• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus succesfully tests self-flying taxi

  2nd February 2018

  Airbus has successfully conducted the first test flights of the Vahana, an electric, pilotless flying vehicle that it hopes will be able to ferry people …

• Military Logistics

  HII receives LPD 29 contract

  20th February 2018

  Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has received $1.43 billion, fixed-price incentive contract for the detailed design and construction of the US Navy’s 13th San Antonio-class amphibious …

• Military Logistics

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Singapore anticipates first MRTT

  10th February 2018

  After the initial A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft performed its maiden flight on 30 September, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is looking …

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea delineates need for new MPAs

  15th February 2018

  Already operating a fleet of 16 Lockheed P-3C and P-3CK Orion platforms, South Korea is hunting for newer-generation maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from overseas sources …

• Special Operations

  IDF prepares for multinational SOF exercise

  26th February 2018

  Israeli special operations forces are set to host a multinational exercise towards the end of 2018 designed to encourage extended levels of cooperation and interoperability …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales’ 70mm rockets for Tiger helicopters

  14th February 2018

  The Spanish Army Aviation (FAMET) and the German armed forces have selected Thales rockets to equip their Tiger helicopter fleets, the company announced on 13 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters, Datagate sign aftersales agreement

  12th February 2018

  Russian Helicopters has signed a memorandum of intent with Thai company Datagate for cooperation in establishing a maintenance service center for Russian-made helicopters in Thailand, …

• Military Logistics

  RAF opens new Atlas aircraft hangar

  7th February 2018

  The Royal Air Force (RAF) has opened a new hangar for its A400M Atlas aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, the UK Ministry of Defence announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Region moves on civil UAS regulation

  7th February 2018

  Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are moving ahead with alternations and additions to existing regulatory practices governing the civil and commercial use of unmanned systems, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters completes Mi-171Е2 testing

  13th February 2018

  Russian Helicopters has completed testing of the Mi-171E2 helicopter with a new power unit and rotor system, the company announced on 7 February. Designed for …

• Special Operations

  Global SOF 2018: “Risk perception” impacts European SOF aviation development

  26th February 2018

  One of the challenges encountered in the ongoing development and expansion of special operations aviation elements across many regions involves differences in “risk perception” that …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Subaru opens UH-X maintenance facility

  29th January 2018

  The Subaru Corporation (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries) announced the completion of an aviation MRO facility at its Utsunomiya plant on 18 January. Its floor area …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell waits for Warsaw’s decision-making

  13th February 2018

  An ambiguous procurement strategy as well as indecisiveness from authorities in Warsaw may hamper Bell Helicopter's plans for establishing industrial cooperation with Poland. As Bell …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore Airshow 2018: Continued rise of the Hawks

  12th February 2018

  The Black Hawk continues to expand in options for customers and it is enjoying increased sales in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a press conference …

• Defence Notes

  Leonardo outlook sends shares into tailspin

  30th January 2018

  Shares in Italy's Leonardo, one of world's top ten defence companies, went into free fall on 30 January after the company presented a recovery plan …

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 ...