• Defence Notes

  Germany's latest industry developments (video)

  21st November 2019

  Watch a summary of the latest developments in the German Defence Industry. Land On land KMW has begun deliveries to Denmark and Germany of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  More MD 530F helicopters ordered for Afghan Air Force

  28th November 2019

  MD Helicopters has received a new order for up to 12 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Afghan Air Force (AAF), the company …

• Defence Notes

  Malaysia publishes its first White Paper

  9th December 2019

  Malaysia’s parliament passed the country’s first ever Defence White Paper on 2 December to guide defence planning and development from 2020-30. Amidst opposition criticism on …

• Digital Battlespace

  L-3 Technologies receives AN/SRQ-4​ contract modification

  3rd December 2019

  L-3 Technologies is to supply data link systems for the US Navy’s MH-60R aircraft, the US Department of Defense announced on 2 December. Under a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus still hungry for FVL business

  5th November 2019

  Despite missing out on the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, Airbus remains open to playing a role in FVL programmes and would consider …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghan Air Force receives latest MD 530F helicopters

  25th November 2019

  MD Helicopters has completed delivery of 30 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to the Afghan Air Force, the company announced on 22 November.The aircraft were …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell-Boeing to continue V-22 support

  2nd December 2019

  The US Department of Defense has issued a contract modification to the Bell Boeing Joint Project Office for the V-22 programme. Under the maximum $218.7 …

• Naval Warfare

  China doubles the size of its carrier fleet

  17th December 2019

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its second conventional aircraft carrier, and the first to be built indigenously, at Sanya-Yulin Naval Base on Hainan …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing awarded AH-6i retrofit work

  28th November 2019

  Boeing has been awarded a $10.7 million contract to retrofit AH-6i helicopters destined for Saudi Arabia, the Department of Defense announced on 22 November. Under …

• Defence Notes

  Dubai Airshow 2019: UAE enters final stages of air power double deal

  19th November 2019

  The UAE Air Force is putting the finishing touches on a set of new orders for two additional Saab GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control …

• Land Warfare

  Indonesian army presents its shopping list

  5th December 2019

  The Indonesian military operates on five-year procurement cycles, and Phase 3 of its modernisation programme will occur from 2020-24. As the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) looks …

• Digital Battlespace

  Eurofighter​ electronic combat role concept detailed

  13th November 2019

  Airbus and its partners have detailed the new Eurofighter electronic combat role (ECR) concept at the International Fighter Conference in Berlin. The role will expand …

• Defence Helicopter

  Long game on horizon for H160M export customers

  4th November 2019

  Deliveries of the in-development Airbus H160M medium aircraft will not be available to export customers any sooner than 2026, as the manufacturer first concentrates on …

• Land Warfare

  Kovico seeks further breakthroughs in Southeast Asia

  26th November 2019

  A lesser-known South Korean armoured vehicle manufacturer displayed two 4x4 vehicles at Defense & Security 2019 in Bangkok, as Armor Kovico makes a concerted attempt …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed Martin receives M-TADS/PNVS contract modification

  29th November 2019

  The US Army has issued a $7.5 million contract modification to Lockheed Martin for Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight Pilot Night Vision Sensor Systems (M-TADS/PNVS), …

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 ...