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EC135
Photo: Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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EC135

Utility / Transport Helicopters · Germany · 1996
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EC135

EC135
EC135 Photo: Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Payload / Capacity
65
Range
60
Versatility
85
Reliability
88
Speed
65
Survivability
75
Hot-and-High Performance
80
Maintainability
82
Technology
78
Cost-Effectiveness
90
Origin Germany
CategoryUtility / Transport Helicopters
EraPost-Cold War
In service1996
Operators30 countries
Quantity1,400
Data Quality86%
75
Utility / Transport Helicopters MASS Rating
8/28
Post-Cold War
34/208
All-Time
Utility / Transport Helicopters · 10 axes scored
Payload / Capacity
65
Range
60
Versatility
85
Reliability
88
Speed
65
Survivability
75
Hot-and-High Performance
80
Maintainability
82
Technology
78
Cost-Effectiveness
90
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the utility / transport helicopters category.
01 / Overview
EC135
Country
Production
1996–
Quantity
1,400
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
UTILITY / TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS · POST-COLD WAR
8
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
92
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
75
utility / transport helicopters category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the utility / transport helicopters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
  • First Flight1994
  • Service Entry Year1996
  • Crew1
  • Passengers7
  • Primary RoleLight utility helicopter
  • In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
  • Engine TypeTurbomeca Arrius 2B2
  • Number of Engines2
  • Engine Power (each)492 kW
  • Transmission Rating650 kW
  • Rotor ConfigurationSingle main rotor with Fenestron tail rotor
  • Main Rotor Diameter10.2 m
  • Main Rotor Blades4
  • Anti-Torque TypeFenestron tail rotor
▣Performance10MOD.10
  • Top Speed259 km/h
  • Cruise Speed250 km/h
  • Never-Exceed Speed (VNE)285 km/h
  • Service Ceiling6,095 m
  • Hover Ceiling (IGE)3,048 m
  • Hover Ceiling (OGE)2,682 m
  • Range630 km
  • Ferry Range880 km
  • Rate of Climb7.6 m/s
  • Endurance360
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
  • Fuselage Length10.2 m
  • Height3.51 m
  • Rotor Disc Area81.7
  • Empty Weight1,450 kg
  • Max Takeoff Weight2,910 kg
  • Useful Load1,495 kg
  • Cabin Volume5.9
◆Armament & Mission7MOD.7
▲Production2MOD.2
  • Total Built1,400
  • Variants10
◎Service History2MOD.2
  • Production Start1995
  • Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1996Production started
30
years in service
1,400
units produced
30
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
Operator Inventory3country · 40units
40active
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
Autopilot/AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) is an avionics suite that automatically controls a helicopter’s attitude, navigation and flight path, providing stability augmentation and reducing pilot workload.
Seats designed to absorb crash forces, reducing injury to occupants.
A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit featuring electronic instrument displays, typically LCD or CRT screens, replacing traditional analog gauges.
A mechanical device used to lift personnel or cargo via a cable, typically mounted on helicopters for rescue or recovery operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Utility / Transport Helicopters entry →