Thailand received newest H225M with 4-axis digital autopilot

Airbus Helicopters

Thailand received newest H225M with 4-axis digital autopilot

By TOC on December 3, 2021

BANGKOK, ($1=33.8988 Thai Bant) – On November 30, two new H225M Caracal helicopters were delivered to the Royal Thai Air Force [RTAF], learned BulgarianMilitary.com, citing InfoDefensa. These are the last two units of the four additional units that the country ordered from Airbus Helicopters in 2018, and with which, with another eight that it already had available, it completes a fleet of twelve EC275s, which is how these aircraft were previously known.

These helicopters are equipped with emergency flotation systems [EFS], a fast roping system, cargo slings, and electro-optical systems. Its main tasks focus on combat search and rescue missions, conventional search and rescue tasks, and the transport of troops. The two new units will be part of the RTAF 203 Squadron.

The contract for the acquisition of these devices, signed three years ago, includes on-site technical support and continuing airworthiness management organization services.

Airbus Helicopters began deliveries in 2015 of the four EC725 helicopters initially ordered by the RTAF in 2012, and in 2015 it supplied two more, ordered in the last quarter of 2014 together with five EC645 T2s, the latter destined for the country’s Navy.

In 2016, the Thai air force acquired another two H225M helicopters [at that time they were already receiving the new name] to be received that same year.

It is a helicopter “perfectly adapted for combat search and rescue [CSAR] missions, conventional search and rescue [SAR] flights, troop transport operations and other tasks of the Thai Air Force”, by agreement with its developer. The H225M belongs to the Super Puma/Cougar family of helicopters, of which more than half a thousand units have already been delivered to different countries.

From EC to H

In 2012, the then Eurocopter was renamed Airbus Helicopters, and its aircraft replaced the prefix EC with the letter H. Thus, the military version of the EC225, since then called H225M was known as the EC725.

The H225M is an eleven-tonne model powered by two engines and equipped with high-performance mission and navigation systems, including a four-axis digital autopilot. Each device is capable of accommodating 29 people, in a configuration for the movement of troops, and can move an external load of up to 4,750 kilos.

What is a four axis autopilot?

The compact autopilot is an intuitive automatic flight control system that will reduce pilot workload and improve safety. The 4-axis autopilot system reduces accidents by providing stability augmentation, attitude retention, and flight director modes, according to the release.

H225M/EC 725 Cougar: Details