Brunei prepares for first H145M deliveries

Brunei Ministry of Defence and Airbus Helicopters Deutschland (AHD) officials sign the Customer Acceptance Test (CAT) certificate for the first batch of H145M helicopters in October 2026. (Brunei Ministry of Defence)

Brunei is set to receive the first Airbus H145M helicopters ordered for the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) after signing a Customer Acceptance Test (CAT) certificate for the initial batch of aircraft.

The certificate was signed at Airbus Helicopters Deutschland (AHD) in Donauwörth, Germany, on 15 October, according to Brunei's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

Brunei ordered six helicopters for the RBAirF in April 2024 to replace six Bölkow BO 105 helicopters that were decommissioned in February 2022 after 41 years of service.

The signing of the CAT certificate “marks a significant milestone in the acquisition, with delivery of the batch to Brunei scheduled for November 2026”, MINDEF said.

Janes assesses that the certificate signifies completion of the factory-acceptance phase of the acquisition, with the airframe, avionics, and mission equipment meeting RBAirF technical specifications and requirements before the batch's delivery to Brunei.

MINDEF did not specify when the first batch of helicopters would enter operational service.

A photograph included in the announcement shows two H145M helicopters, indicating that the initial batch may comprise two aircraft, although the ministry has not disclosed the batch quantity. Janes has contacted the ministry for additional information.

Other photographs show the helicopters fitted with an extended nose radome that appears to house an airborne weather radar. The helicopters are also fitted with hardpoints for mission equipment and what appears to be an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor installation. The aircraft feature a three-tone blue-grey, green, and yellow camouflage scheme.