The second Airbus H145 for the Irish Garda – the law enforcement agency in Ireland officially known as An Garda Síochána – is currently in flight test at the Airbus plant at Donauwörth in Germany.

Seen in the images here very recently, this will add to the first H145 which is currently being fitted out with a wide range of role equipment by UK and Ireland distributor Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd at their Oxford Airport facility.

The first H145 arrived at Oxford in November 2024 for completion work, and is still there, 19 months later, and will eventually take taking up the serial “287” with Garda.  The second will be “289” when it is finally handled over to the customer.  The extended time period for the first aircraft is expected to be shortened for the second aircraft as the experience and clearances gained from “287” should not garner the same delay with “289”.

In between these two serials, “288” is a Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter Guardian, which operates as a surveillance and observation plane for the Garda Air Support Unit and arrived in Ireland in December 2025.

The two H145 helicopters will replace two existing H135s, delivered to the Garda in December 2002 and November 2007.

Ireland also has four military spec H145M helicopters on order for the Irish Air Corps, reportedly for delivery in 2027.

© 2026 AL, via HeliHub.com