“We have a lot of commercial challenges at the end of the year” (Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters) 1/5

2023-11-23 05:00:00

Airbus Helicopters enters the money time. This is very clearly the period that can bring big, very big returns to the Marignane manufacturer. Several major campaigns should in principle reach their conclusion at the end of the year, or even at the beginning of next year. Which might push Airbus Helicopters into an exceptional, even record year, or failing that into a nightmare year if the manufacturer loses these strategic competitions. “We have a lot at stake at the end of the yearconfirms the CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Bruno Even, in an interview with La Tribune during the Dubai Air Show (November 13/17). We are still racing on all the campaigns that we had identified as strategic. This is the good side of things”.

Two crucial campaigns in Germany

In Germany, the manufacturer is awaiting the results of two very important campaigns for the Marignane and Donauwörth sites in Bavaria. All eyes are primarily focused on the massive renewal of the Super Puma fleet of the German federal police (Bundespolizei), which must select its future heavy helicopter before the end of the year. More than 40 aircraft are at stake. A market contested by the S92 from Sikorsky and the H225 from Airbus Helicopters. In principle, this order should not escape the Franco-German manufacturer, which is also extremely well established in Germany. “That’s why I’m optimistic.reassures Bruno Even. In terms of both operational capabilities, competitiveness and size, Airbus Helicopters has the right solution with the H225”.

“The H225 is capable of offering a diversity of missions which is required by the Bundespolizei. This aircraft is a versatile helicopter for both police and law enforcement missions but also rescue missions during natural disasters. The H225 offers a carrying capacity and a range of action in situations that Germany experienced during the floods of summer 2022. I think the customer is convinced of this,” notes the boss of Airbus Helicopters. .

In the event of victory, Airbus Helicopters might position the H225 as “the only heavy helicopter platform certified on the civil marketestimates the boss of the manufacturer. This would be a unique positioning in the civilian market. There are a lot of issues related to this campaign. And this would very clearly question the future of the S92 on the market”. The manufacturer has delivered nearly 30 helicopters of this type per year thanks to an efficient supply chain, including in terms of support. Which provides additional guarantees compared to Sikorsky.

Airbus Helicopters is also targeting a giant order in Germany of around 60 H145Ms for the German armed forces. Berlin “identified an urgent need to acquire a versatile light military helicopter capable of addressing different types of missions. However, it is not a question of replacing the Tiger », specifies Bruno Even. The German army already has H145Ms, which equip special forces in particular. Pressed by international tensions and the war in Ukraine, Berlin might very quickly place an order by the end of the year. “It’s a possible scenario”, he judges. Airbus Helicopters has positioned itself to be able to meet this requirement from the German Ministry of Defense.

France: an additional order for NH90

In France, Bruno Even is awaiting the translation of the military programming law (LPM) into firm orders. On the French side of the Rhine, the manufacturer also has “big stakes”, he recalls. Particularly with the renewal of the Army’s Puma fleet. “We are hopeful of being able to sign an additional order for eight NH90s, which would fall by the end of the year to engage the Army in the renewal of the Puma fleet. This is for us an important milestone on which we are working with the DGA (General Directorate of Armaments, editor’s note) », explains the boss of Airbus Helicopters. An order which will do good for this program which is suffering internationally due to the decisions to withdraw this aircraft from the Australian and Norwegian fleets.

Additionally, Airbus Helicopters is in negotiations with the Ministry of the Interior to finalize a contract “by the end of the year with a view to undertaking a first phase of the renewal of the aging fleet” of the EC145 of civil security and the gendarmerie, which he estimates to be “forty helicopters”. This renewal had already been initiated through the recovery plan, which had enabled the general directorate of civil security and crisis management (DGSCGC) to order four H145s. The civil security helicopter fleet lost three aircraft (two in 2019 and one in 2021) bringing the number of EC145s to 33. For its part, it estimates a need of 38 devices. For Airbus Helicopters, this is a “very, very busy end of year”underlines Bruno Even.

Difficulties in major exports?

If Airbus Helicopters has secured an order for 14 Caracals in the Netherlands, the contract for which must come into effect in 2024, – a competition “won fairly once morest the Black Hawk, which is very present in exports” -, the Marignane manufacturer gives the impression of encountering some difficulties on the large export markets in the military sector. This is refuted by Bruno Even, who cites the successes of the Caracal in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary and more recently in the Netherlands for special forces, or even the NH90 in Qatar.

“On major military exports, these are major campaigns that take time to come to fruitionhe recalls. These are programs which are heavy and ambitious and which cannot be decided within six months”. On the other hand, he knows that he will inevitably – but as usual – find his American rivals on his way, who will be favored by FMS (Foreign military sales) contracts within the framework of over-the-counter purchases between the States. States and the governments of purchasing countries.

“I would be worried if Airbus Helicopters were in a situation where large export contracts were signed with our competitors without us being able to compete. Today, I really don’t have that feeling and I don’t see any deterioration in our positioning in the competitions in which we participate.”he explains.

In a geopolitical context where crises follow one another, the manufacturer points out that it has “lots of discussion” et “very clearly in all parts of the world”. “Many armies are today asking themselves the question of renewing their fleet, in particular certain countries which operate Russian MI-17 aircraft”, which is the best-selling transport helicopter in the world, he observes. For Bruno Even, this international context reinforces the need for armies to have new high-performance operational capabilities, including in the field of helicopters. “Due to their versatility, they have demonstrated their capabilities in terms of transport and combat”he explains.

A competitor at heart, Bruno Even will have to multiply his skills to strengthen the Airbus Helicopters order book. It will also be eagerly awaited at the very beginning of 2024 on the replacement of the Puma fleet in England, which wants to acquire around forty aircraft. Which goes beyond just the renewal of the Puma. In this context, Airbus Helicopters is offering the military version of the H175, the H175M, which will thus make its debut on the military market. The CEO of Airbus Helicopters is convinced of the significant export potential of the H175M.