Airbus Helicopters has supplied the last of 15 EC135 T2+ helicopters for an Australian Defence Force (ADF) project.

The JP 9000 Phase 7 helicopter aircrew training system (HATS) project aims to create a new joint helicopter training system for the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy, Airbus said in a statement.

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Boeing Defence Australia is the prime contractor for the programme, which also covers the delivery of flight simulators and a new training vessel.

Thales Australia will supply flight simulators and synthetic training devices for the project.

Airbus Helicopters Australia – Pacific government sales head Peter Harris said: “Airbus Helicopters is proud to know that Boeing has accepted now all 15 of their new EC135T2+, on time and on budget, for their world-leading helicopter aircrew training system for the ADF.

"We have trained the initial cadre of Boeing and Commonwealth aircrew and technicians and all 15 aircraft have now been accepted."

“Following contract signature in November of 2014, and in the space of only two years, we have trained the initial cadre of Boeing and Commonwealth aircrew and technicians and all 15 aircraft have now been accepted.”

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The EC135 T2+ military training helicopter features a high-visibility glass cockpit, a multi-axis auto-pilot, and advanced technologies to help instructors perform training missions safely.

The vehicle is part of the H135 family of training systems, which are currently being used by Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Japan and the UK.

To date, Airbus has delivered close to 1,200 H135 helicopters, which have recorded more than four million flight hours in total.


Image: EC135T2+ for Australian military training programme. Photo: Courtesy of Airbus Helicopters.

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