On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Airbus Helicopters, a European company within Airbus SE, announced that it had received an order from Vietnamese helicopter operator VNH (Vietnam Helicopter Corporation) for the delivery of three H225 Super Puma medium multirole helicopters for its subsidiaries, Southern Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH South) and Northern Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH North), to support further expansion in the offshore energy sector and gradually replace aging helicopters in the fleet.
Photo: Airbus Helicopters
Te najnowsze zamówienie wzmacnia zaufane partnerstwo między VNH a Airbus Helicopters (wcześniej jako Eurocopter), trwające ponad 40 lat, i odzwierciedla długoterminową strategię wietnamskiego operatora, polegającą na modernizacji i wzmocnieniu jego możliwości w zakresie cięższych śmigłowców.
“The H225 has proven itself time and again across our offshore missions, delivering the reliability, performance, and safety we expect. As we look ahead, we see the H225 forming the backbone of our future fleet, allowing us to modernise our operations while expanding capacity and mission flexibility,” said Kieu Dang Hung, CEO of VNH.
“We are honoured to continue supporting VNH and its subsidiaries as they strengthen and revitalise their fleet. Their decision to centre future operations around the H225 underscores the aircraft’s exceptional reliability and performance in demanding offshore environments,” said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “Our enduring partnership with VNH is built on trust and shared commitment to mission success, and we look forward to supporting their growth for many decades to come,” he added.
The new H225 helicopters will join VNH’s existing Airbus fleet, which includes H225 Super Puma (Eurocopter AS332 L2 Super Puma) and H155 (Eurocopter EC155 B1) helicopters; the operator had previously also used the H130 (Eurocopter EC130T2). These aircraft are employed for transport missions supporting offshore energy operations, utility missions, search and rescue, and broader transport operations. The Vietnamese operator also flies helicopters from other manufacturers: the AugustaWestland AW189, Mi-172, Mi-17-1W, Cabri G2 T2, and Bell 505 Jet Ranger X.
The H225 Super Puma medium multirole helicopter, previously designated the Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma, was developed as a further evolution of the aforementioned H215. The prototype first flew on November 27, 2000, and the type entered service in December 2004. More than 175 examples have been built.
Offering best-in-class range, speed, payload, and reliability in the 11-ton twin-engine helicopter category, the H225, as the newest member of the Super Puma family, is valued for its high performance in demanding conditions as well as its exceptional range and payload capacity. State-of-the-art avionics and a four-axis autopilot system provide greater safety while reducing pilot workload.
A new, powerful mission and communications system ensures improved situational awareness and seamless data transmission. The helicopter also features an upgraded main gearbox and an expanded health and usage monitoring system, increasing safety and helping reduce costs. With a maximum takeoff weight of 11,160 kg, the H225 offers an extended range of more than 832 km (1,107 km with external fuel tanks) and an unmatched external payload capacity of 4,750 kg (Airbus H225 Super Puma for the Korean National Police).
Airbus Helicopters’ ambition is for this model to be able to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030, something that was already demonstrated at the ILA Berlin 2022 air show.
Worldwide, more than 360 H225 Super Puma helicopters and their military variant, the H225M Caracal (previously designated the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal; first flown on November 27, 2000, and introduced into service in February 2005), are in service and have accumulated more than one million flight hours in total. Military customers include, or will include, Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Singapore, and Thailand. Poland and the United Arab Emirates withdrew from planned purchases. Kazakhstan and India had also planned to acquire the type, but no contracts were ultimately signed.
Vietnam Helicopter Company bolsters offshore operations with Airbus H225 helicopter order
Read the press release: https://t.co/bBXHuXw8Ob pic.twitter.com/DUvgnuZW3z
— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) April 7, 2026