Morocco and Airbus Helicopters have not yet reached an agreement for the sale of 18 H225M (Caracal) helicopters to the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). Negotiations continue in an effort to finalize this order.
The presence of Airbus Helicopters’ CEO, Bruno Even, in the delegation accompanying President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Morocco at the end of October did not lead to a deal. The French manufacturer also failed to secure this Caracal order for the Royal Armed Forces at the Marrakech Air Show, held from October 30th to November 2nd.
Airbus Helicopters is still in negotiations with Morocco for the sale of these Caracals, according to sources from La Tribune, who mention ongoing discussions regarding the helicopters’ configuration, pricing, and terms. Both parties are expected to finalize the sale by 2025, with the French media reporting that the manufacturer plans to establish a maintenance hub (MRO) in the kingdom to target the West African market.
Airbus Helicopters aims to secure this Moroccan order to fill a two-year production gap in the H225 line. “We’ve gone from a peak in H225 deliveries a couple of years ago to a significant drop. We are restructuring the H225 production line to adapt to market demands and free up capacity,” Bruno Even explained in an early November interview with the same outlet.
Additionally, the French manufacturer is also negotiating with the United Arab Emirates for the sale of 12 Caracals to address this production shortfall. Currently, Airbus Helicopters is working on the production of 38 H225s (with an option for six more) ordered by the German Federal Police (Bundespolizei), with initial deliveries expected in 2029 and extending through to 2035.
