The EC635 was first revealed at the Aviation Africa exhibition in May 1998 and the Portuguese Ministry of Defence subsequently signed an agreement for nine EC635 T2 helicopters equipped with Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 engines, at a cost of €35 million in October 1999.
O EC635 revelouse por vez primeira na exhibición Aviation Africa en maio de 1998 e o ministro de defensa portugués asinou un acordo en outubro de 1999 por nove helicópteros EC635 T2 equipados con motores Turbomeca Arrius 2B2, cun custo de 35 millóns de euros.