Airbus delivers final EC135 T2+ helicopters to Australia

DONAUWöRTH, Germany, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Airbus delivered 6 additional EC135 T2+ training helicopters to the Australian Defense Force in Germany, completing the initial order for 15 of the aircraft.

The EC135 T2+ is a light, twin-engine, rotary-wing aircraft to be used to support pilot training programs for the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy. The helicopters are designed to meet training, technical, and safety requirements for combat aircraft.

The project was a joint effort between Airbus and several industry partners, including Boeing Defense Australia and Thales Australia. Company officials say the aircraft is ideal for their customer's military pilot training needs.

"Airbus Helicopters is proud to know that Boeing has accepted now all 15 of their new EC135T2+, on time and on budget, for their world leading helicopter aircrew training system for the ADF," Australian Government Sales chief Peter Harris said in a press release. "Following contract signature in November of 2014, and in the space of only two years, we have trained the initial cadre of Boeing and Commonwealth aircrew and technicians and all 15 aircraft have now been accepted."

The aircraft is equipped with a glass cockpit with high visibility, a multi-axis auto-pilot, and other advanced avionics. It is part of the H135 family of training helicopters also used in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Spain, and Britain.

To date, Airbus Helicopters had delivered roughly 1,200 of the aircraft to its various customers, which have collectively logged over 4 million flight hours.