Romania Signs €757 Million Airbus H225M Defence Deal Strengthening Brașov Aerospace and Business Travel Hub

Romania has signed a €757 million defense contract to acquire 12 Airbus H225M multirole helicopters under the European Union’s SAFE program. The deal involves IAR Brașov in a 15 percent industrial manufacturing share, expanding business travel and aerospace engineering links in the Transylvania region.

[BRAȘOV, Romania, Oct 7, 2026] — Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has finalized an agreement to purchase 12 Airbus H225M multirole helicopters, expanding the country’s military aviation capabilities while strengthening industrial links across European aerospace supply chains.

Negotiated through France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) under the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, the helicopter order is valued at approximately €757 million. When including initial logistics support, technical maintenance, and personnel training, total approved program funding reaches €852 million.

Signed on July 17, 2026, and officially confirmed by Airbus on October 7, the order expands Romania’s aerospace collaboration with European operators of the H225M aircraft, including France, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

Procurement Parameter	Verified Program Metric	Operational & Industrial Context
Ordering Authority	Ministry of National Defence & DGA	Financed under EU SAFE framework
Aircraft Quantity & Model	12 Airbus H225M Multirole Helicopters	Multirole tactical transport & special ops
Direct Order Value	€757 million	Covers 12 airframes & initial systems
Total Program Budget	€852 million	Includes logistics, maintenance, & crew training
Replaced Legacy Fleet	IAR-330 Puma Helicopters	Locally built variant serving since 1970s
Local Industrial Share	15% program participation by IAR Brașov	Direct manufacturing & assembly role in Ghimbav
Local Airbus Workforce	>1,000 employees in Brașov (2024)	Romania represents Airbus’s 5th largest EU footprint

H225M Acquisition Replaces Legacy IAR-330 Puma Fleet

The 12 new H225M aircraft will replace Romania’s aging IAR-330 Puma fleet, a locally manufactured variant that has served the Romanian Armed Forces for decades.

According to defense ministry specifications, the new multirole helicopters will support tactical transport, surveillance, day-and-night airborne assault, medical evacuation, and special operations missions. The acquisition follows a previous order for two H215M helicopters configured for naval missions.

Globally, the H225M operator community spans 12 nations, including Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Thailand. More than 350 H225 and H225M aircraft are currently operational worldwide, accumulating over 1.0 million flight hours.

H225M Operational Role	Technical Mission Specification	Target Defense & Rescue Application
Tactical Troop Transport	High-altitude payload capacity	Rapid deployment during joint NATO exercises
Special Reconnaissance	Day-and-night sensor suites	Border surveillance & airborne assault
Search & Rescue (SAR)	All-weather hoist & winch systems	Mountain SAR & medical evacuation (MEDEVAC)
Naval Operations	Anti-surface warfare integration	Complements previously ordered H215M fleet

IAR Brașov Secures 15 Percent Industrial Participation Share

A key aspect of the agreement for Romania's regional economy is the direct industrial participation assigned to local aerospace manufacturers. Defense officials confirmed that IAR Brașov will execute approximately 15 percent of the total H225M acquisition program.

Airbus maintains an established operational presence in Ghimbav, near Brașov, focused on helicopter maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and aerostructures manufacturing. Having grown its local workforce to more than 1,000 employees by 2024, Romania represents Airbus’s fifth-largest industrial footprint in Europe.

Industrial involvement in the H225M program is expected to generate ongoing business travel demand between Western European aerospace hubs and Brașov, drawing engineers, technical trainers, auditors, and supply-chain managers to the region.

Brașov Aerospace Asset	Facilities & Location	Industrial Role & Travel Driver
IAR Brașov	Ghimbav Industrial Hub	15% industrial manufacturing share of H225M deal
Airbus Aerostructures	Ghimbav Component Plant	Manufactures components for global Airbus aircraft
Airbus Helicopters Romania	MRO Facility in Ghimbav	Maintenance, repair, & modernization center
Brașov-Ghimbav Airport	~12 km from central Brașov	Provides direct European flight connections

Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport Provides Direct European Links

The growth of Brașov's aerospace hub is supported by regional aviation infrastructure. Located in Ghimbav—approximately 12 kilometers from central Brașov—Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport (GHV) offers direct transport access for international corporate travel.

Published flight schedules for October 2026 confirm international connections linking Brașov with European cities including London Luton, Dortmund, Budapest, Naples, Rome, Milan, Warsaw, and Katowice.

Destination City	Flight Connection Status	Strategic Market Relevance
London Luton (LTN)	Scheduled direct service	Connects UK aerospace suppliers & corporate travelers
Dortmund (DTM)	Scheduled direct service	Serves German industrial & engineering markets
Budapest & Warsaw	Scheduled direct service	Central European defense & supply chain links
Rome & Milan	Scheduled direct service	Italian industrial & aviation partner connectivity

Civilian Emergency Fleet Upgrades Support Mountain Tourism Safety

Alongside the military H225M contract, Romania is modernizing its civilian emergency aviation fleet under separate SAFE-funded agreements.

In June 2026, Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered seven H160 helicopters (four dedicated to civil protection and three to public security) and five H145 helicopters for the SMURD emergency rescue service.

The H145 fleet is designated for mountain search-and-rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation missions across the Carpathian Mountains. Improved SAR capabilities directly benefit outdoor tourism by strengthening emergency response coverage for hikers and adventure travelers exploring Transylvania's mountain trails.

Civilian Helicopter Model	Units Ordered (June 2026)	Operational Assignment & Tourism Safety Impact
Airbus H160	7 Helicopters	4 for disaster relief/civil protection; 3 for security
Airbus H145	5 Helicopters	SMURD emergency rescue & Carpathian mountain SAR

Why This Matters: What It Means for Traveler Logistics and Regional Business

The expansion of Romania’s aerospace sector delivers practical benefits for corporate visitors and regional travel:

• For corporate and aerospace travelers: Direct flights into Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport reduce ground transfer times to local aerospace manufacturing plants in Ghimbav.
• For leisure and 'bleisure' travelers: Increasing corporate visits to Brașov support local hotels, restaurants, and transport services in Transylvania's primary mountain tourism gateway.
• For outdoor mountain tourists: The addition of five SMURD-operated H145 rescue helicopters enhances emergency medical evacuation coverage across the Carpathian mountain range.

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