On Monday, July 28, 2025, the European company Airbus Helicopters (part of the Airbus Group) announced the signing of a contract to deliver an additional H225 Super Puma medium multirole helicopter for the Tokyo Fire Department. The purchase follows a successful bid in a public tender issued as part of the operator’s helicopter fleet modernization program. The new aircraft will replace an older, worn-out unit.
Photo: Airbus Helicopters
This acquisition will enhance the Tokyo Fire Department’s commitment to maintaining high operational readiness for critical missions, including aerial firefighting, search and rescue (SAR), helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), and disaster response.
“For nearly six decades, Airbus has stood alongside the Tokyo Fire Department in their unwavering commitment to public safety and disaster response,” said Jean-Luc Alfonsi, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Japan. “The Tokyo Fire Department’s continued trust in the H225 reflects the reliability and adaptability that our helicopters bring to every mission. With its proven versatility and endurance across all conditions, the H225 is well equipped to support their lifesaving work for years to come.”
The new H225 will be equipped with detection and recognition systems for search and rescue (SAR) operations, enabling rapid identification of targets. The onboard rescue stretchers will allow immediate medical assistance to injured individuals. A Bambi Bucket suspended under the aircraft will enable the transport of water and fire retardants, significantly enhancing aerial firefighting capabilities and allowing for a swift response in emergency situations.
The Tokyo Fire Department began building its helicopter fleet in 1967, introducing its first aircraft, the Aérospatiale Alouette III. Since then, the service has maintained a steady partnership with Airbus (formerly Eurocopter and Aérospatiale), operating a reliable fleet that currently includes three H225 Super Pumas and three AS365 Dauphins.
As the newest member of the Super Puma family, the H225 is renowned for its strong performance in demanding conditions, along with its long range and high payload capacity. Its state-of-the-art avionics and four-axis autopilot system ensure enhanced safety while reducing pilot workload.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 11,160 kg, the H225 offers an extended range of over 832 km (1,107 km with external fuel tanks) and an unmatched external load capacity of 4,750 kg—critical for missions such as disaster relief and aerial firefighting. Airbus Helicopters aims for this model to be capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030, a capability already demonstrated at ILA Berlin 2022.
Across Japan, the Ministry of Defense, National Police Agency (Keisatsu-chō), and various semi-public agencies actively operate 24 H225 helicopters. These aircraft play key roles in search and rescue, aerial firefighting, VIP transport, and personnel and cargo missions.
Airbus’s helicopter fleet in Japan, including the H135, H145, H155, H215, and the latest H160, is supported by Airbus Helicopters Japan, which was established in 2009. This service center employs around 290 personnel across facilities in Tokyo and Kobe. Japan also hosts Airbus training and repair centers, as well as full flight simulators. Additionally, operations are supported by Nakanihon Air Service in Toyoba and Jamco in Tokyo.
The Tokyo Fire Department is modernising its rotorcraft fleet with a new order for one Airbus H225, where it will be equipped to support urgent lifesaving and critical firefighting operations.
Read the press release: https://t.co/wmaqQqJZGz pic.twitter.com/JX78pfU13o
— Airbus Helicopters (@AirbusHeli) July 28, 2025
