• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Germany requests MQ-4C Triton UAS

  10th April 2018

  The US State Department is considering a potential foreign military sale of MQ-4C Triton UAS to Germany. Under a package worth $2.5 billion, Germany has …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army orders more UH-72A Lakotas

  27th March 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has received a contract modification from the US Army for 16 additional UH-72A Lakota helicopters, the company announced on 23 March. The contract, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales’ FZ220 receives qualification for MD 530G

  18th April 2018

  Thales’ FZ220 rocket launcher has been qualified for use on MDHI’s MD 530G light helicopter, Thales announced on 17 April. This qualification follows trials at …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky develops German industry team

  20th April 2018

  Sikorsky has kicked-off its industrialisation plan to support its bid for the German Air Force heavy lift helicopter programme. The company is offering the CH-53K …

• Training

  RSAF helicopter simulators set for upgrade

  18th April 2018

  Quantum3D will work with AVC Defense to upgrade training devices for the Royal Saudi Air Force's Bell 412 helicopter, the company announced on 17 April.The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Tiger Mk III ready to attack

  27th March 2018

  The Tiger Mk III could be coming to life as soon as Airbus Helicopters wraps-up remaining deliveries of Tiger attack helicopters to three European nations.  The …

• Defence Helicopter

  DefExpo 2018: India approves Ka-226T configuration

  11th April 2018

  On the opening day of the DefExpo exhibition in Chennai, India approved the technical configuration of the 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters that it will buy …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2018: Raider two slated to fly this summer

  26th April 2018

  Sikorsky's second S-97 Raider — pitched as a lighter attack helicopter for the US military's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme — has rolled off the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ukraine boosting its security with Airbus fleet

  26th March 2018

  Ukraine has given the go-ahead for a large-scale purchase of Airbus Helicopters' aircraft to be used for internal security and civil protection duties. This has …

• Military Logistics

  DSA 2018: Indonesia seeks new transport aircraft

  11th April 2018

  Marshal Yuyu Sutisna, chief of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), revealed plans at a press conference on 7 April to increase his force’s heavy airlift …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSA 2018: Indonesia receives final Apache Guardians

  11th April 2018

  The Indonesian Army received its five remaining AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters on 29 March. Photos of the arrival and unloading of the helicopters from a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Curtiss-Wright to provide mission computers to Thales

  13th April 2018

  Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions has received a contract from Thales UK for its commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Packaged COTS (PCOTS) mission computers, the company announced on 10 April. …

• Defence Helicopter

  US approves CH-47F helicopters sale to Spain

  9th April 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of CH-47F helicopters to Spain, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy formally commissions HMS Forth

  17th April 2018

  The Royal Navy has formally commissioned the first of its next-generation OPVs, HMS Forth, the navy announced on 13 April. HMS Forth is the first …

• Defence Helicopter

  Salt water blamed for multiple AH-64E Apache parts issues

  20th April 2018

  Salt water corrosion issues have forced the US Army to stop accepting deliveries of Boeing's AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. During a 20 April press conference, …

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 ...