• Defence Helicopter

  Russia’s WMD receives Mi-35 helicopters

  3rd November 2017

  A helicopter regiment of the Russian armed forces’ Western Military District in the Pskov region has taken delivery of new Mi-35 multi-role assault helicopters, the …

• Land Warfare

  Rwanda fields Chinese SH3 self-propelled howitzer

  15th November 2017

  New photos have revealed that the Rwandan Army operates the Chinese-made Norinco SH3 122mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH), in the first confirmed export of the platform. …

• Naval Warfare

  IAI to supply radars for Canadian C295s

  25th October 2017

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been contracted by Airbus Defence and Space for the ELM-2022A maritime patrol radar, the company announced on 23 October. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Analysis: KumAPE - the bright future of Russia’s co-axial helicopter manufacturer

  31st October 2017

  The Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise (KumAPE) company specialises in the manufacture, upgrade and overhauls of co-axial rotor helicopters designed by Moscow’s Kamov company. 

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: Thales signs MoU with Thai DTI

  7th November 2017

  Thales and the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), the Thai Ministry of Defence’s research and development agency, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 6 November …

• Defence Helicopter

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Turkish T129 makes its Dubai debut

  6th November 2017

  Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will showcase the T129 Atak helicopter at the Dubai Air Show for the first time as the company eyes the export market …

• Defence Helicopter

  Czech Air Force seals delivery of two BIRD AMPS

  24th October 2017

  The Czech Air Force has received delivery of two additional Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) from BIRD Aerosystems.  The deal, sealed in Q3, is further …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2017: Surion uncoils its wings

  18th October 2017

  Representing the gradual expansion of its KUH-1 Surion helicopter range, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) demonstrated a new version for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Czech government to assess heli options

  3rd November 2017

  The Czech government will now begin the assessment of  proposals for the supply of multipurpose helicopters needed to bolster its ageing inventory. In a statement …

• Defence Helicopter

  FAA certifies optionally-piloted UH-1H

  6th November 2017

  The FAA has granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate to Aurora Flight Sciences’ optionally-piloted UH-1H helicopter, the company announced on 1 November. Aurora's UH-1H was initially …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: China hones naval defence systems

  17th November 2017

  Chinese companies have honed their maritime and naval defence systems via experience gained from their land reclamation efforts and base building in the South China …

• Military Logistics

  European nations extend logistics support to MINUSMA

  6th November 2017

  Four European countries have agreed to extend their air transport services to the UN’s peacekeeping operation in Mali into 2020. Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Portugal …

• Military Logistics

  Second Twin Otter 400 bound for Panama

  19th October 2017

  The Panamanian Naval Air Service (SENAN) has ordered a new Twin Otter 400 twin engine light transport aircraft from Viking Air. The purchase, announced 11 …

• Training

  Serco training contract with CAE extended

  31st October 2017

  Serco’s contract with CAE to deliver helicopter pilot training and provide facilities management services for the Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) at Royal …

• Defence Helicopter

  Guimbal lays out lofty autonomous ambitions

  11th October 2017

  The VSR700, an autonomous military helicopter jointly developed by Hélicoptères Guimbal and Airbus Helicopters, is gathering momentum towards certification.Derived from Guimbal’s successful light helicopter, the …

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 ...