Defence Helicopter
Advanced Avionics (sponsored)
Mark Burnand, Chief Test Pilot at Leonardo Helicopters UK, talks through the advanced avionics on board the latest generation battlefield utility AW149 helicopter.
Air Warfare
Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight
The company has tested over 15 mission sets for the drone, with the rotorcraft used to demonstrate the viability of armed forces utilising large uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS) for autonomous missions in the future.
Land Warfare
US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers
The termination of programmes such as JLTV and RCV has been harshly criticised by members of the US Congress.
Air Warfare
Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility
In 2024, Poland agreed to purchase 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache combat helicopters in a deal worth as much as US$12 billion. The deal included 97 AN/ASQ-170 modernised target acquisition and designation sight/AN/AAR-11 modernised pilot night vision sensors (M-TADS/PNVS).
Air Warfare
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
As European countries increase their defence budgets, the Paris Air Show will look to how the aerospace industry’s responds, with programme progression, new technology and industrial partnerships all expected to take centre stage at Le Bourget.
Paris Air Show 2025 Hide
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![Paris Air Show 2025: Parrot’s new microdrone ANAFI UKR breaks cover]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Parrot’s new microdrone ANAFI UKR breaks cover
While the Paris Air Show marked the first time the ANAFI UKR has been publicly shown, the ISR drone has been in use with various armed forces for the last eight months, Parrot told Shephard.
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![France and Sweden sign defence roadmap as Naval Group positions FDI frigate for Swedish surface ship programme]()
France and Sweden sign defence roadmap as Naval Group positions FDI frigate for Swedish surface ship programme
A pact signed at the Paris Air Show has seen Sweden turn to the French FDI frigate to lead its next-gen surface combatant fleet amid shifting security dynamics in the Baltic Sea.
Featured videos
Defence Helicopter
The Combat Veteran - 40 Years of the Chinook in the UK
The Chinook has served in every RAF campaign of the past 40 years. But in Afghanistan, it faced greater pressure than ever before.
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Air Warfare
Collins Aerospace wins $80 million contract for US Army Black Hawk avionics upgrade
19th March 2025
The US$80 million contract will provide the US Army Black Hawk helicopters with faster and more flexible technology on the battlefield, with upgrade work “actively” ongoing.
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Air Warfare
Australian Army aviation veers heavily towards the US
11th March 2025
Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk and Boeing’s AH-46 Apache will soon form the bedrock of the Australian Army’s rotorcraft capabilities, as the army awaits further delivery of both types.
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Air Warfare
Boeing delivers last Apache AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter to British Army
6th March 2025
The helicopters have been remanufactured using common parts from the British Army AH-64 MkI fleet with the 17 not being converted going for a range of uses such as engineering, ground handling and other training.
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Air Warfare
Sikorsky signs $313 million maintenance contract for Australian Navy MH-60Rs
3rd March 2025
The extension of its partnership with the Royal Australian Navy comes as the latter is increasing its fleet size, anticipating 12 further aircraft to be delivered by 2036.
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Air Warfare
Tiltrotor: The Long-Range Maneuver Solution
25th February 2025
If competition turns to conflict, the United States, along with its allies and partners, must be prepared to confront peer and near-peer competitors capable of achieving parity in military capability.
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Air Warfare
US Army UH-60M Black Hawk fitted with T901 engine approaches first flight
10th February 2025
The service recently started ground run testing to verify the full integration of the T901-GE-900 engine.
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Air Warfare
Sikorsky advances Black Hawk modernisation with new engine ground tests
6th February 2025
The UH-60 helicopter ground run test of the T901 engine is the first in a set of tests for boosting the helicopter’s range and lift capacity. The first flight of the improved engine Black Hawk is anticipated for later in 2025.
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Air Warfare
UK Royal Navy’s upgraded Commando Merlin helicopters achieve full operating capability
30th January 2025
A total of 19 Mk3 and six Mk3a Commando Merlin helicopters have now been upgraded to the Mk4/4a standard, with the work overseen by the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Leonardo and the Royal Navy (RN).
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Air Warfare
Philippines grows its S-70i fleet with 10 new deliveries
17th January 2025
The 10 helicopters delivered throughout 2024 make up part of a larger contract for 32 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters for the country.
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Air Warfare
Airbus delivers two H225M Caracals to France
17th January 2025
The Airbus rotorcraft will replace the French Air Force’s Puma helicopters, following the initial contract signing in 2021.
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Air Warfare
Pentagon approves $100 million Bell 412 sale to Zambia
14th January 2025
The deal highlights Zambia’s ongoing pursuit to buy more Bell 412s to round out its diverse helicopter fleet.
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Air Warfare
Leonardo unveils new design of uncrewed Proteus demonstrator
7th January 2025
According to Leonardo, the rotorcraft will conduct its first flight by mid-2025, following on from its £60 million (US$ 75 million) contract award in July 2022.
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Air Warfare
Ireland signs $93 million deal for new utility helicopters
30th December 2024
Ireland is replacing its ageing EC135 aircraft but is boosting the capability provided with the addition of new sensors which is planned to even provide a light attack role.
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Air Warfare
Bell selects Fort Worth site to build V-280s for the FLRAA programme
19th December 2024
The facility will work towards readiness for Low-Rate Initial Production on the V-280 by 2028.
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Air Warfare
Air Warfare Preview 2025: A pressure-filled year ahead will see decisions made on major platforms and programmes
18th December 2024
Looming government decisions on major defence programmes in the US and UK will colour much of 2025, while manufacturers and their orderbooks look on.
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Air Warfare
New Medium Helicopter competition remains “sensitive”, says UK MoD
13th December 2024
This statement comes as concerns were raised by union workers at Leonardo’s Yeovil site about the ongoing timeline of the UK’s New Medium Helicopter programme.
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Air Warfare
German Armed Forces’ H145s get L3Harris sensor system upgrade
10th December 2024
L3Harris Technologies has provided its WESCAM MX-15D electro-optical/infrared sensor systems to the German Armed Forces’ new H145 helicopters.
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Air Warfare
Air Warfare Review 2024: Budget cuts and delays fail to dampen modernisation efforts in 2024
10th December 2024
From major platform upgrades, high-value contract wins and programme delays, Shephard reported on a mixed year for air warfare in 2024, as geopolitical tensions rose across Europe and the Middle East.
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Air Warfare
US Army orders more Boeing CH-47 Block IIs
5th December 2024
Valued at $135 million, the Lot 3 contract is part of the US Army’s ongoing modernisation efforts.
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![Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight]()
Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight
-
![US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers]()
US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry]()
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
-
![Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight]()
Leonardo’s Proteus structural tests “nearing completion” ahead of first flight
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Poland orders Apache targeting systems and will establish local support facility
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry]()
Paris Air Show 2025: New capabilities, partnerships and next-gen programmes remain priority for industry
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![US Army progresses with the Flight School Next project]()
US Army progresses with the Flight School Next project
