The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has accepted the first of 15 Airbus H135 helicopters that will be used for joint training of the country’s Army and Navy pilots. Boeing Defense Australia is acting as the prime contractor for the Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS). The H135 was previously designated EC135 T2.

Peter Harris, head of government sales in Asia-Pacific for Airbus Helicopters, said that the “factory acceptance” by Boeing and the ADF was achieved on time and on budget. The contract was signed in November 2014 and the first aircraft flew two months later. It will be shipped to Australia in January next year, after crew training at Donauworth, Germany, where the handover took place. 

Airbus Helicopters said that more than 1,200 H135s have now been delivered. They are used for training in Germany, Japan, Spain and Switzerland.