Ghana Orders Four Airbus Helicopters in Major Military Aviation Boost

In a significant military aviation development for West Africa, the Ministry of Defence of Ghana has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the acquisition of four advanced rotorcraft. The deal represents a major step in modernising the Ghana Armed Forces’ helicopter fleet and expanding the country’s air capability across defence, humanitarian, and transport missions. 

Under the agreement with Airbus Helicopters, the fleet will consist of:

• 2 × H175M multi-mission helicopters – military variants of Airbus’s super-medium H175, designed for versatile operations such as troop transport, search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS), and disaster relief. 
• 1 × ACH175 helicopter – part of the Airbus Corporate Helicopters family, optimised for efficient transport duties. 
• 1 × ACH160 helicopter – a high-performance aircraft featuring advanced avionics and a spacious cabin, often used for VIP and specialised transport missions. 

The Dutch-built H175M platforms are particularly well-suited to Ghana’s geographic diversity and mission sets, providing long endurance, all-weather capability, and a multipurpose payload for both defence and civil support operations. 

For Ghana, this procurement marks a renewed focus on air mobility, rapid response, and integrated support capability. The new helicopters will serve across a spectrum of missions including:

• National defence and force projection
• Search and rescue and civilian emergency response
• Medical evacuation and disaster relief
• Government and VIP transport

Officials in Accra have emphasised that the acquisition not only strengthens Ghana’s domestic response capacity but also enhances its role in regional security cooperation across West Africa and broader multinational operations. 

This contract also marks a notable return of Airbus Helicopters to Ghana’s military procurement after several years, highlighting a new chapter of partnership between Accra and one of the world’s leading rotorcraft manufacturers. Airbus representatives describe Ghana as a key emerging customer in West Africa, underscoring long-term collaboration and support for the nation’s aviation ambitions. 

Airbus Helicopters’ Head of the Africa and Middle East region, Arnaud Montalvo, stated that the deal reflects both operational versatility and a commitment to provide customer support throughout the fleet’s lifecycle. 

The acquisition aligns with broader efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to modernise its aerial platforms and improve readiness across challenging operational environments. Ghana’s current rotary-wing inventory has, in recent years, included older platforms such as the Harbin Z-9, which have been involved in safety and capability concerns highlighted following accidents in 2025. The move to Airbus helicopters represents a shift to more modern avionics, enhanced safety systems, and greater mission flexibility.

Across Africa, several nations are investing in new helicopter fleets to support security, humanitarian, and infrastructure missions. Ghana’s selection of a mixed Airbus fleet mirrors trends seen elsewhere on the continent, where multi-role rotorcraft are increasingly valued for both defence utility and public service roles. 

Although no delivery timeline or total contract value has been publicly disclosed yet, Ghana’s Parliament approved the procurement package in late 2025, and further details are expected as the aircraft begin their integration into service later in 2026.

For military aviation watchers and African defence analysts, this represents an important development — one that underscores Ghana’s ambition to strengthen its aerial capabilities in a way that combines defence readiness with broad national and humanitarian utility.