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The Netherlands have announced they are purchasing 14 H225M Caracal long-range tactical transport military helicopters.
The transport helicopters will be put into use by Special Operations Forces after delivery starts in 2028, according to an announcement by Dutch State Secretary of Defence Christophe van der Maat on 6 June.
The aircraft will be housed at Gilze-Rijen Air Base in the south of Netherlands and reportedly replace the Netherlands’ current fleet of 12 AS532U2 Cougar medium multipurpose helicopters.
The new aircraft order, with European manufacturer Airbus Helicopters, is in line with a Ministry of Defense memorandum published last year to strengthen special operations capability for deployment on land and at sea.
We schaffen 14 helikopters voor speciale operaties aan. Daarmee gaan we met een squadron van de @Kon_Luchtmacht ook Special Operations Forces (SOF) Air capaciteit leveren. De nieuwe helikopter volgt de Cougar-transporthelikopters van @dhcluchtmacht op. ➡️ https://t.co/f4VvXzSP6t pic.twitter.com/s1WLbwVbSe
— Christophe van der Maat (@DefensieStas) June 5, 2023
The purchase also includes equipment for the helicopters and simulation equipment for education and training. The Airbus H225M is already in use by France, Brazil, Indonesia, Kuwait, and Malaysia.
State Secretary Christophe van der Maat said the Dutch Ministry of Defence will also purchase new advanced anti-radiation guided missile-extended range for the F-35 fighter jets from the American manufacturer Northrop Grumman.
