• Training

  Korean CAA certifies Entrol's AW109 sim

  3rd July 2019

  The Korean civil aviation authority has officially certified Entrol’s H19/AW109 flight training device (FTD) Level 5 simulator purchased by Helikorea.This FTD is the first Entrol …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian MoD to get Hips on steriods

  3rd July 2019

  The Russian military is set to get ten new Mi-8AMTSh-VN Hips between 2019-2020 and they will be built at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. These heavily-armed …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus advances SMART MRTT connectivity

  14th June 2019

  Airbus has carried out a flight demonstration of a connected airborne battlespace scenario using an A330 MRTT aircraft. Carried out as part of the development …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky contracted for CH-53K parts

  4th July 2019

  Sikorsky has been awarded a $21.7 million delivery order for data transfer units and defensive electronic countermeasure system replacement units for the CH-53K rotorcraft. These …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Fully automatic autorotation demoed for Vector UAV autopilot

  5th July 2019

  UAV Navigation has announced that it has demonstrated a fully-automatic autorotation capability for its Vector unmanned aircraft autopilot.  In collaboration with Alpha Unmanned Systems, tests …

• Land Warfare

  Specialist enhancements for new Arquus Scarabee

  26th June 2019

  Vehicle manufacturer Arquus is developing specialist trailer technology to enhance the capability of the Scarabee 4x4 light armoured vehicle (LAV) to support airborne operations, company …

• Military Logistics

  Kongsberg and NDLO sign two defence support agreements

  4th July 2019

  Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) have signed two cooperation agreements.  This first is a letter of intent for possible …

• Defence Helicopter

  Northrop to provide technical computer refresh for US, Bahrain helos

  3rd July 2019

  Northrop Grumman has received a $104 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract award to provide a technical refresh of UH-1Y, AH-1Z and UH-60V rotorcraft …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: FCAS takes centre stage as fighter talk peaks

  17th June 2019

  As with the last edition of the Farnborough Air Show where former UK defence secretary Gavin Willamson presented the UK’s future fighter Tempest concept, France …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian MoD to order 98 Mi-28NMs

  21st June 2019

  The Russian MoD is set to place a large-scale order for no fewer than 98 Mi-28NM new-generation attack helicopters. According to the Russian RIA Novosti …

• Defence Helicopter

  France brings launch of HIL programme forward

  29th May 2019

  The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French armed forces’ Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme forward to …

• Defence Notes

  Malaysian MPA and UAV programmes approved

  21st June 2019

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare for the acquisition of …

• Defence Helicopter

  MASE-equipped NH90s ready for operation

  20th June 2019

  Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) NH90 helicopters equipped with Terma's Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment (MASE) system are now ready for operational use, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: BSN systems for S-70 Black Hawk

  17th June 2019

  Blue Sky Network (BSN) has signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation to provide tracking and SATCOM systems for the S-70 Black Hawk helicopter. BSN …

• Defence Helicopter

  USN tests potential EW upgrade for MH-60R

  26th June 2019

  The US Navy’s Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare Collaboration, Experimentation, Integration Team has prototyped and field-tested a hardware and software capability that could be provided as a …

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 - 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 - 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 - 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. ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...