• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk4 upgrades progress

  23rd November 2016

  The first AW101 Merlin Mk4 upgraded for the Royal Navy by Leonardo-Finmeccanica has completed its maiden flight, the company announced on 21 November. Leonardo is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters collaborates with IHSRC

  22nd November 2016

  Russian-produced helicopters operating in Iran will be supported by Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC) under a new agreement with Russian Helicopters announced on …

• Military Logistics

  Spain gets first A400M

  22nd November 2016

  Spain has taken delivery of its first A400M airlifter in a ceremony at the A400M final assembly line in Seville, Airbus Defence and Space announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rockwell to support US CH-47F CAAS

  21st November 2016

  Rockwell Collins has won a follow-on service and support contract for its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) on the US Army’s CH-47F helicopter fleet. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghanistan to shift to US-built helicopters

  21st November 2016

  The Afghan Air Force (AAF), under guidance and funding from the US Department of Defense (DoD), will shift from Russian-built helicopters to ones manufactured in …

• Defence Helicopter

  Transition ease is key to H225M win

  19th November 2016

  Singapore’s selection of the Airbus Helicopters H225M could have come down to the fact that it offers a quick and smooth transition for the Republic …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell Helicopter signs MoU with IAR-Ghimbav Brasov

  17th November 2016

  A Memorandum of Understanding signed between Bell Helicopter and Romania’s IAR-Ghimbav Brasov Group will see the companies engage on potential collaboration on the AH-1Z Viper …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aurora working on unmanned Huey technology

  15th November 2016

  Aurora Flight Sciences’ Tactical Autonomous Aerial Logistics System (TALOS) is set to be integrated on a UH-1H helicopter, the company announced on 10 November. The …

• Military Logistics

  A400M in AAR contact demo flight

  15th November 2016

  The A400M airlifter has demonstrated air-to-air refuelling contacts with another A400M, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 14 November. Two demonstration flights were carried out …

• Defence Helicopter

  RSAF Chinook training to occur in Australia

  14th November 2016

  Singapore is building new infrastructure to support the deployment of Boeing CH-47 Chinooks to Australia, with work due to start before year’s end and due …

• Digital Battlespace

  TRS-4D radar finishes factory acceptance test

  14th November 2016

  Factory acceptance testing for the TRS-4D naval radar built for the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 21 has been completed, clearing the way for …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK awards Maritime Network Evolution contract

  11th November 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space will upgrade the communications networks on Royal Navy vessels under a £36 million contract announced on 8 November. The four-year Maritime …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zhuhai 2016: Big balloons hold sway

  11th November 2016

  While most attendees at last week’s Zhuhai Air Show were focused on sexy weaponry designed to turn heaven into hell, there were also big balloons …

• Defence Notes

  India clears military projects worth billions

  10th November 2016

  The Indian defence ministry has cleared projects worth $12.4 billion (Rs 82,117 crore) to buy fighter aircraft, tanks, rocket systems, helicopters and UAVs, as the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Analysis: Brazilian beat to rumble on (Part 1)

  10th November 2016

  The growth of Brazilian helicopter manufacturer Helibras has been marred by political uncertainty which, in turn, has impacted military orders of aircraft and delivery schedules. Nevertheless, sale prospects with …

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 ...

• 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 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 ...

• 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 ...