Germany-based helicopter emergency medical services operator DRF Luftrettung has placed orders for up to 10 H145 helicopters, seven firm and three options.

"It is the mission of DRF Luftrettung to continuously improve medical care for people in need. With the new order of ten additional H145s, we continue to ensure the optimal service for our patients by keeping the helicopter fleet as modern and flexible as possible for our life-saving missions," says CEO Dr Krystian Pracz.

"As an operator that deploys its fleet for emergency medical services, DRF Luftrettung truly understands the importance that a helicopter's performance can have in making a decisive difference in the care a patient receives. We are therefore very grateful for the continued trust that it places in our helicopters," adds Thomas Hein, head of Europe region at Airbus Helicopters. "We are proud to see that over the last decade the H145 has become the backbone of DRF Luftrettung's fleet performing life-saving missions in Germany and Europe."

The ordered helicopters will also be covered by DRF's fleet-wide HCare Smart contract, which provides comprehensive parts-by-the-hour support.

DRF Luftrettung is one of the largest and most experienced air rescue organisations in Europe. The organisation and its subsidiaries operate more than 50 Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters at 40 bases throughout Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland for emergency rescue and intensive care transport operations. In addition to this, they are also deployed for special missions, including hoist operations and day and night operations.