• Defence Helicopter

  Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter

  6th October 2023

  The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.

• Air Warfare

  Australia decides to expunge entire MRH90 helicopter fleet

  2nd October 2023

  Australia has decided to withdraw its MRH90 helicopter fleet, even though the aircraft had another 14 years of life left in them.

• Defence Notes

  Ireland commits to major equipment procurement schedules

  23rd November 2023

  The Irish Defence Forces has a range of challenges to overcome including discontent in sections of the forces, a need for cultural change, pay rates and equipment shortfalls. An implementation plan released 21 November has, however, provided projected timelines for change and procurement.

• Naval Warfare

  Italy finally funds naval missile projects

  17th November 2023

  The Italian MoD’s multi-year programme documents (DPP) detailing its current and planned acquisition projects has provided new details of funding for its 2023–25 naval missile programmes.

• Air Warfare

  Spanish Navy orders eight Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters

  13th October 2023

  The delivery of eight Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to the Spanish Navy has been slated for completion by March 2027.

• Defence Helicopter

  ITP Aero tests NH90 engines with sustainable fuel

  26th July 2023

  ITP Aero has successfully completed engine testing using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the NH90 helicopter's GE CT7-8F5 engines, marking a significant step in reducing emissions.

• Air Warfare

  GKN Aerospace to help Airbus to deliver Dutch H225M multirole helicopters

  3rd August 2023

  GKN Aerospace has signed an MoU with Airbus Helicopters to provide support for the H225M helicopters intended for Dutch special forces.

• Naval Warfare

  Italian Navy overcomes delays in PPA ship deliveries

  29th September 2023

  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the third of seven Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA) Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Italian Navy during a ceremony on 27 September.

• Defence Helicopter

  Fokker Services Group accredited for Dutch NH90 base maintenance

  4th July 2023

  Fokker Services Group announced it has been accredited by the Military Aviation Authority of the Netherlands to continue base maintenance work on Dutch NH90 helicopters.

• Air Warfare

  Indra to enhance protection of Spanish Air Force C295 aircraft

  1st August 2023

  Indra has won a contract to upgrade the radar warning and self-protection suite of the Spanish Air Force's C295 aircraft fleet to the ALR-400 system which will replace the legacy solution, enhancing their capabilities in conflict zones.

• Air Warfare

  Australia receives its first UH-60M Black Hawks

  8th August 2023

  Sikorsky has been extremely rapid in delivering Black Hawks to Australia, with the first two already handed over.

• Air Warfare

  Spanish NH90 helicopters to receive engine capable of flying with sustainable fuel

  18th May 2023

  The milestone marks an important step towards standardising SAF use in aircraft engines, contributing to short-term decarbonisation goals.

• Naval Warfare

  Fincantieri delivers fourth and final Qatari corvette

  17th May 2023

  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered the fourth and final Al Zubarah-class corvette, Semaisma, built for Qatar.

• Air Warfare

  How to ensure ultimate fleet availability and performance over the entire lifecycle? (Sponsored)

  4th May 2023

  Are you looking for a broad range service concept that ensures your fleets are always ready for critical operations with optimal costs? Patria has developed a modular service concept called Patria OPTIME, which covers air, land and sea domains. It is tailored to the customer needs and requirements and it is set up in phases together with the customer.

• Air Warfare

  Norway chooses MH-60R Seahawk as NH90 replacement

  14th March 2023

  Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawks could conduct anti-surface warfare and search and rescue operations alongside UAVs such as the Skeldar V-200 for Norway.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH Qatar

  The NH90 helicopter programme is managed by NH Industries, a joint-venture owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%), and Fokker (5.5%). In September 2019, Qatar ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH Qatar

  The NH90 helicopter programme is managed by NH Industries, a joint-venture owned by Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%), and Fokker (5.5%). In September 2019, Qatar ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 TTH [France]

  Programme Background In 2001, the French government made its first purchase of 34 NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters, followed by a second order in 2013 for ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH (Norway)

  Programme Background NH90 Procurement & Cancellation Norway's order for 14 NH90 NFH helicopters had been facing severe delays due to the country’s Defense Materiel Agency having ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawks [Norway]

  Programme Background NH90 NFH cancellation  The Norwegian government announced the termination of the NH90 NFH helicopter contract for 14 NH90s with NHIndustries in June 2022. Seahawk Acquisition ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force Second Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH - Germany

  The helicopters will form an integral part of the frigate system for German Navy vessels. Equipped with sonar, radar and torpedoes, they will be capable ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - multirole

  NH90 Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirement Following an internal review in 2022, Sweden declared that it would withdraw from the NH90 programme citing availability issues. As such, the ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Army Second Batch

  The $600 million program value is calculated based on the relative estimated unit costs of each helicopter type (NH90 NFH and TTH) and procurement quantity ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Germany - Awarded

  NH90 Sea Lions will take on a wide range of roles including search and rescue (SAR), maritime reconnaissance, special forces as well as personnel and ...

• 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 - maritime

  Spain HT-29 Caiman MSPT (NH90 NFH) - Navy

  The deliveries of seven NH-90 NFHs to the Spanish Navy are expected to between 2022 and 2025, following the completion of 22-helicopters program for the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Additional UH-60M Procurement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirement In November 2022, General Micael Byden of the Swedish Armed Forces announced that the country would replace its NH90 fleet. At the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  NH90

  As part of the Helisim consortium based in Marignane, Thales has supplied an NH90 simulator for use by French and foreign military forces. Helisim also ...

• 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 ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  ENR

  The European Navy Radar (ENR) is an airborne maritime surveillance radar manufactured by Thales, in conjunction with Airbus and Leonardo. It is designed for maritime ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH

  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 ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German HFTS

  Helicopter Flight Training Services (HFTS) was founded by the consortium of CAE, Airbus Helicopters, Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics. Each company owns a 25% share ...

• Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  SAPHIR-M / ELIPS-NH

  SAPHIR-M is a chaff and flare dispensing system for the Tiger and NH90, and is also offered for other helicopters. It offers a high decoy ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  TWE

  Threat Warning Equipment (TWE) is a lightweight integrated SPS based on an RWR from Thales Airborne Systems linked to a laser warner, manufactured by Airbus ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Helicopter Modernisation

  Helicopter Modernisation packages are generally based on a central computer and flight management system. They can cover a range of missions such as: observation, engagement, ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  AMPS

  The Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) is a modular EW suite for helicopter and transport aircraft and consists of radar, laser and missile warners, a ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Door Gunner Simulator

  The Door Gunner Simulator (DGS), used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), provides a unique approach to training door and ramp gunners on aircraft such as ...

• Air: sonar systems

  TMS 2000

  The TMS 2000 was developed by Thales. It is a sonobuoy processing system designed to be used by a helicopter or Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). 

• Launchers

  Robonic OHTO (MC1555LLR)

  The Robonic OHTO high-pressure pneumatic launcher is a 4th-generation zero-point pneumatic launcher, with a wide envelope in launch mass and exit velocity. Part of the ...

• OPVs

  OPV 1800 Sea Axe

  Damen unveiled its 'second-generation' OPV design during the 2015 OPVs and Corvettes Asia Pacific conference in Singapore. The re-configurable OPV uses the Sea Axe hull ...

• Subsystems: visual

  ThalesView

  The ThalesView is a high-resolution geo-specific image generator system that supports a range of training needs. The system's database encompasses a range of specific exercise ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  FMS and Helicopter Mission and Tactical Training

  Thales delivers a range of training devices for helicopter mission and tactical training with FMSs.  The cockpit environment of a Thales FMS reproduces the visual, ...