| EC145 H145 | |
|---|---|
 A EC145 from the Stanford Medical Center | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light utility helicopter |
| National origin | Multinational |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter / Kawasaki Aerospace Company Airbus Helicopters |
| Status | In service |
| Number built | 1,600 (June 2023)[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1999–present |
| Introduction date | 2002 |
| First flight | 12 June 1999 |
| Developed from | MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 |
| Variants | Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota |
The Airbus Helicopters H145 (formerly Eurocopter EC145) is a twin-engine light utility helicopter developed and manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. Originally designated as the BK 117, the H145 is based upon the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 C1, which became a part of the combined Eurocopter line-up in 1992 with the merger of Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm's helicopter division of Daimler-Benz into Eurocopter. The helicopter was initially named EC145; an updated version, EC145 T2, was renamed H145 in 2015. The helicopter was significantly updated in the 2020s with first a fenestron replacing the traditional tail rotor, followed later by a 5-blade main rotor head.
The H145 is a twin-engine aircraft and can carry up to nine passengers along with two crew, depending on customer configuration. The helicopter is marketed for passenger transport, corporate transport, emergency medical services (EMS), search and rescue, parapublic and utility roles.
Military variants of the helicopter have also been produced under various designations, such as H145M or UH-72, and have been used for training, logistics, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, light attack, and troop-transport operations. Noted military users in terms of numbers include the United States which operates nearly 500 with National Guard, and Germany where it is used for SAR, Special Operations, and more.