(L-R): Jean Delbecq, Airbus; Philippe Schrantz, DG of Police Lëtzebuerg; General Alain Duschène, Chief of Staff of the Army; Thomas Hein, Airbus Helicopters; Étienne Schneider, Deputy PM & Minister of Defence; Peter Dohmen, NSPA General Manager;
Credit: EMA
On Friday 27 July 2018, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Étienne Schneider, announced a firm order by the Luxembourg Defence of two Airbus multi-role type H145M helicopters in order to also meet the needs of Police Lëtzebuerg creating maximum synergies in the operation.
The acquisition of the two helicopters is part of the implementation of the "Luxembourg Defence Policy Guidelines for 2025 and Beyond" and more particularly in the development of an air component within the European Union by the Luxembourg army. The dual-use policy - both military and civilian - allows certain defence-acquired capabilities to also be available for the benefit of other actors. The two Airbus H145M multi-role helicopters also ensure the renewal of the current fleet of Police Lëtzebuerg.
Since Luxembourg joined a support partnership with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in Capellen in early 2018, it has led the acquisition of the two helicopters in close cooperation with the Directorate of Transport in the Ministry of Defence, and Police Lëtzebuerg. NSPA will also be involved in the negotiation of a service contract for the operation of the two helicopters during an initial phase, the establishment of an air component in the military, and the establishment of a dual-use governmental entity in Findel related to the objectives set by the "Guidelines for Luxembourg's defence policy for 2025 and beyond".
In addition to the missions of surveillance and search for missing persons, the mission profile of the two new helicopters will include emergencies or disasters within national borders and beyond. The two helicopters will be delivered in the second half of 2019 and are expected to enter service in early 2020.
