The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters for the supply of two H175Ms, one ACH175, and one ACH160 helicopters, as confirmed in a statement by Airbus Helicopters.

In a statement issued on Thursday, January 5, 2026, Airbus Helicopters confirmed the purchase of the helicopters, with the cost of purchase being concealed by both the company and the government.

According to Airbus Helicopters, the H175Ms will be used as multi-mission helicopters for transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and disaster relief, while the ACH175 and ACH160 will be operated for transport.

Head of Africa and Middle East Region for Airbus Helicopters, Arnaud Montalvo, in his statement, noted that the deal “marks the return of Airbus Helicopters to the country with a defined focus on customer support and partnership.”

“We are particularly excited that the H175M will be operated in Ghana, demonstrating the aircraft’s versatility across defence and security missions. This key deal also makes Ghana a leading customer in West Africa for our premium corporate helicopters, the ACH160 and ACH175,” he added.

Airbus’ H175 which has been in service since 2014 belongs to the super-medium class of helicopters, combining long-range and payload with smooth flight qualities, making it the optimal solution for a wide range of onshore and offshore mission profiles, including disaster relief, search and rescue, public services and a wide range of military missions, as well as crew change and private and business aviation.

According to Airbus, the ACH160 is the latest member of the ACH family and is the world’s most technologically advanced helicopter, with 68 new Airbus patented technologies.

It provides 20% greater volume per passenger compared to previous generation medium twin helicopters and 35% larger windows than its competitors, resulting in the brightest cabin in its class.

In the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy read in November 2025, the government announced a defence modernisation programme to re-equip the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), including new aircraft, naval vessels, and armoured vehicles to strengthen national security operations.

According to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ghana Air Force is set to acquire four helicopters, one long-range aircraft, and one medium-range aircraft to strengthen air mobility, surveillance, and emergency response capabilities. Deliveries are expected within four years.

Dr Forson said the programme is part of a national security strategy to ensure the GAF is well-equipped, trained, and ready to respond to modern security challenges.