• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2018: Opportunities in the air for UAV exports to Middle East

  7th May 2018

  As the Trump administration looks to looks to open up the export restrictions concerning unmanned technologies, one company that could see gains, especially in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Space clean-up efforts intensify

  27th April 2018

  A wide range of experimental technologies and regulations aimed at tackling the increasing threat posed to critical satellites by thousands of pieces of debris orbiting …

• Training

  Malaysia finally commissions two training ships

  3rd May 2018

  The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) formally commissioned two Samudera-class training ships on 26 April, five years past their targeted induction year of 2013. Both 75.9m …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: Assessing the US Navy TH-57 replacement contenders

  23rd April 2018

  The US Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) programme will see the service replace its current Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger fleet with 105 new aircraft. 

• Defence Helicopter

  DSA 2018: Malaysian MD 530Gs approach their Destini

  19th April 2018

  When the Malaysian Army ordered its six MD 530G scout helicopters from MD Helicopters, as announced on 1 February 2016, the first aircraft were to …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSA 2018: Arnold Defense offering new rocket launcher

  19th April 2018

  US-based Arnold Defense showcased its new LWL-12-A lightweight rocket launcher for light armed helicopters at this week’s DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. In the …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippine Coast Guard expands its horizons

  2nd May 2018

  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), once part of the Philippine Navy until formally separated in April 1998, has long contended with meagre resources and old …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ukraine developing flexible fuel tanks for Mi-24

  24th April 2018

  UkrOboronProm is working on a Ukrainian project to produce flexible fuel tanks for the Mi-24 helicopter, the company announced on 20 April.UkrOboronProm has teamed with …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Smart city integration key stage of unmanned journey

  13th April 2018

  While industries such as agriculture, energy and mining have embraced the use of drones the next stage of the unmanned journey will be integrating the …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSA 2018: Asia-Pacific looks to Leonardo for helos

  17th April 2018

  Last week Leonardo demonstrated the AW159 Wildcat to the Malaysian military at RMN Base Lumut. The two Wildcats, from the UK’s 847 Naval Air Squadron, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indian Ka-226T training programme prepared

  17th April 2018

  Russian Helicopters has developed a Ka-226T training programme tailored for the Indian Air Force and Army, the company announced on 11 April.The programme will see …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2018: BAE wins missile warning contract

  26th April 2018

  BAE Systems has secured a contract worth up to $97.9 million to develop a missile warning system that will protect US Army aviation pilots and …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy commissions USS Portland

  23rd April 2018

  The US Navy has commissioned its newest amphibious transport dock, USS Portland, at a ceremony at the Port of Portland, Oregon.USS Portland is the 11th …

• Training

  Senegal selects Thales mission trainers

  23rd April 2018

  The Senegalese armed forces will use a Thales helicopter mission trainer solution to train its Mi-35 attack helicopter and Mi-17 transport helicopter crew, Thales announced …

• Defence Notes

  China flies bombers around Taiwan

  19th April 2018

  Chinese bombers and spy planes have flown around Taiwan, the air force said on 19 April as Taipei accused Beijing of trying to stoke regional …

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 ...