The Ghana Air Force has taken delivery of a newly acquired Airbus H175 from France, marking a major step in the modernisation and retooling of its operational fleet.

The acquisition forms part of a broader defence procurement programme approved by Parliament to strengthen the operational capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces.

According to the Air Force, the helicopter was ferried from Marignane and arrived in Accra on Thursday, March 5, 2026, after successfully completing all technical acceptance procedures with Airbus Helicopters.

The delivery flight followed a carefully planned route through Spain and north-west Africa before proceeding south along the West African Atlantic coast through several countries en route to Ghana.

Part of Wider Aircraft Procurement Programme

The arrival of the H175 is part of a broader aircraft procurement initiative approved by Parliament. The programme includes the acquisition of one Airbus H160 and three H175 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters, as well as a Dassault Falcon 6X from Dassault Aviation.

The procurement programme is intended to address operational limitations associated with the Air Force’s ageing fleet while improving mission readiness and operational flexibility.

Ceremonial Welcome at Air Force Base

Upon arrival at the Air Force Base Accra, the aircraft received a traditional water cannon salute.

A water cannon salute is a ceremonial aviation tradition in which airport fire trucks spray arcs of water over an aircraft, creating a tunnel or arch of water as the aircraft taxis underneath. It is widely used in both military and civil aviation to welcome a new aircraft arriving at an airport or joining a fleet. The salute symbolises a formal welcome and signifies that the aircraft has officially joined the Air Force or airport operations.

Following the ceremony, the aircraft was consecrated by clergy led by the Director General of Religious Affairs, Benjamin Godson Kumi Wood.

Dignitaries Present

The helicopter was received by the Acting Minister for Defence, Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, and the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi.

Also present were the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of France in Ghana, Raphael Pont, the Chief of the Defence Staff, William Agyapong, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Chief of Staff and senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Their presence highlighted the strategic significance of the acquisition and reflected the strong defence cooperation between Ghana and France.

Enhanced Operational Capability

The Ghana Air Force said the addition of the Airbus H175 will significantly strengthen its operational capability across a 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 aircraft is equipped with advanced avionics, extended operational range and increased payload capacity, which provide improved endurance, flexibility and rapid response capability in addressing both conventional and emerging security challenges.

Post-Delivery Processes Before Deployment

In line with Ghana Air Force procedures, the helicopter will undergo standard post-delivery processes before being deployed operationally.

These processes include comprehensive technical inspections, documentation verification, ground and functional checks, configuration assessments and formal induction into the Air Force’s operational inventory.

Aircrew conversion training, engineering familiarisation and integration into existing command and maintenance structures will also be conducted to ensure the safe and effective use of the aircraft.

The Ghana Air Force says it remains committed to continuous capability enhancement and operational excellence as it works to deliver effective air power in support of national security and national development objectives.