The Ghana Air Force has taken delivery of its first Airbus H175, marking a significant milestone in efforts to modernise the country’s military aviation fleet.
The helicopter arrived in Accra on Thursday, March 5, 2026, after being ferried from Marignane in France, where it was manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.
The aircraft was delivered after completing all the required technical acceptance processes with the manufacturer.
Officials indicated that the delivery flight followed a carefully mapped route, passing through Spain and parts of North-West Africa before heading south along the Atlantic coastline through several West African countries on its way to Ghana.
The helicopter forms part of a wider defence procurement programme approved by Parliament of Ghana to strengthen the operational capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Under the programme, Ghana is expected to receive additional aircraft, including one Airbus H160 and two more H175 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters. The acquisition package also includes a Dassault Falcon 6X produced by Dassault Aviation.
The procurement initiative is intended to address operational challenges associated with the Air Force’s ageing fleet while improving overall mission readiness and operational flexibility.
Upon its arrival at the Air Force Base in Accra, the helicopter was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute, a ceremonial aviation gesture in which airport fire trucks spray arcs of water over an aircraft as it taxis beneath.
The practice is commonly used worldwide in both military and civil aviation to mark the introduction of a new aircraft into service.
The aircraft was later consecrated during a brief religious ceremony led by Benjamin Godson Kumi Wood.
Several government officials and senior military officers were present to receive the helicopter. They included the Acting Minister for Defence, Cassiel Ato Forson; the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza; Deputy Minister for Defence Ernest Brogya Gyenfi; and the Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in Ghana, Raphael Pont.
Also in attendance were the Chief of the Defence Staff, William Agyapong, along with the Chiefs of the Air and Naval Staff, the Chief of Staff and other senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Officials said the presence of both government and diplomatic representatives highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition and reflected the strong defence cooperation between Ghana and France.
The addition of the Airbus H175 is expected to strengthen the Air Force’s ability to undertake a wide range of missions. These include search and rescue operations, medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, maritime surveillance, as well as troop and logistics transport.
The helicopter is equipped with modern avionics, extended operational range and improved payload capacity, features that are expected to enhance endurance, flexibility and rapid response during both conventional operations and emerging security situations.
Before it becomes fully operational, the aircraft will undergo standard post-delivery procedures required by the Ghana Air Force. These include technical inspections, documentation checks, ground and functional tests, configuration reviews and formal induction into the service’s operational inventory.
Training programmes for pilots and engineers will also be conducted to familiarise them with the aircraft’s systems and integrate it into the Air Force’s existing command and maintenance structures.
The Ghana Air Force says the acquisition forms part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening air power capabilities in support of national security and broader development objectives.
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