Possible replacement for the Airbus H145 is the mysterious X9 helicopter

As a potential replacement for the H145 light-twin helicopter from Airbus Helicopters, the X9 helicopter is taking shape, according to sources in the industry.

The X9 was one of two coded projects that former helicopter chief Lutz Bertling briefly drew up in 2012, alongside the replacement for the X6 SuperPuma. However, the X6 SuperPuma project was later shelved due to the impact low oil and gas prices at the time were having on a significant portion of its target market.

Since then, not much more has been said regarding the X9 sister project market, including whether it even still exists.

The German affiliate of Airbus Helicopters noted in a Berlin filing from 2020 that its board had been informed about the X9 and unnamed "further steps."

In a later statement, the same unit stated that it would concentrate on ensuring "the future viability of civil helicopters" in Donauwörth, Germany.

The twin-engined H135 and H145 are built in the Bavarian town, while other civil programs are primarily centred in Marignane, France, the home of the biggest commercial helicopter manufacturer in the world.

Airbus has thus far been content to update the H145, which has its origins in a German-Japanese project from the 1990s and whose latest version adds an extra blade. Sales of the H145 are still booming.

Privately, however, Airbus is looking into a possible H145 replacement under the codename X9 and is prepared to move the concept beyond the conceptual stage by looking into propulsion and other options for a planned demonstrator, according to the sources.