• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2018: What could replace the UK’s AWACS?

  10th July 2018

  One of the key talking points at this year’s Farnborough air show will be the Royal Air Force’s growing desire to replace its ageing E-3D …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ukrainian Army Aviation takes Mi-2MSB-Vs

  23rd July 2018

  According to Col Igor Yeremenko, Commanding Officer of the Ukrainian Army Aviation, in early June an undisclosed army aviation brigade took on strength Mi-2MSB-V helicopters …

• Defence Helicopter

  Meggitt’s fuel tanks for UH-60 Black Hawk

  19th July 2018

  Meggitt has received a $21 million contract from the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to supply fuel cell equipment for the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2018: UK helicopters in Transition

  16th July 2018

  After 15 years of continuous operations, the UK’s Joint Helicopter Command, which runs the Chinook, Gazelle, Puma and Merlin fleets, is currently in a state …

• Special Operations

  MH-47G Block II Chinooks for USASOAC

  16th July 2018

  Boeing has received a $139.8 million contract from the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command for the delivery of four MH-47G Chinook Block II helicopters, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Astronautics updates MFDS software for Spanish AB-212s

  24th July 2018

  Astronautics has completed a multifunction display system (MFDS) software update for SENER and Babcock MCS on the Spanish navy’s AB-212 fleet, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2018: Turkish Aerospace expanding helicopter portfolio (video)

  17th July 2018

  The newly rebranded Turkish Aerospace, formerly Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is pushing to dominate the medium to heavy helicopter markets through two new models. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2018: GECO ready for UK helicopters

  17th July 2018

  Inzpire has been selected for the UK MoD’s Rotary-wing Cockpit Situational Awareness Tool (CSAT) programme with its GECO military air mission support system, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  820 NAS preps to embark on HMS Queen Elizabeth

  16th July 2018

  HMS Queen Elizabeth’s dedicated maritime helicopter squadron, 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), is preparing to embark on the carrier for the next stage of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sri Lanka eyes helicopter fleet modernisation

  13th July 2018

  According to local media reports, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) harbours ambitions to acquire helicopters and UAVs worth up to LKR64.8 billion ($414.7 million). …

• Military Logistics

  Indra receives Spanish Army contract

  20th July 2018

  Indra has received a framework agreement to provide engineering services to achieve and maintain  airworthiness certification for the Spanish Army’s aircraft fleet, the company announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2018: Lord at the ready for new attack helicopter

  15th July 2018

  In June, US Army leaders announced that in five years time they hope to have two new prototype attack reconnaissance helicopters flying. With such an aggressive …

• Defence Helicopter

  FAA approves all-glass cockpit for MD 530F

  13th July 2018

  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved MD Helicopters’ advanced, all-glass cockpit for the MD 530F (type certified 369FF) helicopter. The new single-engine all-glass type …

• Defence Helicopter

  Taiwan's Apache fleet goes into service amid China tensions

  17th July 2018

  Taiwan on 17 July put into service its fleet of US-made Apache attack helicopters, upgrading its defences against a growing military threat from China. The …

• Training

  CAE joins Boeing team for German helo competition

  18th July 2018

  CAE Elektronik has signed a teaming agreement with Boeing to support the H-47 Chinook helicopter being offered for the German Air Force’s STH heavy transport …

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 ...