• Defence Helicopter

  ​AUSA 2017: M134 to expand global footprint

  10th October 2017

  Profense, manufacturers of the M134 minigun, is looking to expand its global footprint in the next 12 months as interest grows in the weapons system. …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAF receives first UH-60 Black Hawks

  3rd October 2017

  The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received its first two UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters at Kandahar Airfield, the US Air Force announced on 26 …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2017: Redkite-I soars to final testing

  11th October 2017

  A new wide-area sensor payload developed for Insitu’s Integrator UAS is expected to complete final testing this year, paving the way for operators to begin …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: UH-60V digital cockpit moving to next stage

  9th October 2017

  The US Army initiative for the UH-60V Black Hawk integrated avionics suite is well underway as Northrop Grumman modernises the UH-60L cockpit to the V-Model …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2017: Rockwell Collins with force (video)

  14th September 2017

  At DSEI 2017, Rockwell Collins has announced its mission computer for Airbus Helicopters' HForce programme, which modifies the company’s civil platforms to allow for military …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria to support Norwegian Bell 412s

  29th September 2017

  Patria Helicopters has signed a contract with the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organisation (NDLO) for the maintenance of the Norwegian armed forces’ Bell 412 helicopters, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  H145M flies with HForce

  12th September 2017

  Airbus Helicopters’ H145M has performed its first flight with a complete HForce weapon system, the company announced on 8 September.HForce is a modular weapon system …

• Defence Helicopter

  Burkina Faso orders Mi-171Sh helicopters

  18th September 2017

  The air force of Burkina Faso has placed an order for the procurement of two Russian Helicopters Mi-171Sh, Rostec announced at the end of August …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: All eyes on Cayuse Warriors next home

  2nd October 2017

  With 30 MD Helicopters MD 530F Cayuse Warriors earmarked to be in Kabul by next year, further aircraft are expected to be delivered to other …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: Next-generation sensors ordered for Apache

  9th October 2017

  Lockheed Martin has a secured a $337 million deal to supply Apache modernised target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision (M-TADS/PNVS) sensor systems to the US, …

• Defence Helicopter

  First upgraded Brazilian Super Lynx flies

  4th October 2017

  Leonardo has successfully conducted the maiden flight of the first modernised Brazilian Navy Super Lynx Mk21B helicopter at its Yeovil facility, on 28th September 2017. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore’s Apaches celebrate 15 years

  12th October 2017

  Fifteen years after their rollout in 2002, the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) AH-64D Apache Longbows are still innovating and picking up new capabilities …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus announces safety measure for Tiger pilots

  8th September 2017

  Airbus Helicopters has issued an alert service bulletin (ASB) in relation to Tiger pilots changing from autopilot to manual operation during challenging environments. The safety …

• Training

  Australia completes MH-60R CMT tests

  27th September 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has completed the factory acceptance tests (FAT) on its MH-60R Composite Maintenance Trainer (CMT) at CAE USA’s Tampa factory in …

• Defence Helicopter

  CPI to manufacture Black Hawk windows

  25th September 2017

  CPI Aerostructures has signed a five-year contract worth up to $8.2 million with Sikorsky to supply gunner window assemblies for the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, …

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 ...