Airbus delivers first H145M helicopter to Serbian Armed Forces – Moma Stanojlovic plant certified for Gazelle maintenance

At the Partner Defence Exhibition, which opened on June 26 and which will close on June 28, Serbia received its first H145M helicopter. On that occasion, representatives of Airbus, the Moma Stanojlovic aeronautical plant and Jugoimport SDPR signed an agreement whereby the said plant became the regional center for maintenance and production of Gazelle helicopter components.

– Both events underline the fact that Serbia and Airbus have entered into a close partnership – Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even pointed out at the Partner Defence Exhibition in Belgrade.

The H145M is a tried-and-tested light twin-engine helicopter that has also been ordered by Germany, Thailand, Hungary and Luxembourg. The programme’s maturity allows Airbus Helicopters to execute orders on cost and on schedule. Mission readiness of the H145Ms already in service is above 95 percent.

Altogether, Serbia will receive nine H145Ms, earmarked for the Air Force and for the Ministry of Interior.

The Moma Stanojlovic aeronautical plant, located near Belgrade, has been certified by Airbus Helicopters to carry out maintenance work on the Gazelle.

More than 160 Gazelle SA 341 / SA 342 were produced under license by the Soko plant in Mostar from 1971 to 1991 and these helicopters are still operated in Serbia and its neighboring countries.

High performances

The Serbian aircraft are equipped with a fast roping system, high-performance camera, fire support equipment, ballistic protection as well as an electronic countermeasures system to support the most demanding operational requirements.

The HForce system, developed by Airbus Helicopters, will allow Serbia to equip and operate their aircraft with a large set of ballistic or guided air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons, the press release says.

Besides the nine H145M helicopters, Serbia has also ordered three H215 heavy helicopters for the Ministry of Interior.

Air Serbia operates ten A320 family aircraft, the backbone of the airline, and one A330. The latter performs the first direct flight to the United States since the 80s from the territory of former Yugoslavia, the press release reminds.

S. P.

Air Serbia ad Beograd

Vojska Srbije

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Republike Srbije

Airbus Helicopters

Air Serbia

Moma Stanojlovic aeronautical plant

helicopter unit of Serbian Ministry of Interior

Serbian Air Force

Serbian Air Defense

Batajnica Airport

Partner Defense Exhibition

Soko Mostar

helicopter H145M

Bruno Even

helicopter Gazelle

Gazelle SA 341 SA 342