• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Baltic Navy takes upgraded Ka-27Ms

  15th October 2018

  The Russian Navy saw a boost of the anti-submarine capabilities of its Baltic Fleet thanks to the recent introduction of a five-strong batch of upgraded …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria to continue Swedish UH-60M support

  11th October 2018

  Patria Helicopters has received a follow-on order for UH-60M Black Hawk maintenance in Sweden, the company announced on 9 October. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: Leonardo continues progress with weapon systems

  23rd October 2018

  Italy’s Leonardo presented numerous weapon system updates at this year’s Euronaval including on its Black Scorpion lightweight torpedo which is set for helicopter qualification in …

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian Army receives 33rd H225M

  16th October 2018

  Helibras has delivered the 33rd H225M military helicopter for the Brazilian Army's H-XBR programme, the company announced on 9 October. The H-XBR programme was signed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Euronaval 2018: Sikorsky seeks future romances with MH-60R ‘Romeo’

  24th October 2018

  The US Navy flew in one of its MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Sea Hawks to this year’s Euronaval as Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky continues to looks to future …

• Defence Helicopter

  Iraq requests armed Bell 407GX helicopters

  8th October 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of armed Bell 407GX helicopters to Iraq, the Defense Security Cooperation …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing expands Australian Chinook support

  9th October 2018

  Boeing Defence Australia has entered into a new partnership agreement with Australia's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group for the support and maintenance of the Australian …

• Defence Helicopter

  Taiwan wants more localised Apache maintenance

  12th October 2018

  The Republic of China Army (ROCA) operates 29 AH-64E Apache Guardians, but the military is seeking ways of reducing a burgeoning maintenance bill, one that …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2018: AH-64E shakes off strap pack nut issues (video)

  10th October 2018

  Boeing expects to have a fix provided for a major structural risk discovered in Apache AH-64E attack helicopters to all platforms by the end of …

• Defence Helicopter

  BAE Systems introduces Smart D2 system

  12th October 2018

  BAE Systems has developed a new next-generation threat management technology, Smart D2, designed to dispense countermeasures and defend military aircraft, the company announced on 8 …

• Military Logistics

  Naval support ships forge ahead in Asia-Pacific

  18th October 2018

  There is considerable activity around Asia-Pacific in terms of building new support ships and tankers as navies enhance their ability to support their fleets farther …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: Kazan looking to bolster helicopter business

  4th October 2018

  The last couple of years have proven to be tough years for Russia’s rotorcraft industry, with a serious slump in sales, deliveries and revenues; Kazan …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: France marches on with naval ambitions

  22nd October 2018

  With France's military embarking on a series of modernisation programmes the naval service has its focus on providing for its future requirements under a variety …

• Defence Helicopter

  MDHI to deliver six MD 530Fs to Kenya

  2nd October 2018

  MD Helicopters (MDHI) has received a second order to deliver six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Kenya Defence Force, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2018: Profense confirms minigun testing success

  12th October 2018

  Small arms manufacturer Profense has confirmed that testing of its PF556 minigun has been successful and the company is now setting its sights on low …

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

  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 ...