Helibras debuted its first armed H225M helicopter for the Brazilian navy Tuesday, the company announced. Photo courtesy Helibras

ITAJUBá, Brazil, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Helibras debuted its first armed H225M helicopter for the Brazilian navy Tuesday, the company announced.

Under the H-XBR designation, the helicopter is the most complex ever produced and developed by the company's engineering center, Helibras said in a statement.


The helicopter was developed specifically for naval missions and features an APS-143 patrol radar, chaff and flare countermeasures and is armed with two missiles.

The aircraft, known as BRA-05, will be officially delivered to the navy in 2018. Systems will continue evaluation and certification through next year.

It is part of a 50-unit order that Helibras is under contract for with the Brazilian defense ministry.

Helibras, an Airbus Helicopters subsidiary, began producing the military H225M model in 2012.