• Training

  CAE wins new in defence contracts

  18th January 2017

  CAE has detailed a number of new contracts from defence customers in France, Spain and the US worth a combined CAD$175 million.  The agreements include …

• Defence Helicopter

  AMPS delivered to US Army

  18th January 2017

  BIRD Aerosystems has delivered its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) to the US Army, the company announced on 16 January.Developed in cooperation with Airbus Defence …

• Military Logistics

  C295W envelope keeps expanding

  18th January 2017

  A new demonstration carried out by Airbus Defence and Space has seen the C295W transport and tanker conduct air-to-air refuelling contacts with an H225M Caracal helicopter. …

• Defence Helicopter

  RAN details aviation trials for 2017

  18th January 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials unit is scheduled to conduct seven first of class flight trials before September 2017, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  First shipborne Ka-226T rolled out

  17th January 2017

  Russian Helicopters has revealed that the first Kamov Ka-226T helicopter modified for shipborne-use has rolled out from the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise. Ordered by Russia’s …

• Defence Helicopter

  Italian UH-90 helicopters reach milestone

  17th January 2017

  The UH-90 of the Italian Army have achieved 3,000 flying hours in Afghanistan, NH Industries announced on 16 January. The UH-90 is the tactical transport …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed awarded US Navy EW development contract

  17th January 2017

  Lockheed Martin has received a development contract from the US Navy for enhanced electronic warfare surveillance and countermeasure capabilities against anti-ship missile (ASM) threats, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Elbit Systems receives BrightNite order

  17th January 2017

  Elbit Systems will supply its multi spectral BrightNite system to an unnamed NATO air force, the company announced on 17 January. The 30 month contract …

• Defence Helicopter

  Italy orders Aermacchi M-345 trainer aircraft

  17th January 2017

  A contract announced on 13 January will see Leonardo deliver an initial batch of five Aermacchi M-345 trainer aircraft to the Italian Ministry of Defence. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Crowsnest to provide eyes to Merlins

  16th January 2017

  The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that manufacturing of the Crowsnest airborne surveillance system for its fleet of 30 Merlin Mk2s can now begin, following the …

• Defence Helicopter

  What to expect for defence in 2017 (video)

  16th January 2017

  Shephard's editorial team has gazed into the crystal ball to see what the next 12 months might bring for the defence and aerospace community. Geopolitics and …

• Defence Helicopter

  Raytheon Stinger targets new Apaches

  16th January 2017

  Both Qatar and India have selected the Raytheon Stinger air-to-air missile system for their new Apache AH-64E aircraft, Shephard has confirmed. Under the multi-nation contract …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters co-production with China and India

  15th January 2017

  It is anticipated that China and India are set to expand their industrial cooperation with Russian Helicopters by organising co-production of new models. A framework …

• Defence Helicopter

  Germany to deploy Tiger and NH90s to Mali

  13th January 2017

  The German government on 11 January approved the deployment of four Tiger attack and four NH90 medical evacuation helicopters to Mali to replace the Royal …

• Defence Helicopter

  AN/AES-1 ALMDS reaches IOC

  13th January 2017

  Initial Operational Capability (IOC) has been reached for the US Navy’s AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), system manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced on 12 January. …

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 ...