Iraq receives first newbuild Caracal helicopters

One of the first batch of newbuild Caracal helicopters for Iraq being offloaded from an An-124 strategic transport aircraft. (Iraqi Ministry of Defence)

Iraq has received its first newbuild Airbus H225M Caracal medium-lift helicopters, following delivery of two refurbished helicopters earlier in 2025.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted images of the delivery of the first batch of newbuild helicopters aboard a strategic transport aircraft on 10 June.

The MoD did not say how many newbuild helicopters were delivered, but the Antonov An-124 can carry four Caracals. This would leave a further eight to be handed over to complete the Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IAAC) order of 14, including the two refurbished airframes.

News of the milestone came weeks after the first two refurbished airframes were formally received by Iraq's Minister of Defence Thabet Mohammad Saeed al-Abbasi on 30 April.

Based on the Puma family, the H225M (previously known as the EC725) is an 11 tonne twin-engined helicopter that can carry up to 28 people and is typically used for combat search-and-rescue, naval operations, medical evacuation, and military transportation. Airbus Helicopters noted that in Iraqi service, the type will also be used for special operations.

For more information on Iraqi Army helicopter plans, please seeIraqi army planning to buy Bell helicopters to replace Russian models .