The Ukrainian Ministry of Interior has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus Helicopters for 55 rotorcraft intended for SAR, HEMS and public service missions in the country. Included in the 55 are 21 repurposed H225s, 10 factory-new H145s and 24 H125s.

The contract, inked by Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Ukraine Arsen Avakov and Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even, also seeks to establish a local training and maintenance centre.

The heavy twin-engine H225 aircraft ordered by Ukraine will be refitted to suit public services and SAR missions. The type is able to perform a takeoff sequence in less than five minutes and has long range capability thanks to auxiliary fuel tanks. The first units are expected to land in Kiev before the end of 2018. Both the H145 and H125 can be utilised for a variety of mission profiles including aerial work, firefighting, law enforcement, search and rescue and passenger transport.