The British military acquired five new Airbus H135 helicopters in 2022 under a program known as “Project Matcha”, with the intention that they would operate in Northern Ireland to replace Gazelle helicopters operating in the province.

At some point after agreeing to purchase these aircraft, a different decision was made and the requirement evaporated.  Consequently, as each airframe was delivered between April and September 2022 from the production line in Germany, they were immediately parked up at Airbus Helicopters’ UK base at Oxford.  Later, between 12th January and 17th March 2023 they were each ferried to RAF Shawbury and put into storage.

All five aircraft were delivered on UK civil registrations, and continue to be on the British civil register.

Questions about these aircraft are regularly asked in the UK Parliament under the “written questions” procedure.  In the latest such question this week from Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, the reply below from James Cartlidge – The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence – finally indicating that a sale is progressing.

The Secretary of State for Defence authorised the Defence Equipment Sales Authority to progress a government-to-government sale for the helicopters; the details of which are currently commercially sensitive. Once a sale has been completed a mutually agreed communication will be made between the Ministry of Defence and our customer.

HeliHub.com will continue to monitor this situation.