• Defence Helicopter

  ​German Tigers join the fight in Mali

  28th February 2017

  The four Tiger attack helicopters from Germany's Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 that will deploy to Mali at the end of March will each carry an …

• Military Logistics

  Indian Army wants bridges to cross

  8th March 2017

  The Indian Army wants to equip its engineers with a mechanically launched modular bridging system to support the movement of tanks and other heavy combat …

• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2017: Bell positions Viper-Venom combo

  1st March 2017

  The marketing focus for Bell Helicopter at Avalon Air Show 2017 was a major push of its AH-1Z Viper. With the Australian Army's Tiger Armed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Stratobus prepares for lift-off

  2nd March 2017

  Thales Alenia Space is on course to fly a full-scale prototype of its Stratobus high-altitude 'drone satellite' by 2020, with a sub-scale demonstrator expected to …

• Military Logistics

  More countries sign for NATO MRTT programme

  21st February 2017

  Three more countries have joined NATO's multinational tanker-transport programme, with Belgium, Germany and Norway signing a Declaration of Intent to join the initiative.The programme was …

• Defence Helicopter

  NGIFF interrogator for Italian Navy’s NH90s

  27th February 2017

  Leonardo will provide its New Generation Identification Friend or Foe (NGIFF) interrogator, called the SIT434/5, for the Italian Navy NH90 Nato Frigate Helicopters (NFHs) under …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aero India 2017: Bell pitches 429 to Indian Navy

  14th February 2017

  Bell has brought a navalised version of its 429 helicopter to Aero India in Bangalore to demonstrate its qualities to the Indian Navy (IN).The IN …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan orders more AW139s

  22nd February 2017

  Leonardo has received an order from the government of Pakistan to deliver additional AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters, the company announced on 20 February.The undisclosed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2017: NorthStar offers Australia an alternative

  1st March 2017

  NorthStar Aviation is offering the Australian Defence Force (ADF) an alternative solution to meet its requirement for a deployable light attack and reconnaissance helicopter for …

• Digital Battlespace

  Aero India 2017: India inducts first Embraer AEW

  15th February 2017

  A first Embraer ERJ 145-based airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the opening day of Aero …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo to work on RWUAS CCD Phase 2

  2nd March 2017

  Leonardo UK will work on the Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System, Capability Concept Demonstrator (RWUAS CCD) Phase 2 programme under a contract with the UK …

• Defence Notes

  PLA expanding marine corps

  13th March 2017

  China is planning a huge increase in the size of its marine corp, improving the capability of its amphibious and rapid reaction forces. Some media …

• Training

  RAAF looks to live-sim balance KC-30A

  23rd February 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) currently operates five Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from is base at Amberley near Brisbane. Two further …

• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2017: USMC aviation ramps up As-Pac capability

  1st March 2017

  The aviation wing of the US Marine Corps (USMC) has been enjoying unprecedented modernisation in the Asia-Pacific region, with the recent deployment of Lockheed Martin …

• Naval Warfare

  Azerbaijan receives border patrol ship

  3rd March 2017

  The Azerbaijani Coast Guard recently received its third Tufan-class (Saar 82) patrol ship, designed by Israel Shipyards and built at the Türkan shipbuilding and maintenance …

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 ...