• Defence Notes

  Jury out on Qatari F-35 deal but UK links strengthen

  15th October 2020

  A reported request to the US government from Qatar for F-35 aircraft has caused pushback from regional actors but the UK has consolidated military ties with Doha.

• Military Logistics

  NSPA orders first optional follow-on A330 MRTT

  28th September 2020

  Airbus announced on 28 September that it has received a firm order for another A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from the NATO Support & …

• Air Warfare

  RCAF receives first Kingfisher

  29th September 2020

  The first CC-295 for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) programme arrived at Canadian Forces Base Comox on …

• Military Logistics

  Indonesian Air Force awaits NC212i aircraft

  22nd September 2020

  PT Dirgantara Indonesia is  manufacturing nine NC212i light military transport aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU). The value of the contract and timeframe for …

• Military Logistics

  Saab receives hospital care in Australia

  1st October 2020

  Saab Australia has been selected to deliver deployable healthcare facilities and equipment to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for operational use, Canberra announced on 24 September.The …

• Defence Helicopter

  French Navy H160s to include Safran EO system

  9th September 2020

  The Euroflir 410 EO system from Safran Electronics & Defense will equip Airbus H160 helicopters operated by the French Navy. Babcock France selected the Euroflir system …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo secures lucrative AW169M order from Austria

  25th September 2020

  Leonardo has beaten off stiff competition from Airbus and Bell to win a €300 million ($349 million) contract for 18 AW169M multirole helicopters from Austria. …

• Digital Battlespace

  India to order two Phalcon AWACS

  7th September 2020

  As military tensions with China in eastern Ladakh show no sign of easing, India is looking to accelerate its long-delayed acquisition of two Phalcon ELW-2090 …

• Air Warfare

  Super Tucanos touch down in the Philippines

  22nd September 2020

  The first batch of long-awaited Embraer A-29B Super Tucano light attack aircraft began touching down in the Philippines on 19 September after completing an arduous multi-stop journey …

• Military Logistics

  Belgium builds hangar for A400Ms

  28th August 2020

  A new hangar to accommodate Airbus A400M military transport aircraft is being built at Melsbroek Air Base near Brussels, Belgium. Laying the foundation stone on 24 …

• Military Logistics

  Philippines pursues new transport aircraft

  12th September 2020

  The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is looking to purchase five Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft to bolster its inadequate transport fleet, according to the head …

• Air Warfare

  Canadian FWSAR programme progresses

  13th August 2020

  The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has accepted its second and third CC-295 aircraft in Spain under its  Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) programme. …

• Special Operations

  US Army picks Airbus to modernise special operations aircraft

  10th August 2020

  Airbus DS Military Aircraft Inc has received a maximum $10 million contract for sustainment and modernisation of five C-212-200 aircraft operated by US Army Special Operations …

• Military Logistics

  Second A330 MRTT arrives at main base

  12th August 2020

  The second A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the NATO Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) has been delivered to its main operating base in Eindhoven on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus delays UK Zephyr HAPS flight tests

  7th August 2020

  COVID-19 restrictions have forced Airbus Defence and Space to postpone Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) flight trials, which were originally scheduled for summer …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Data links

  Data links | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  Programme Background At IDEX 2025, two Airbus representatives shared insights into a possible offer from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Programme Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both ...

• Transport

  A400M (Kazakhstan)

  Programme Background In September 2021, it was announced that Kazakhstan ordered two Airbus A400M aircraft. According to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, ‘The A400M ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Loyal Wingman (Forecast) [Germany]

  Programme Background Need Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, stated in July 2024 that the "German Air Force has expressed a clear need for ...

• 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT [Singapore]

  In February 2020, Airbus and the Singapore government announced an agreement to collaborate on the development of an A330 Smart Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). One Singaporean ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [Spain]

  Programme Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France, and Italy negotiated and agreed, in collaboration ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UH-72 Logistics Connector (LC)

  The UH-72 Logistics Connector (LC) is an uncrewed version of Airbus' UH-72B crewed helicopter, a derivative of the H145.  In mid-May 2024, Airbus announced that the UH-72B had ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H175M

  The Airbus H175M is the military variant of the H175, a seven-tonne class aircraft powered by twin PT6C 67E engines. The civilian variants produced by Airbus ...

• 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 ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAS

  The Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAV, or cargo copter, is a rotary-wing cargo-carrying platform that Airbus is developing. The platform has yet to be formally named. The ...

• Transport

  C295

  The C295 is the largest member of Airbus Defence and Space’s family of medium tactical airlifters and surveillance aircraft. It is a development of the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Wingman

  The Wingman is an Airbus concept drone unveiled at ILA Berlin in June 2024. The loyal wingman-type fixed-wing UAV is designed to accompany crewed fighters, ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor

  Flexrotor is a VTOL small tactical UAS manufactured by Aerovel. In a typical operational configuration, it has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than ...

• 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. ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A400M Training

  Thales is the principal training provider for the Airbus A400M with a contract to provide FFSs and flat-panel trainers. Four A400M FFS and two flat-panel ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bo 105

  The Bo 105 is a twin-engine, multipurpose, light helicopter that was developed in 1963-68. Approximately 37% of the more than 1,400 aircraft built before production ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Cargo Hold Trainer - Enhanced

  Rheinmetall provides technology in rear crew training aids for air transport platforms. This includes the Load Master Work Station Trainer (LMWST) and Cargo Hold Trainer ...