• Defence Notes

  US approves $1 billion in Saudi defence contracts

  23rd March 2018

  The US formally approved defence contracts totalling more than $1 billion with Saudi Arabia on 22 March, as the kingdom's crown prince continued his American …

• Defence Helicopter

  Army says key FVL decisions are coming

  16th March 2018

  US Army Chief of Staff Gen Mark Milley side stepped assertions that development of the new Future Vertical Lift (FVL) helicopter is slipping but acknowledged …

• Defence Helicopter

  CPI receives amendment for AH-1Z components

  9th March 2018

  CPI Aerostructures has received an amendment to a contract from Bell Helicopter for the manufacture of components for the AH-1Z Viper helicopter, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  Congress unveils FY18 US defence spending bill

  22nd March 2018

  US lawmakers are rushing to pass a $1.3 trillion spending bill before the end of 23 March to avoid another government shutdown and the US …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USMC moves forward on group five UAS requirement

  9th March 2018

  As part of the US Marine Corps' growth in airborne capabilities, an RFI for a new group five UAS has been released by the Program …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lakota flies while Leonardo spies navy trainer

  21st March 2018

  Further to Leonardo's retreat over litigation procedures the company now turns its focus to opportunities with the US Navy while Airbus Helicopters remains dedicated to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky's year of flight for FVL

  7th March 2018

  As the US Army deliberates its Future Vertical Lift (FVL) development timeline, Sikorsky said it will be ready to pitch one of two options based …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell waits for Warsaw’s decision-making

  13th February 2018

  An ambiguous procurement strategy as well as indecisiveness from authorities in Warsaw may hamper Bell Helicopter's plans for establishing industrial cooperation with Poland. As Bell …

• Defence Helicopter

  The bell tolls for Philippine helicopter deal

  14th February 2018

  Bringing to an end one of the Philippines’ shortest ever military deals, the government has formally cancelled its contract for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Palomar receives display system contracts

  20th February 2018

  Palomar Display Products has received three contracts for the delivery of display systems for the M1 Abrams tank, M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicle and Light Armored …

• Training

  Singapore Airshow 2018: CAE looks to expand third-party use of MPTC

  11th February 2018

  With the use of CAE's Brunei MPTC facility maturing, the company is exploring opportunities to expand third-party use of its capabilities in future.  Ian Bell, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Philippine Air Force purchases 412EPI

  6th February 2018

  A major announcement emanating from Bell Helicopter at Singapore Airshow 2018 on 6 February covered a long-expected purchase agreement for 16 Bell 412EPI helicopters for …

• Special Operations

  BIRD to support Mexican ASIO fleet

  14th February 2018

  BIRD Aerosystems has received a three year follow-on contract to provide maintenance and support services to the Mexican government’s Special Mission Aircraft Solutions (ASIO) Special …

• Defence Helicopter

  Unmanned Systems 2018: US Army looking to accelerate FVL

  8th February 2018

  US Army leaders are examining ways to speed up the development and fielding for their Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme by several years. Funding to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Islamabad to modernise its army's fleet

  9th February 2018

  The Pakistan Army is soon to induct a small number of Russian Helicopters Mi-35Ms in the assault role and is in the process  of modernising …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EPI-Indonesia Forecast

  Programme Background PTDI is assembling Bell helicopters in its factory in Bandung.  The first Bell 412EPI was delivered to the Indonesian Army on 29 December ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Navy)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Bell 412EPI-Indonesia

  Programme Background PTDI is assembling Bell helicopters in its factory in Bandung.  The first Bell 412EPI was delivered to Indonesian Army on 29 December 2020 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EP [Zambia]

  Programme Background  In January 2025, the US State Department approved an FMS of Bell 412EP helicopters along with the necessary training and logistical support services ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Bell 407GX

  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency noted that the proposed sale of five Bell 407GX helicopters will help compensate for the combat loss of seven IA407 helicopters ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-X [Japan]

  There is no mention of the AH-X in the 2019-2023 Medium Term Defence Plan, so it is possible that the requirement has quietly been postponed. ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (Jordan)

  Programme Background Requirement The Jordanian Air Force has a requirement for training helicopters that are to be used in the King Hussein Air College. The country ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2018, the US Army initiated the FARA project to develop a replacement for Army attack and scout helicopters, such as the OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-1Y [Romania]

  Programme Background The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Romanian Military ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Huey II

  The last announced contract, valuing at $19 million, was awarded to Bell by US Army to supply Lebanon Air Force with there furnished Huey IIs ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Kruk / AH-64E Apache [Poland]

  Programme Background In May 2019, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Polish deputy defence, released some details on the helicopter programme. Part of Poland's broader defence modernisation plan, the tender ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW169M (Austria)

  The aircraft was selected ahead of two light twin platforms – the Bell 429 and H145M - as it represented the best option for Vienna ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Project Land 2097 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme Background According to the RfI, under Project Land 2097 Phase 4, the selected helicopter must comprise a commercial or military off-the-shelf solution that is ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505

  The Bell 505 is a light, single-engine helicopter initially designed for the utility, executive/passenger and law enforcement markets produced by Bell Textron. The Montenegrin Air ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EPI

  Introduced in 2013, the Bell 412EPI is the latest production standard for Bell's venerable 412 family of utility helicopters. The 412EPI has a fully integrated ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EPX

  The Bell 412EPX is a utility helicopter manufactured by Subaru. This platform improves upon the UH-1J/412-series helicopters. It has enhanced safety, performance, visibility, maintainability and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EP

  The Bell 412EP/CH-146 is a twin-engine, medium support helicopter derived from the Model 212/Twin Huey, produced by Bell in Canada. The 412EP was introduced in 1994. ...

• Helicopter engines

  T53

  The T53 is a turboshaft engine, designed for use on helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. More than 19,000 T53-series engines have been produced to date, powering ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Bell 407/407M

  The 407, unveiled in 1995, is an outgrowth of the 206L-4 LongRanger design, outfitted with a four-bladed main rotor with a composite hub. There are ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  525 Relentless

  Bell Helicopter announced in February 2012 that it was developing the Model 525 Relentless. The Relentless features an ARC Horizon flight deck, including the Garmin ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 212/UH-1N Twin Huey

  The UH-1N Twin Huey is a twin-engine, medium utility helicopter developed in 1968-69 from the single-engine Bell 205/UH-1H by Bell and Pratt & Whitney Canada. ...

• Helicopter engines

  CT7 Family

  GE Aviation's CT7 turboshaft and turboprop engines power 25 types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, with more than 130 customers in more than 50 countries. ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 206L-4 LongRanger

  The Bell 206L-4 LongRanger is primarily a civil helicopter but is also used by the Argentine Army. 

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58 Kiowa

  The single-engine OH-58 Kiowa, derived from the Bell 206, entered US Army service in 1969 as a light observation helicopter. More than 2,200 were built for ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  V-247 Vigilant

  The V-247 Vigilant is a tiltrotor UAV from Bell. Officially introduced in 2016, it features an open modular architecture and can host several payloads. These include ...

• Interior equipment

  Dart Aerospace designs and manufactures skidtubes (using round I-beam technology), crosstubes, lightweight steps, bearpaws, emergency stretcher kits, shoulder harnesses, aircraft disabling devices, baskets, mirrors, spacedoors, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  HSVTOL

  Bell, a subsidiary of Textron, revealed on 2 August 2021 the High-Speed VTOL (HSVTOL) UAS. According to Bell, the developmental UAS combines the hover capability of a ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 360 Invictus

  The Bell 360 Invictus is the company's prototype for the US Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme.  The helicopter features retractable weapon bays, two ...