Airbus inks landmark deal to deliver 19 military-grade H135 helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force for training purposes.
Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace, to provide 19 Airbus H135 helicopters to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for pilot training. This marks the first use of Airbus helicopters by the Canadian military.
Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2026, with the aircraft assembled and delivered from Airbus Helicopters' industrial site in Fort Erie, Ontario. The Fort Erie site is a centre of excellence for transmission boxes of light single-engine helicopters and the sole source of critical composite parts supporting platforms worldwide.
The H135, with over 400,000 hours of dedicated military training flight time, is used for basic ab-initio training, advanced tactical, and instrument flight training by several military allies, including Australia and the United Kingdom. Its twin engines and advanced avionics foster the development of fundamental skills, enabling a smooth and secure transition to more complex helicopters within the RCAF fleet.
The choice of the H135 significantly contributes to the Canadian economy. Airbus' presence in Canada contributes to the creation of approximately 23,000 indirect jobs and generates over CAD 2 billion in annual revenue for more than 850 Canadian companies. Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has delivered nearly 600 helicopters to Canada.
The contract is part of the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, a major RCAF initiative for next-generation aircrew training. While Airbus Helicopters' direct role in the FAcT program is not explicitly detailed in the available search results, key partners like SkyAlyne and Canadian Base Operators are actively involved in designing, building, and executing the program.
Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters Canada, stated that this partnership marks Airbus Helicopters' entry into the Canadian military market. With the addition of this new fleet of Airbus H135s, the Canadian military will join 12 other militaries worldwide using the H135 for pilot training.
Kevin Lemke, General Manager at SkyAlyne, commented that the addition of this new fleet of Airbus H135s is a significant step for SkyAlyne and the FAcT program. The aircraft will be equipped with additional type certificates developed in Canada, including military avionics system modifications, communication systems, and unique cockpit arrangements.
The H135 joins other Airbus aircraft already in service for Canadian defense, such as the Airbus 310 (CC150 Polaris), the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (CC330 Husky), and the Airbus C295 (CC295 Kingfisher).
In Canada, over 4,500 people work at ten sites and in Airbus offices and subsidiaries covering the sectors of commercial aircraft, helicopters, defense, and space. By 2023, the fleet of 760 Airbus helicopters in Canada had accumulated over 275,000 flight hours in the country.
While Airbus Helicopters is not currently a key contractor or partner in the RCAF’s FAcT program, as per the available information up to August 2025, this partnership marks a significant step for Airbus in the Canadian military market.
The H135 helicopter, chosen for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, will be assembled and delivered from Airbus Helicopters' industrial site in Fort Erie, Ontario, contributing to the creation of jobs and revenue for Canadian companies. With this partnership, the Canadian military will join 13 other militaries worldwide using the H135 for pilot training, leveraging technology from Airbus.
