• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus selects new Skynet 5 channel partner

  30th May 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space has selected Planet Communications Asia Public (PlanetComm) as its newest channel partner for Skynet 5 military satellite communication services, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Boeing reshuffle to streamline business

  19th June 2017

  As Boeing Defense continues to streamline its business, after recently stripping out a layer of top executives, the company looks forward to a promising European …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Bell pitches to international market

  19th June 2017

  Pitching itself further as an international military supplier, Bell Helicopter has highlighted imminent deliveries of its tiltrotor and attack helicopter offerings across Asia. The company will see …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Wing Loong II makes its mark

  20th June 2017

  As the presence of China’s Wing Loong II UAV at Paris Air Show continues to draw crowds, officials associated with the system were coy in …

• Defence Helicopter

  VEB to support Russian Helicopters project

  7th June 2017

  Rostec has announced that Vnesheconombank (VEB) will support a Russian Helicopters’ programme to design a light multipurpose helicopter. According to the company, an agreement for …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe: Northrop's RWR nears production

  9th June 2017

  The updated AN/APR-39D(V)2 radar warning receiver/electronic warfare management system from Northrop Grumman is starting production. The system would begin full rate production in July and …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT Europe 2017: Hensoldt sells upgraded optronic mast

  31st May 2017

  Maritime optronics systems company, Hensoldt, is present at UDT for the first time under its new identity. In February Airbus completed the divestment of its …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Boeing’s eagle eyes scan Australia

  12th June 2017

  Boeing has begun to plan for the likely early retirement of the Australian Army’s Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter by considering such a requirement as a …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Navy orders APKWS rockets

  14th June 2017

  BAE Systems has received a $180.5 million contract from the US Navy to continue producing Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  GECO Puma MSS achieves FOC

  14th June 2017

  Inzpire's GECO Mission Support System (MSS) in use with the UK Joint Helicopter Command’s Puma helicopter fleet has achieved Final Operating Capability (FOC). The GECO MSS …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aero, Sikorsky extend UH-60 cockpit contract

  9th June 2017

  Czech company Aero Vodochody and Sikorsky have extended their contract on Black Hawk helicopter cockpits, Aero Vodochody announced on 6 June. Under the new contract …

• Defence Helicopter

  Austria opts for Acehawk avionics

  8th June 2017

  Global Aviation Solutions (GAS) announced on 1 June that it will provide its Acehawk avionics systems for nine Austrian S-70A-42 Black Hawk helicopters. The contract, which …

• Defence Helicopter

  COTSEA to manufacture CH-47 components

  6th June 2017

  Germany's COTESA has been awarded a five-year contract by Boeing to manufacture key components for the global CH-47 Chinook helicopter fleet, Boeing announced on 1 June. …

• Naval Warfare

  Will Singapore inject Sea Venom?

  7th June 2017

  Singapore has expressed interest in a lightweight shore-based anti-ship missile system, with industry sources attending IMDEX and the Shangri-La Dialogue confirming that the island’s military was considering …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo, IMP re-forms Team Cormorant

  2nd June 2017

  Leonardo Helicopters and IMP Aerospace and Defence have re-established ‘Team Cormorant’ to target the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF's) upcoming CH-149 and AW101-519 modernisation and conversion …

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 ...