On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, during the ongoing Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates, the European company Airbus Helicopters announced the signing of an agreement with the Moroccan Ministry of Defence for the delivery of 10 H225M Caracal medium multirole helicopters. This confirms media reports on the matter from 2 September of this year.
Photo: Airbus Helicopters
The H225Ms will be configured for search and rescue (SAR) operations and will be operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (Adwas ujenna ageldan; Forces royales air). They will replace the current SA330 Puma helicopters (24 units), which have been in service for more than 40 years, and will be the next Airbus helicopters ordered by Morocco. In July 2022, 12 H135M helicopters (formerly known as the Eurocopter EC635), intended mainly for pilot training as successors to the AgustaBell AB206A and AB206B, were contracted. The first two were delivered in September 2023, followed by another four in October to the air base in Meknes.
“We are honoured that Morocco has chosen to replace its legacy Puma fleet with the H225M,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “This is another step in the partnership we have been building over the decades with the Kingdom of Morocco. The H225M is enjoying a strong momentum on the market. This aircraft is a reference for complex missions in tough environments. This order solidifies the H225M’s reputation as the helicopter of choice for combat search and rescue and special operations across the world.”
Morocco’s H225M Caracals will be equipped with a dual rescue hoist, a searchlight, and a Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical observation turret. They will be able to carry machine guns and an electronic warfare (EW) self-protection suite. The contract with Airbus Helicopters also includes a support and service package with associated services.
The Moroccan authorities’ interest in the H225M dates back to at least December 2021, but since then there had been speculation about the purchase of 8, 10, or 12 units. In the meantime (2021–2023), relations between Morocco and France became strained, partly due to the affair, revealed in 2020, concerning Morocco’s intelligence services spying on French President Emmanuel Macron using the Israeli Pegasus spyware. Talks were resumed only in September 2024.
In November 2024, information emerged about advanced negotiations for 10 H225Ms. Despite high-level discussions, including Airbus CEO Bruno Even’s participation in the French President’s state visit, negotiations continued and focused on the configuration, pricing, and conditions, with expectations of finalizing the sale by 2025. Airbus Helicopters also proposed creating a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center in Morocco to support operations for the 60 Airbus helicopters operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Royal Moroccan Navy, and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie, as well as to gain access to the West African market.
Airbus has been present in Morocco since 1951 through Airbus Atlantic, a wholly owned subsidiary specializing in composite production, assembly of complex metal components, and maintenance and support of avionics equipment.
H225M Caracal
More than 360 H225 Super Puma and H225M Caracal helicopters are in service worldwide, with a combined total of nearly 980,000 flight hours. In addition to Morocco, recent orders for new H225M Caracals have also been placed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands – 12 brand-new units (instead of the previously planned 14) – and Iraq (also 12).
Caracal helicopters have also been exported to Brazil, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, and Hungary. Poland and the United Arab Emirates withdrew from their planned purchases. Kazakhstan and India had also intended to acquire the helicopters, but no agreements were signed. Meanwhile, in January this year, France began receiving new aircraft (two out of eight ordered).
The H225Ms will be equipped for combat search and rescue operations and will be operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force. They will replace the current Pumas which have been in service for more than 40 years.#DAS25 https://t.co/od18Ds6nsB
— Airbus Helicopters (@AirbusHeli) November 18, 2025
