The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the acquisition of 12 multi-role helicopters, comprising seven H160 and five H145 aircraft.
Romania’s investment is part of the European initiative Security Action for Europe (SAFE), which aims to strengthen European civil protection, emergency response, and public safety frameworks.
The state-of-the-art fleet will be operated by the Ministry’s General Inspectorate of Aviation, under the coordination of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU). The aircraft are destined to modernise Romania’s national capabilities in integrated emergency management, civil protection, and public order enforcement.
The H160 fleet will provide a high-performance multi-role capability, with four aircraft dedicated to civil protection and disaster relief missions, while three will support public order, aerial surveillance, and tactical security operations.
The H145 fleet will be fully allocated to the country’s emergency rescue service (SMURD) and mountain rescue operations, serving as the primary resource for rapid emergency medical interventions, specialised medical evacuations, and complex search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said: “We are deeply honoured by the trust that the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs has placed in Airbus to complement their aeronautical fleet through this landmark multi-platform order. The selection of both the H160 and the H145 highlights the unique capability of our product range to deliver an integrated, highly efficient response to complex missions. By deploying these advanced platforms under the SAFE programme, Romania is significantly enhancing its operational readiness, reducing emergency reaction times, and positioning itself as a robust contributor to European integrated rescue and security mechanisms. We are fully committed to supporting their critical life-saving and public safety operations.”
Image: Airbus Helicopters/Eric Raz
