The helicopter is equipped with two Safran Arriel 2E engines, each with a power output of 2x 667 kW, enabling operational range up to 650 kilometres from the base. It stands out from its competitors with lower carbon dioxide emissions due to the use of sustainable aviation fuel and reduced noise levels. Like its predecessor, it features a fenestron tail rotor for increased safety of the crew during manoeuvres in complex terrain. The newer versions have been strengthened with an additional blade on the main rotor, increasing payload capacity by 150 kilograms.
The first order for the new helicopters was placed in 1997 by the French civil and defence gendarmerie, with the aircraft’s first flight two years later. Production was subsequently launched in the United States and Japan.
Today, more than 2,150 helicopters of this designation are in operation, with over 8.5 million flight hours logged. The H145 helicopters are used by security forces worldwide. They serve police units in the federal states of Germany, border police in Georgia, Israel, as well as in the fleets of the Philippine Coast Guard and Belgium. In May 2026, eleven new pieces were ordered by the Czech Ministry of the Interior. They will gradually replace the older H135s in service.