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.

Ghana to get Mi-35 helicopter

The Ghanaian Air Force is in the process of acquiring one Mil Mi-35 assault helicopter, Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje revealed in his end-of-year message.
Summing up his service's other procurement programmes, AVM Samson-Oje said the new Harbin Z-9EH helicopters were delivered on time in 2015, the acquisition of Embraer Super Tucano turboprops was "far advanced", and that an additional Airbus C295M transport was expected to be delivered in January 2016.
Ghana received four Z-9EHs in September 2015, has ordered five Super Tucanos, and already has two C295s in service.
janes

Ghana To Acquire 4 Additional Super Tucanos

The Ghanaian Air Force says it will expand in 2016 with the acquisition of four more Super Tucano A-29 turboprop, multirole light attack and trainer aircraft.
Addressing guests at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Number 4 Squadron, which is the vanguard of the air command, at the main Air Force Base in Accra last week, Ghanaian Air Force Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Michael Samson-Oje said they are on the verge of concluding pre-delivery negotiations with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer Defense.
If confirmed, the new deal will increase Ghana's 2015 Super Tucano A-29 acquisitions to nine as it follows a pre-existing contract for the supply of five A-29s, which was confirmed by both parties during the Paris Air Show in June.
defensenews

Ghana orders five A-29 Super Tucano

Ghana has ordered five Embraer A-29 Super Tucano .
Embraer says Ghana intends to use the Super Tucanos for “advanced training, border surveillance and internal security missions”.
The order follows recent announcements that Mali and Lebanon will buy Super Tucanos. Embraer revealed last week that Mali has placed an order for six aircraft, and the US government recently approved the sale of six American-made versions to Lebanon.
The aircraft has been in production since 2003. Embraer says it has secured “more than 210 firm [A-29] orders”, and about 190 have been delivered to date.
Ghana does not currently have a dedicated, fixed-wing attack aircraft. Ghana operates about 20 military aircraft including a small fleet of Russian Mi-17 utility helicopters and two Airbus C295 transports.
Ghana is the fifth African nation to procure the A-29 – joining Angola, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali.
flightglobal

Ghana seeks more C295s for UN duty

Airbus Military is discussing the potential sale of additional C295 tactical transports to Ghana, with the type expected to be used in support of the UN’s African peacekeeping requirements.
Ghana has previously acquired two C925s for use by its air force
Indications of a prospective deal with an undisclosed African customer emerged late last month when a C295 appeared on the ramp at Airbus Military’s San Pablo final assembly site in Seville, Spain, in a white colour scheme and carrying UN markings.
flightglobal

Ghana's CASA295 in Seville

Ghana's Air Force received two CASA295 transports in late 2011/early 2012. The first of these was seen recently in Seville, where Airbus Military performed an interior modification.
Airbus Military (formerly EADS-CASA) delivered ten CASA 295s in 2012, and there are 26 still on order.

Nigel Howarth-aviationweek

Fragata argentina Libertad retenida en Ghana zarpó a su país

La fragata de la Armada de Argentina ARA Libertad que estaba retenida en Ghana a petición de un fondo de cobertura que trataba de obligar a Buenos Aires a pagar unos títulos públicos incumplidos zarpó el miércoles del país africano.

La fragata ARA Libertad, usada para entrenamiento, fue retenida en el puerto de Tema el 2 de octubre después de que NML Capital Ltd, que sostiene que se le deben 300 millones de dólares de bonos incumplidos desde el 2002, logró una orden de un tribunal para determinar su detención.

El Tribunal Internacional del Mar dispuso el sábado que Ghana debe liberar la embarcación después de que Argentina sostuvo que la legislación marítima da inmunidad a las naves de guerra ante demandas civiles en los puertos internacionales.

Se prevé que la embarcación arribe a Mar del Plata el 9 de enero, cuando será recibida por la presidenta Cristina Fernández.

Un avión arribó a Ghana temprano el miércoles desde la capital argentina, Buenos Aires. En él viajaron miembros de la tripulación que reemplazarán a los 326 marinos que evacuaron la embarcación detenida en octubre, dejando sólo a una tripulación mínima para mantenimiento esencial.

podermilitar

Argentina to seek international help over ship seizure

Argentina says it will ask the International Sea Tribunal, based in Germany, to intervene in the dispute over its navy ship impounded in Ghana.

Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said Ghana must free the Libertad by Tuesday if it wants to avoid such an action.

The ship was stopped from leaving Ghana last month following a local court order obtained by a US hedge fund.

The fund, NML Capital, argues it is owed $370m (£231m) as a result of Argentina's debt default a decade ago.

It is seeking $20m in return for the release of the ship, a three-masted training vessel.

Argentina has vowed not to bow to what it calls "blackmail by vulture funds".
bbc

GHANA EMBARGA EL BUQUE ESCUELA ARGENTINO

La Fragata Libertad, buque escuela argentino equivalente al Sebastián Elcano, se encuentra retenida en aguas de Ghana (Africa) como consecuencia de la demanda interpuesta por el fondo de inversión NML. El grupo reclama el pago de los bonos del Estado, en «default» desde el año 2001, que Argentina se niega a reconocer.

leer más

Fuerza Aérea de Ghana recibe un Falcon 900EX/ Ghana Air Force takes delivery of Falcon 900EX

La Fuerza Aérea de Ghana ha recibido un nuevo Falcon 900EX para transporte presidencial. Con un coste estimado de 40 millones de dólares,y considerado como un avión de lujo, ha llegando a Ghana, en medio de la indignación pública, por su alto coste, en un país donde "la gente no tiene agua para beber"
(leer más)
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Ghana Air Force’s new Falcon 900EX executive jet arrived in the country on Thursday evening.
The aircraft will be used for VIP duties.
(read more)

Brasil financiara avión para la Fuerza Aérea de Ghana

Ghana aumentará la eficacia de su Fuerza Aérea con un avión Embraer E190, el cual será financiado con un crédito favorable del gobierno de Brasil. Este hecho reducirá la dependencia de Ghana de Naciones Unidas en sus misiones de transporte. El acuerdo está pendiente de aprobación por el parlamento de Ghana.

GHANA MODERNIZA SU FUERZA AÉREA/Government to replace GAF's ageing fleet of aircraft

El vicepresidente de Ghana, ha anunciado sus planes para reemplazar parte de los aviones mas antiguos de su Fuerza Aérea. Se espera adquirir cuatro turbohélices para sustituir a los Skyvan y Fokker 27, con mas de treinta años de servicio. Para misiones de vigilancia se adquirirán Diamond DA 42, así como dos helicópteros de transporte pesado. Cone el descubrimiento de grandes reservas de petróleo en la zona, el gobierno de Ghana desea reforzar la vigilancia aérea de la zona.
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Vice-President John Mahama has announced plans by the government to re-equip the Ghana Air Force by replacing the ageing fleet of aircraft in its inventory with new ones.
The re-equipment involves acquisition of four new turbo propelled aircraft to replace the Skyvans and the Fokker 27s, which have been in service for over 30 years. Other new aircraft to be acquired are Diamond DA 42s, special aircraft for surveillance activities in the wake of the oil find and two light and two heavy lift helicopters to augment the helicopter fleet.
Vice-President Mahama who is the chairman of the Armed Forces Council, was speaking as guest of honour at a dinner/dance to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Air Force in Accra on Saturday. With the onset of oil exploration in Ghana, government was aware of the enormous task that would be placed on the Air Force to support the Navy in policing the territorial waters, he added.