Romania Orders 12 Airbus H225M Helicopters Under EU SAFE Loan

Romania has signed a contract for 12 Airbus H225M multirole helicopters, worth EUR757 million ($845 million), financed through the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan instrument. Breaking Defense and FlightGlobal reported the signature on 7 October 2026.

The order

The deal was processed through France’s Armament General Directorate (DGA). Romania’s government approved the purchase in July, and in announcing it described the aircraft as intended for attack, reconnaissance, surveillance and tactical protection missions, as well as specialised airborne assault.

FlightGlobal reports that Romania could ultimately order up to 42 of the heavy-twin Caracals. The initial 12 aircraft will begin replacing the IAR-330 Puma, a Romanian-built version of the Aérospatiale Puma originally produced under licence. Bucharest signalled its intention to buy the helicopters in June, alongside a technology-transfer agreement.

SAFE funding

SAFE is the EU’s loan scheme for joint defence procurement. Romania has been allocated EUR16.8 billion under it, the second-largest share after Poland. Under the Caracal contract the money is processed through the DGA, France’s armament agency.

Romania is also buying other Airbus helicopters. Breaking Defense lists seven H160 and five H145 aircraft for public-service roles, plus two H215M heavy-lift helicopters configured for naval operations.

Why it matters

Romania sits on NATO’s eastern flank, bordering Ukraine and the Black Sea. Its armed forces are modernising, and the helicopter purchases form part of a wider SAFE-backed rotorcraft programme.

The H225M is a well-established military helicopter. It is in service with several European air forces, and an order of this size gives Airbus Helicopters a firm presence in Romania’s fleet renewal. The technology-transfer element could also bring maintenance and component work to Romanian industry, though the details have not been published in the sources reviewed here.

What comes next

The contract signature is a first step; the key questions concern delivery timing, local workshare and whether Romania proceeds to the larger quantity that FlightGlobal mentions. Neither article gave delivery dates.

Further SAFE-backed contracts are expected as European states use the loan scheme to pay for air and land equipment. For Romania, the immediate test will be integrating a new helicopter type while the Puma fleet continues to age, and training crews and engineers so the Caracals can enter service without leaving a capability gap.