Romania signs for 12 Airbus H225M helicopters to replace Puma fleet

Romania has ordered 12 H225M multirole military helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, the manufacturer announced on October 7, 2026. The contract runs through the French defence procurement agency, the Direction générale de l'armement, and is funded by the European Commission's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, an EU financing tool meant to help member states speed up defence spending and close capability gaps.

This is Romania's second purchase from Airbus Helicopters under SAFE. The country recently bought seven H160s and five H145s for public service work.

The 12 helicopters will begin replacing the Romanian Air Force's IAR-330 Puma, a licence-built version of the Aerospatiale Puma produced domestically by Industria Aeronautică Română. They will fly conventional and special operations missions.

According to Romania's defence ministry, the aircraft will be equipped to strike ground targets and to fly attack, reconnaissance, surveillance, tactical protection and specialised day and night airborne assault sorties. Romania has separately ordered two H215Ms in a naval configuration.

Airbus Helicopters chief executive Matthieu Louvot said the selection would also build up Romania's industrial base through the company's long-standing partnership with IAR, which he described as the country's only helicopter manufacturer. The Romanian defence ministry puts IAR Brașov's share of the joint H225M procurement programme at roughly 15%.