Germany’s light multirole helicopter, the H145M, is armed with the SPIKE-ER ATGM and the new FZ275 small guided missiles!
H145M: A Multi-Role Helicopter for Germany at Rank VII
At a glance:
This helicopter is for daring and skilled pilots! Excellent maneuverability and flexible armament options make it ideal for long-range combat, attack missions, or hunting other helicopters. Meet the H145M!
The distinctive whirr of the little H145M will soon be a familiar sight in battle. In the hands of the right pilot, this lightweight and compact helicopter will be a real curse for the enemy team. It pops up where it’s least expected, stings, and vanishes before it's even noticed. It carries Spike missiles for tanks and helicopters, FZ275 LGR small laser-guided missiles for soft ground targets and helicopters, as well as machine gun, cannon, and rocket mounts for classic ground attack runs. Pilots are assisted by advanced electronics, which includes RWR and a thermal imaging sight with high zoom. Its 120 countermeasure charges will help defend against enemy missiles. The only things missing are air-to-air missiles and integrated forward-firing weapons.
The H145M's primary armament will be guided missiles. Against tanks, it uses the fire-and-forget SPIKE-ER missile, already familiar to both pilots and tank crews. Like the recently announced AW159 Wildcat, the H145M also carries small guided missiles. The new FZ275. These are carried in pods of 12, for a total of 24. These missiles are small, have a shaped-charge warhead, and are laser-guided. For their size, the FZ275s have excellent flight time and a launch range of up to 8 km! Naturally, they aren't particularly dangerous to MBTs, but they are a perfect weapon against light vehicles, including anti-aircraft vehicles and helicopters!Developer Comment: The H145M will appear at Rank VII of the German helicopter tree as an alternative to the more heavily armed Tigers. It’s lighter, boasts powerful engines for its relatively low weight, is very responsive to control, and can really shine. Thanks to its new FZ275 missiles, it’s great at hitting multiple soft targets in quick succession, making it a great option towards the end of a battle. The helicopter is also an excellent tank hunter. The Spikes don't require constant target illumination; they can be deployed during active maneuvering or briefly peeking out from behind cover, and they fly to the target automatically.
In 2015, Airbus Helicopters received EASA certification for the military version of the H145M, based on the civilian EC645 T2. The base model was cleared for service in May 2015, and the first H145Ms were delivered to the Bundeswehr that same year. The aircraft are destined for the 64th Special Operations Helicopter Squadron in Laupheim, Germany; to this day, this unit remains the only operator of this type in Germany. The Bundeswehr ordered 15 aircraft in total. The Royal Thai Navy also placed an order, and began receiving its H145Ms in 2016. The helicopter has also been exported to Serbia, Hungary, and Luxembourg.
That’s it for this one! Until the next dev blog, have fun in your battles!
Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.