troop transport to tactical support.
The arrival of these helicopters marks a significant upgrade for the National Guard, bringing Cyprus’s defense technology into the 21st century and providing new capabilities to protect the island. More H145Ms may be on the way if Cyprus chooses to expand its fleet further.
