Ghana Orders Airbus H160 and H175 Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters, January 15, 2026 - Marignane, France - Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence of Ghana for two H175Ms, one ACH175 and one ACH160.

The H175Ms will be used as multi-mission helicopters for transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services and disaster relief. The ACH175 and ACH160 will be operated for transport.

Arnaud Montalvo, Head of Africa and Middle East Region for Airbus Helicopters, said “The commitment from Ghana marks the return of Airbus Helicopters to the country with a defined focus on customer support and partnership. We are particularly excited that the H175M will be operated in Ghana, demonstrating the aircraft's versatility across defence and security missions. This key deal also makes Ghana a leading customer in West Africa for our premium corporate helicopters, the ACH160 and ACH175,” he added.

In service since 2014, Airbus' H175 belongs to the super-medium class of helicopters, combining long-range and payload with smooth flight qualities, making it the optimal solution for a wide range of onshore and offshore mission profiles, including disaster relief, search and rescue, public services and a wide range of military missions, as well as crew change and private and business aviation.

The ACH160 is the latest member of the ACH family and is the world's most technologically advanced helicopter, with 68 new Airbus patented technologies. It provides 20% greater volume per passenger compared to previous generation medium twin helicopters and 35% larger windows than its competitors, resulting in the brightest cabin in its class.

Ghana's Strategic Shift to Airbus Helicopters: Implications and Expectations

Helis - The acquisition of four Airbus Helicopters—two H175M military multi-mission variants, one ACH175, and one ACH160 corporate/VIP configurations—by Ghana's Ministry of Defence, formalized on January 15, 2026, following parliamentary approval in December 2025 of a €125.97 million contract, implies a pivotal geopolitical and operational reorientation for the Ghana Air Force toward Western European technology and away from its long-standing dependence on Russian-origin platforms such as the Mi-17 and Mi-35.

This shift, accelerated by Western sanctions on Russia that have severely disrupted spare parts supply and grounded much of the fleet since the Ukraine conflict, combined with the tragic August 6, 2025, Harbin Z-9 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and other senior officials, underscores expectations of markedly improved safety, reliability, and cost-efficiency—with lifecycle savings projected at 30–40% over 15 years compared to sustaining aging Russian assets—while enabling expanded capabilities in troop transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services, disaster relief, maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, and high-level government mobility.

Deliveries anticipated within the coming years (likely commencing around 2028–2029) herald enhanced national security resilience, stronger emergency response amid frequent natural disasters, reduced vulnerability to geopolitical supply risks, deeper Franco-European defense partnerships, and overall restoration of full operational readiness for both military and civilian leadership functions in the West African region.