• Defence Notes

  Asia-Pacific dominates MPA market

  8th November 2019

  The global market for procurement of new maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) is forecast to be worth $28 billion between 2019 and 2029 and is dominated …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters delivers NH90 to Germany

  24th October 2019

  The first NH90 Sea Lion helicopter has been delivered to the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) by Airbus …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus invests in battery tech firm

  1st November 2019

  Airbus Defence and Space has invested in Amprius Inc to further boost the development of new generation batteries based on Silicon Nanowire Anode technology. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  LEO to provide ‘game changing’ capability

  7th November 2019

  Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology is set to provide a ‘game-changing’ capability for armed forces demanding flexible and cost-effective connectivity almost anywhere in the …

• Defence Notes

  Helicopter collision in Mali kills 13 French soldiers

  26th November 2019

  Thirteen soldiers from France's Barkhane force in Mali were killed when two helicopters collided during an operation against jihadists in the country's north, the Elysee …

• Defence Helicopter

  HH-60W arrive for developmental testing

  13th November 2019

  Two HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters have arrived at US Air Force Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where they will begin developmental testing. The aircraft …

• Digital Battlespace

  Honeywell sees ‘room for growth’ in Asia-Pacific

  27th November 2019

  Honeywell predicts growing demand to modernise military aircraft fleets in Asia-Pacific. Air forces around the region have ageing aircraft fleets, and this is boosting demand …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2019: Lockheed Martin teases new armed Black Hawk order

  17th November 2019

  Lockheed Martin is set to announce an addition to its UH-60M armed helicopter customer base, following on from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Joint Aviation …

• Defence Helicopter

  UAE requests CH-47F helicopters from US government

  11th November 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of CH-47F Chinook helicopters to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The UAE …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO announces $1bn upgrade to ageing AWACS fleet

  20th November 2019

  NATO is to upgrade its ageing fleet of AWACS reconnaissance planes at a cost of $1 billion, the alliance announced Wednesday, with still no plan …

• Military Logistics

  ST Engineering bags new contracts

  22nd October 2019

  Singapore Technologies Engineering has announced a number of new contracts received by its Aerospace and Electronics sector businesses. Contracts for the company’s aviation manufacturing and …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ardiden 1U​ engine receives EASA type certification

  12th November 2019

  Safran Helicopter Engines’ Ardiden 1U engine, installed in India's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), has received EASA type certification. The LUH single-engine, multi-purpose helicopter designed by …

• Naval Warfare

  OCEAN2020 demonstration kicks off

  20th November 2019

  The first OCEAN2020 demonstration is set to commence today, 20 November, in the Gulf of Taranto. OCEAN2020 is a European Defence Fund pan-European military research …

• Defence Helicopter

  First H225M for Kuwait begins testing

  18th October 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has begun flight testing of the first H225M destined for delivery to the Kuwait Air Force, the company announced on 18 October. Kuwait …

• Naval Warfare

  HMAS Hobart trains with JMSDF

  13th November 2019

  The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Hobart has completed the initial phase of its first operational deployment, engaging with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as …

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 ...