• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus launches RedKite camera

  1st June 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has launched RedKite, a new short-wave infrared technology (SWIR) camera, designed to give a clear view in spite of mist, fog …

• Defence Helicopter

  BAE completes CIRCM bridge

  1st June 2015

  BAE Systems has completed its technology development bridge programme for the US Army's Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) programme. CIRCM is a modular laser-based aircraft protection …

• Land Warfare

  Poland plans $42bn modernisation

  1st June 2015

  Poland plans to invest up to 150 billion zlotys ($42 billion) to modernise its armed forces over the next 10 years. The planned volume of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell announces 407GXP, 407GT sales

  29th May 2015

  The first Bell 407GXP helicopter has been sold in Panama and is scheduled to be delivered in July 2015 for corporate and VIP transport to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Chinook simulators ready at Petawawa

  29th May 2015

  A suite of CH-147F Chinook simulators and training devices at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa have completed on-site acceptance testing and are ready for use by …

• Military Logistics

  India clears C295 buy

  28th May 2015

  India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft.The new aircraft will replace …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helis desire Indian Ka-226T deal

  28th May 2015

  Russian Helicopters has reported that the Indian Defence Acquisition Council has approved several non-tender deals for the armed forces, including unofficial selection of Russian Helicopters' …

• Land Warfare

  Airbus develops Multirole Jammer protection system

  27th May 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has developed a new Multirole Jammer system designed to monitor the signal spectrum and jam tactical communications to counter the threat …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing set for AH-6i production

  27th May 2015

  Boeing will begin production of its AH-6i light attack helicopter by December 2015, according to company officials.  The company will open the production line at …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky S-97 Raider completes first flight

  26th May 2015

  The Sikorsky S-97 Raider prototype helicopter has completed its first flight, Sikorsky Aircraft announced on 22 May. The flight took place at Sikorsky's Development Flight …

• Defence Helicopter

  HAL conducts flight trials for ALH's EASA certification

  26th May 2015

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) recently conducted noise measurement flight trials of the Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv helicopter for European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Microflown shows off 3D acoustic sensors

  26th May 2015

  First-time exhibitors Microflown Maritime displayed a range of 3D acoustic situational awareness systems suited for the defence and security market at this year’s IMDEX Asia. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales selected for UK's Merlin airborne surveillance helicopters

  26th May 2015

  The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) and prime contractor Lockheed Martin have selected the Thales Searchwater radar and Cerberus mission system for the Royal Navy’s …

• Military Logistics

  Honeywell to supply engines for Indonesian NC212 aircraft

  25th May 2015

  Honeywell is supplying 11 TPE331 turboprop engines to PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for use on domestically-built Indonesian military transport aircraft. The engines will be fitted …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters tests Mi-171A2 flying lab

  22nd May 2015

  Russian Helicopters has completed the second phase of preliminary flight tests of its Mi-171A2 flying laboratory, it announced on 21 May. In total, 67 ground …

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 ...