The Netherlands buys 14 H225M Caracal military helicopters to form Special Operations Forces within the Royal Air Force

The Netherlands plans to replace a dozen AS532U2 Cougars helicopters. They will be replaced by Airbus H225M Caracal.

Here's What We Know

The deal was announced on Monday June 5. The 14 Airbus H225M Caracal will replace the 12 AS532U2 Cougars (pictured below) and will form a Special Operations Force unit within the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

The amount of the deal has not been specified. Deliveries will begin in 2028. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the new helicopters will be stationed at Gilze-Rijen airbase in the south of the country.

The H225M Caracal is a multirole helicopter developed by Eurocopter, now called Airbus Helicopters SAS. Incidentally, the aircraft itself was previously known as the Eurocopter EC725.

The helicopter can carry up to 29 soldiers. It has a maximum flight speed of 315km/h, cruising speed of 296km/h, and a practical range of 1,450km without additional fuel tanks.

The H225M Caracal can carry guided missiles, two 7.69 mm machine guns and two 20 mm cannons. The helicopter is in service with the French Air Force, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico.

Source: AA