• Defence Helicopter

  IAF receives final five Apaches under 2015 order

  10th July 2020

  Boeing has completed deliveries of its AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final five of 22 Apaches were handed over to …

• Digital Battlespace

  LIMWS moves on to first production lots

  16th July 2020

  BAE Systems has received $179 million in contract awards from the US Army as part of the Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) Quick Reaction …

• Defence Helicopter

  JGSDF officially receives first Osprey

  15th July 2020

  The first Bell-Boeing MV-22B Block C Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) was officially handed over on 10 July at Camp Kisarazu. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Jordan to buy another Black Hawk

  8th July 2020

  Jordan is set to receive another UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter from Sikorsky, after the US State Department on 7 July approved a $23 million FMS …

• Training

  RCAF to use roadmap for training ranges modernisation

  14th July 2020

  Air weapons and training ranges used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) are to be upgraded based on planning by QinetiQ, the UK-headquartered group …

• Military Logistics

  Kongsberg takes full control of Patria Helicopters

  1st July 2020

  Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services on 1 July formally took over Bardufoss, Norway-based Patria Helicopters after buying a minority share held by Finnish defence and aerospace …

• Defence Helicopter

  French aviation rescue plan bets on defence helicopters, drones and tankers

  10th June 2020

  The French government has pledged to buy new military heavy-lift helicopters and accelerate plans for naval drone, ISTAR and tanker aircraft programmes as part of …

• Naval Warfare

  Belgium and Germany seek lightweight torpedoes

  10th July 2020

  The US Defence Security and Cooperation Agency (DCSA) on 9 July gave the green light to two FMS deals involving the Raytheon MK 54 Lightweight …

• Defence Notes

  Procurement struggles and stretched resources hinder Guatemala

  15th July 2020

  Lacking hefty procurement budgets, small Central American countries are struggling to fulfil their defence equipment acquisition ambitions – and the situation is only likely to …

• Defence Notes

  UK Open Innovation – Space consortium calls for SMEs to join

  17th June 2020

  The UK’s Open Innovation – Space consortium on 16 June called for greater involvement from SMEs to provide future space solutions. The group includes defence …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSCA signals Osprey sale to Indonesia

  7th July 2020

  Indonesia could purchase eight MV-22 Block C Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and related equipment in a $2 billion potential FMS deal, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency …

• Defence Helicopter

  Safran Helicopter Engines to support Dutch Cougar fleet

  30th June 2020

  Safran Helicopter Engines has been awarded a new contract by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) which formalises an MRO agreement to support more than …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus ships ROK ANASIS-II satellite to US

  12th June 2020

  Airbus confirmed on 10 June that it has shipped its ANASIS-II telecommunications satellite (pictured) to Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of its planned launch. It was …

• Air Warfare

  Seoul orders TA-50s, eyes new Chinooks and AEW aircraft

  3rd July 2020

  In South Korea the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has concluded a KRW688.3 billion ($619.5 million) deal for 20 TA-50 Block 2 jets from Korea …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan orders its first series UH-X helicopters

  10th June 2020

  The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) in Japan has placed orders for the first six production UH-X helicopters for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow-On [USA]

  Programme Background In March 2019, Airbus stated that it expected orders from the US Army for between 12 and 15 UH-72A helicopters. In March 2020, ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M [France]

  Background In April 2021, the French government signed a deal for the purchase of eight H225M Airbus helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of SA330 Puma ...

• Military helicopters - attack, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M / H145M Add-On [Romania]

  Methodology As part of a potential initial order for 12 H225M helicopters, Romania has included the option to acquire 30 additional helicopters from Airbus. Shephard estimates this ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145 Helicopter [Honduras]

  Programme Background  The Honduran Government has purchased a total of four H145 Helicopters manufactured by Airbus to develop the armed forces preparedness against natural disasters ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H135 [UK]

  Programme Background Airbus Helicopters UK announced on 2 February 2022 that it has won an order to provide five additional H135 twin-engine helicopters for the ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters

  The three maritime operations helicopters will be used for logistics and personnel transport, alongside transportation of PASKAL naval special forces in operations in the area. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145M [Ireland]

  Background On 30 December 2024 Ireland announced a contract with Airbus for four new H145M helicopters to replace the Air Corps existing fleet of light ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Programme Background  In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH-90 [Spain]

  Programme Background Along with a range of other air programmes, the Spanish Government announced the nation has set aside 1 billion euros (USD$1.162 billion) to ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services are ...

• 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 - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Army First Batch

  HT-29 Caiman GSPAs (NH90 TTH) will be assembled at Airbus Helicopters’ facility in Albacete and will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service. Even though ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) (TH-57 Replacement)

  Programme Background Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101 [Poland]

  According to the media reports, Airbus couldn't provide a competitive offer for the programme due to the offset requirements.  The deliveries were to be completed ...

• 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. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - light/training

  H145

  The light, twin-engine EC145 began as an initiative to increase the cabin size of the BK 117 C1 aircraft, involving Kawasaki of Japan and Airbus ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M

  The medium-weight, 11t-class H225M (formerly known as the EC725) is the latest military Super Puma/Cougar family member.  Technical features include a modular design of mechanical ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145M

  The H145M (formerly known as the EC645 T2) is the military version of the H145 medium-sized (3.7t) helicopter (covered in a separate entry). It is ...

• Military helicopters - light/training, Military helicopters - multirole

  H135M

  The H135M (formerly known as the EC635 and also designated as H135) is a light utility variant of the EC135 twin-engine, multipurpose 3t helicopter. In ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H215M

  The H215M (formerly the AS532 ALe) is the most recent addition to the Cougar family.  It is a medium-weight (9t-class), twin-engine helicopter, combining the AS532's ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Helionix

  The Helionix digital avionics suite was developed from the need for a more powerful avionics system with greater functions and computing capacity, alongside a user-friendly interface. ...

• Helicopter engines

  Arriel 2+/2D

  Unveiled in 2011, the Arriel 2+ is an upgrade of the Arriel 2 and is intended for single- and twin-engine helicopters. It incorporates a new ...

• Helicopter engines

  LTS101

  The LTS101 was first certified in 1975. Since then, over 2,100 engines have been delivered to customers worldwide, logging over 11 million service hours. The ...

• EO/IR systems

  Viviane

  Viviane is an out-of-production gyro-stabilised night and adverse weather observation system with missile sight.  Manufactured by Safran, it was fitted to French Army Gazelles. It contained a ...

• Air: mission management systems

  APM 2000

  The current generation of autopilots is the APM 2000 family, fitted on major worldwide platforms. The APM 2000 is based on an integrated digital computer. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H175M

  The Airbus H175M is the military variant of the H175 and works to fill a gap in the H175 helicopter family, as well as offer ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Armed Helicopter

  The South Korean government selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in July 2014 to develop the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) and the related Light Civil Helicopter ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AS365 N3+ Dauphin

  The AS365 N3+, manufactured by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter), was developed from the Dauphin series of medium, twin-turboshaft rotorcraft. The AS365 N3+ was launched at the 2009 ...

• Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor

  Flexrotor, or U030 Flexrotor, is a VTOL small UAS manufactured by Aerovel. It can integrate different types of payloads, including electro-optical systems and advanced sensors, to suit ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH

  Developed as a multinational programme between France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, the European NH90 was designed to meet NATO requirements for multirole capability from ...