• Defence Notes

  Israel says hits 100 Hamas targets in Gaza in reprisal attack

  15th March 2019

  Israel said on 15 March 2019 that its aircraft hit around 100 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight in response to rocket fire from …

• Defence Helicopter

  HH-60W CRHs prepare for flight test

  4th March 2019

  Two fully assembled HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) built for the US Air Force are being prepared for their maiden flights. The Sikorsky-built helicopters will …

• Defence Helicopter

  CMC Electronics systems for Swiss Cougars

  7th March 2019

  Esterline CMC Electronics’ CMA-9000 flight management system (FMS) and CMA-5024 GPS landing system have been selected by RUAG Aviation for the modernisation programme of the Swiss …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2019: MD Helicopters enters FARA fray with Swift

  5th March 2019

  MD Helicopters (MDHI) is the latest industry participant to confirm it has submitted a proposal for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme as …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2019: Essex and Ace getting grips to Black Hawks

  5th March 2019

  Platform controls and aircraft component manufacturer, Essex Industries is showcasing its Ergonomic Collective Grip at HAI Heli-Expo 2019. The current status of the grip is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Elbit Systems receives CHMD contract

  8th March 2019

  Elbit Systems of America has received a contract from the US Army to provide a wide field of view Common Helmet Mounted Display (CHMD) system, …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAF to receive overhauled Mi-17V-5

  6th March 2019

  Trencin (LOTN) has completed a general overhaul of an Afghan Air Force Mi-17V-5 helicopter, the company announced on 28 February. The helicopter has been repaired …

• Special Operations

  SOCOM looks to Little Bird upgrade

  15th March 2019

  United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is exploring a potential upgrade to the plank systems used to tactically configure its A/MH-6M “Little Bird” Special Operations …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2019: Leonardo target 2021 AW609 military certification

  5th March 2019

  The soon to be civil certified AW609 tiltrotor is also expected to receive a military type certification in approximately 2021 – subject to customer demand. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky to tie up new CH-53K LRIP lots

  19th March 2019

  The US DoD and Sikorsky are currently engaged in negotiations for a second/third low rate initial production contract for the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift aircraft, with an …

• Training

  Aero India 2019: HATSOFF plans move for new sim trainer

  24th February 2019

  Bangalore-based HATSOFF Helicopter Training, an HAL-CAE JV, is looking to expand its current offerings of full flight simulators (FFS). Currently, the company provides civil and …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aero India 2019: HAL silent on NUH developments

  27th February 2019

  Although the Indian MoD launching an expression of interest for a JV on the purchase of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters only two weeks ago, Hindustan …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Aero India, armed helicopters and all the news

  1st March 2019

  Welcome to Episode 6 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

• Defence Helicopter

  Japanese OH-1 returns to duty

  12th March 2019

  The OH-1, a light observation helicopter type belonging to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), has been cleared to begin flying again after a fleet-wide …

• Military Logistics

  MMF 2 performs maiden flight

  14th February 2019

  An Airbus A330-200 destined to become OCCAR's second Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF)aircraft performed its first flight from Toulouse Airport on 5 February. During …

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 ...