The French Armed Forces recently achieved an in-flight refueling of an H225M Caracal by a C130 Hercules over the Sahel desert this October. This is the first in-flight refueling of an H225M while in combat and promises to open new possibilities in terms of how the helicopter can be used in overseas conflict situations.

H225M: Expanding Reach

Operation Barkhane, the counter-terrorism operation in the Sahel-Saharan strip, requires complex logistical planning in the vast Sahel desert. In-flight refueling becomes a major asset by multiplying the helicopters’ area of intervention dramatically.

Multi-Mission and Combat-Proven

The latest member of Airbus Helicopters’ military Super Puma family, this 11-metric-tonne helicopter is used in logistic support missions, disaster support, medical evacuation, search and rescue, combat search and rescue, presidential transport, troop transport, and humanitarian actions. Since 2006, the H225M has been used in combat and crisis areas in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Chad, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Somalia and Mali, while also supporting NATO-led operations in Libya. France, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand also rely on the H225M for their most demanding missions. With its cutting edge avionics, communications systems and defensive aids, the H225M has proven its reliability and durability in the field.

Press release and picture Airbus Helicopter