• Training

  SEA delivers EC135 simulator

  14th March 2017

  SEA has delivered helicopter simulator technology to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity as part of work to boost public engagement with the charity, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Iranian-built helicopter prototype unveiled

  8th March 2017

  A prototype of the first Saba-248 utility helicopter, reportedly designed and manufactured in Iran, has been unveiled by the country's defence minister.

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Heli-Expo 2017: 6XX specs revealed (video)

  8th March 2017

  MD Helicopters has revealed the target specifications of its new 6XX helicopter, which the company hopes to be able to certify within the next two …

• Training

  Frasca simulator for RCAF training

  8th March 2017

  A Frasca International Flight Training Device (FTD) for the Bell CH-139 helicopter will be supplied to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) under an order …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2017: New TrakkaBeam orders

  8th March 2017

  Trakka Systems has announced two new customers for its TrakkaBeam A800 tactical searchlight: the Italian Navy and the German DRF Luftrettung air rescue service. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  PGZ, Leonardo sign cooperation agreement

  7th March 2017

  Leonardo has signed a cooperation agreement with Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) targeting the Polish armed forces' helicopter requirements.The agreement covers potential industrial cooperation around production, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2017: Cobham launches UK training academy

  6th March 2017

  As exhibitors undergo final preparations for Heli-Expo 2017, Cobham announced the launch of its helicopter training academy in Basingstoke, UK. The company has been delivering …

• Military Logistics

  Fokker awarded Dutch support contract

  6th March 2017

  GKN Aerospace's Fokker will support aircraft, helicopters and multiple support systems of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) under a contract announced on 6 March.The …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Heli-Expo 2017: UAV camera systems offered to helicopter market

  6th March 2017

  Enstrom Helicopters has partnered with aerial imagery provider Vertivue to promote the new Skybox stabilised camera system on the 480B helicopter at Heli-Expo 2017.The Skybox …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing unveils MH-139 helicopter

  6th March 2017

  Boeing's bid for the US Air Force's UH-1N Replacement Program will be based on the Leonardo Helicopters AW139, with the company unveiling its MH-139 helicopter …

• Digital Battlespace

  Estonia, Spain join EU SatCom Market

  3rd March 2017

  Spain and Estonia have joined the European Defence Agency's (EDA's) EU SatCom Market project, becoming the 21st and 22nd members to join the initiative, the …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon 2017: RAAF announces MRTT FOC and upgrade

  2nd March 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) announced at the Avalon Air Show on 2 March that its fleet of Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters considers Polish helo options

  24th February 2017

  After the Polish government cancelled its original plan to acquire the H225M Caracal helicopter, Warsaw has launched new negotiations for the purchase of 16 multi-role …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan extends Airbus H225 support

  21st February 2017

  Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) has extended Airbus Helicopters' performance-based logistics (PBL) contract for its H225 helicopter fleet for the next five years, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aero India 2017: Airbus remains optimistic in India

  20th February 2017

  Although Airbus Helicopters has every reason to feel aggrieved over the protracted and chaotic nature of Indian military acquisitions – just consider the twice-aborted Reconnaissance …

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 ...