N52 - Airbus Helicopters EC135 T2+

Army Aviation and RAN N52
Airbus Helicopters EC135 T2+

Airbus EC135 T2+ (HATS) Image Gallery

See also Army Leased Eurocopter EC135 VH-xxx 2008 to 2013

Under Project AIR 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS), 15 EC135 T2+ helicopters were ordered for delivery from 2015.

In October 2014, the Department of Defence selected a Boeing/Thales team to deliver its HATS capability, which will provide instruction for army and navy aviation personnel using a new fleet of aircraft, plus flight simulators and a sea-going training vessel. A contract for the service was signed in November 2014.

Flying is due to begin in 2016 to support Contractor courseware development and initial instructor training. Helicopter ab initio student training should commence in early 2018 to achieve initial operating capability by the end of that year.

Once introduced, the contractor-provided EC135 T2+ fleet will replace Bell Kiowas operated by the Army, and the Navy's AS350 Squirrels.

The EC135 fleet will be delivered between 2016 and 2017 to be operated by the ADF Joint Helicopter School from HMAS Albatross, Nowra.

The first three aircraft to be delivered will be allotted VH registrations prior to being placed on the military register, with the balance of the airframes to road transported to Nowra an arrival into Australia for assembly and storage until a military Special Flying Permit is issued.

The HATS EC135 T2+ fleet achieved IOC (Initial Operating Capability) in early 2019

Aircraft Serial	Code	Aircraft Type.	C/No. (MSN)	Delivery Registration	Aircraft History
N52-001	841	EC135 T2+	1179	D-HECG VH-AQG	Built 2015, 16/01/2015 First flight at Airbus Helicopters Donauw rth site in Germany. 05/02/2016 Registered VH-AQG to Boeing Defence Australia, Assembled at Bankstown, NSW. 31/03/2016 Delivered HMAS Albatross In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 41
N52-002	842	EC135 T2+	1211	D-HECJ VH-ACY	Built 2016, 27/05/2016 Registered VH-ACY to Boeing Defence Australia, 20/06/2016 N52-002/VH-ACY noted with N52-003/VH-ARL outside the Airbus Helicopters hangar at Bankstown. In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 42. Images of N52-002 and N9-3104 / VH-NVV
N52-003	843	EC135 T2+	1212	D-HECK VH-ARL	Built 2016, 15/03/2016 Noted at Airbus helicopters Donauw rth for final inspection and customer handover, 27/05/2016 Registered VH-ARL to Boeing Defence Australia, 20/06/2016 N52-003/VH-ARL noted with N52-002/VH-ACY outside the Airbus Helicopters hangar at Bankstown, In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 423
N52-004	844	EC135 T2+	1214	D-HECF	Built 2016, 15/03/2016 Noted at Airbus helicopters Donauw rth in flight test. In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 44.
N52-005	845	EC135 T2+	1217	D-HECO	Built 2016, 15/03/2016 Noted at Airbus helicopters Donauw rth in flight test. In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 45
N52-006	846	EC135 T2+	1218	D-HECP	Built 2016, 15/03/2016 Noted at Airbus helicopters Donauw rth on production line. In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 46
N52-007	847	EC135 T2+	1226	D-HCBA	Built 2016, 15/03/2016 Noted at Airbus helicopters Donauw rth on production line. In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 47
N52-008	848	EC135 T2+	1229	D-HCBD	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 48
N52-009	849	EC135 T2+	1232	D-HECB	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 49
N52-010	850	EC135 T2+	1234	D-HECG	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 50
N52-011	851	EC135 T2+	1237	D-HECK	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 51
N52-012	852	EC135 T2+	1239	D-HECN	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 52
N52-013	853	EC135 T2+	1240	D-HECR	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 53
N52-014	854	EC135 T2+	1242	D-HECF	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 54
N52-015	855	EC135 T2+	1243	D-HECQ	In Service ADF Joint Helicopter School Operated by 723 Sqn RAN as Taipan 55,

The author of this page is Brendan Cowan. Updated by Martin Edwards

Source: Defence Media Centre, defence.gov.au , http://flightglobal.com/news/articles/first-flight-for-new-australian-military-training-helicopter-408295/ , http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/01/first-hats-ec135-flies/ , Aero Australia Issue 46 April/June 2015, helis.com , http://rotorspot.nl/product/ec135.php ,

Images: Nate Newman

Emails: Gordon Birkett, John Varley, Stuart Harwood, Mark Diekmann, Ben Sampson

Converted to CMS 15th September 2025

Updated 15th August 2025