• Defence Helicopter

  Ch-47 Rear Crew Trainer makes progress

  27th June 2016

  Bluedrop’s fuselage has been integrated with Boeing’s cockpit training simulator system, marking a major milestone in the development of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter Rear Crew …

• Defence Helicopter

  CH-53K King Stallion lifts 27,000lbs

  27th June 2016

  Sikorsky’s CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter has successfully completed an external lift of a 27,000lbs payload at the company's Development Flight Test Center in …

• Defence Helicopter

  MD 530F shipment arrives in Kabul

  27th June 2016

  A shipment of five additional rotorcraft from MD Helicopters arrived in the Afghan capital on 17 June.  The MD 530F Cayuse Warrior scout helicopters will …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky accepts T70 prototype

  24th June 2016

  Sikorsky has accepted the first T70 prototype helicopter from PZL Mielec as the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP) gets underway The Turkish government plans to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mi-38 engines enter production in Russia

  24th June 2016

  Russia has brought production of engines for the Mi-38 helicopter in-country, with the United Engine Corporation (UEC) starting serial production of new TV7-117V engines developed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell V-280 gets elastomeric rotor bearings

  24th June 2016

  Lord Corporation has delivered the first ship-set of elastomeric rotor bearings to Bell Helicopter for the V-280 Valor Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) programme, it …

• Training

  Airbus D&S orders MRTT FFS

  24th June 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract with Indra for the development and supply of a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for the A330 Multi Role …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese V750 grows arms

  24th June 2016

  China’s military UAV efforts continue to advance, with the most recent revelation surrounding an armed version of the V750 rotary-winged platform. Photos on the Chinese …

• Training

  Bluedrop CH-148 training extended

  24th June 2016

  Bluedrop Training and Simulation has been awarded a $13 million contract by Sikorsky to provide training courseware and instructors for pilots and maintainers learning to …

• Defence Helicopter

  T129 hot and high in Pakistan

  24th June 2016

  Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has sent its T129 ATAK advanced attack and reconnaissance helicopter to Pakistan, at the request of the Pakistan Army Aviation Command …

• Training

  HMAS Adelaide completes Exercise SEA EXPLORER

  23rd June 2016

  The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Adelaide has successfully completed Exercise Sea Explorer off the North Queensland coast, the service announced on 21 June. The Royal …

• Defence Helicopter

  ZedaSoft to provide Apache simulator

  23rd June 2016

  ZedaSoft has received a contract to provide ZedaSoft simulation hardware products and a Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopter simulator running its CBA for Simulation software …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing, Tata construct JV facility in Hyderabad

  22nd June 2016

  Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems have started the construction of a facility in Hyderabad for their joint venture (JV) Tata Boeing Aerospace (TBAL), it was …

• Defence Helicopter

  LORD receives AVCS development contract from KAI

  22nd June 2016

  LORD has received an Active Vibration Control System (AVCS) development contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for Light Civilian Helicopter (LCH) and its variants, it …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Navy delivers first three MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to Denmark

  22nd June 2016

  The US Navy has made the delivery of first three MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to Denmark, it was announced on 15 June. The helicopter will be …

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]

  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 Puma ...

• 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 - multirole

  H135 [UK]

  Programme Background Airbus Helicopters UK announced on 2 February 2022 that it has won an order to provide five additional H135 twin-engine helicopters for the ...

• 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 - multirole

  H145M [Ireland]

  Background On 30 December 2024 Ireland announced a contract with Airbus for four new H145M helicopters to replace the Air Corps existing fleet of light ...

• 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 [Canada]

  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 are ...

• 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. ...

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 ...