• Digital Battlespace

  TruNet AR-2000​ demonstrated to US DoD

  2nd August 2019

  Collins Aerospace Systems has demonstrated the increased flexibility and bandwidth of its new TruNet AR-2000 two-channel, software-defined networking airborne radio to the US Department of …

• Defence Helicopter

  SAFE Structure Designs awarded Apache work

  30th July 2019

  SAFE Structure Designs has been awarded a contract to manufacture a line of maintenance platforms, hangar equipment and specialty tooling for the US Army’s fleet …

• Digital Battlespace

  Podcast: Five Eyes Connectivity - Cyber

  26th September 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s special series on Five Eyes Connectivity, sponsored by our partner Viasat.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. In the Five Eyes Connectivity podcast …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lack of IFR certification not scaring contenders for US naval trainer

  11th July 2019

  Despite instrument flight rules (IFR)-capable operations being a key requirement in the US Navy’s TH-XX trainer helicopter programme, two of the main contenders have yet …

• Defence Helicopter

  CIRCM tests carried out on UH-60M

  31st July 2019

  The US Army has test flown the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter equipped with new Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system. CIRCM is an improved countermeasure system …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell Helicopter receives H-1 gearbox order

  24th July 2019

  Bell Helicopter has received an order for H-1 aircraft gear box assemblies from the US Defense Logistics Agency Aviation. The award was announced by the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Serbia receives first H145M

  27th June 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has announced that following the delivery of the first H145M helicopter to Serbia in 2018, a local maintenance plant for SA 341/342 Gazelle helicopters …

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korean LAH takes off for first time

  6th July 2019

  The Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) took to the air for the first time during a flight that lasted 20 minutes, this milestone being announced on …

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM advances cockpit efforts

  2nd August 2019

  USSOCOM is moving forward on its efforts to identify the next generation Special Operations Aviation (SOA) cockpit. The multi-phased effort was originally outlined in a special …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus expands SmartForce to military customers

  24th June 2019

  Airbus has launched new digital support services under its SmartForce product range for military customers.The new additions are designed to enable customers to select the …

• Naval Warfare

  Boeing and Airbus sign MoU for RAAF Poseidon through life support

  4th July 2019

  Boeing Defence Australia and Airbus Australia Pacific have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) extending their commitment to the sustainment of the P-8A Poseidon maritime …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell Helicopter receives contract modification

  17th July 2019

  Bell Helicopter has received a contract modification from the US Defense Logistics Agency Aviation for UH-1N and TH-1H helicopter assemblies, the US Department of Defense …

• Defence Helicopter

  TH-119 obtains FAA IFR certification

  19th July 2019

  Leonardo’s TH-119 helicopter has received IFR supplemental type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The certification allows pilots to operate the aircraft safely in …

• Military Logistics

  First Canadian C295 flies

  9th July 2019

  The first C295 for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has completed its first flight in Seville, Spain, Airbus announced on 5 July. The aircraft, …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF flies HH-60W for the first time

  18th July 2019

  A HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter has been flown by the US Air Force for the first time at Sikorsky’s Flight Center in West Palm Beach.The …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow On

  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

  Programme 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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145M [Ireland]

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

• Military helicopters - light/training

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

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

• 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 - 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 - 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 (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

  Programme 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 ...

• 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 - 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. ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H145M [Spain]

  Programme Background  In May 2025, Spain announced the National Helicopter Plan as part of the country's wider effort to rearm in response to American pressure. ...

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

  H135M [Spain]

  Programme Background Spain announced the National Helicopter Plan in May 2025 culminating in five contracts awarded to Airbus on 18 December 2025, including procurement programmes ...

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 ...

• Model 301 Fire Attack

  The Model 301 is a belly tank/refill hose system for Airbus Helicopters AS365-series helicopters.

• 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

  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 - 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 ...

• Model 316 Fire Attack

  The Model 316 is a belly tank/refill hose system for Airbus Helicopters H225 and AS332 L-series helicopters.

• AC67 Airbus Helicopters H135 interior

  Bucher has developed the AC67 medical interior for the Airbus Helicopters H135 in cooperation with ADAC Luftrettung.The lightweight, modular design features a floor with integrated ...

• 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 ...

• H160

  Airbus Helicopters unveiled a full-scale model of the H160 medium twin rotorcraft on 3 March 2015 at Heli-Expo. The utility helicopter, the first to be ...