• Defence Helicopter

  NATO JCGVL delegates view CH-53K helicopter

  26th March 2015

  NATO Joint Capability Group Vertical Lift (JCGVL) delegates were among more than 24 guests who viewed the US Marine Corps' (USMC) CH-53K helicopter during an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DARPA awards Tern Phase 2 contracts

  26th March 2015

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded prime contracts for Phase 2 of its Tern joint programme with the US Navy's Office of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus introduces 800MHz mini Tetra base station

  25th March 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has introduced the TB3hp, an 800MHz version of its mini Tetra (terrestrial trunked radio) base station at Critical Communications Asia 2015, …

• Defence Helicopter

  US considers CH-47F sale to Netherlands

  25th March 2015

  The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of the Boeing CH-47F Chinook and associated equipment and support to the Netherlands for …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy christens new amphibious dock ship

  25th March 2015

  US Navy christened its new amphibious transport dock ship, John P. Murtha, at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on 21 March. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Afghan Air Force receives six MD 530F helicopters

  23rd March 2015

  The Afghan Air Force in Kabul has received six MD 530F Cayuse Warrior scout attack helicopters from MD Helicopters, the company announced on 20 March. …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: MMEA to double in size by 2022 says director general

  23rd March 2015

  The director general of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) revealed his organisation is set to double in size by 2022. In an interview with …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus, Huneed to produce MILDS components for Surion

  19th March 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space and Huneed Technologies signed a cooperation agreement to produce the components of the former's Missile Launch Detection System (MILDS) missile warning …

• Military Logistics

  Philippines receives first Airbus C295 aircraft

  19th March 2015

  The Philippines Air Force took delivery of the first Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space, the latter announced on 18 March. …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: MD showcases scout helicopter range

  19th March 2015

  Aircraft manufacturer MD Helicopters is exhibiting at LIMA for the first time, asit  pushes its revamped product line-up at the emerging scout/light attack helicopter requirements …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: Littoral Combat Ship programme only ‘slightly off track’

  19th March 2015

  Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC), responsible for constructing the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN’s) six 3,000t Second Generation Patrol Vessel - Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS), revealed …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Airbus Helicopters enters simulation centre JV

  18th March 2015

  Airbus Helicopters Malaysia has signed a joint venture agreement for its Malaysia-based helicopter simulation centre with Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC), the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus to move Skynet 5A satellite

  18th March 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space will move its Skynet 5A satellite to provide satellite communication over the eastern Asia-Pacific region, including Australia. The company announced the …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Boeing comes out fighting with AH-6i

  18th March 2015

  Boeing is squaring up to challengers in the light attack helicopter market by pointing to the key differentiators of the AH-6i that the company believes …

• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2015: Defence minister prioritises security operations in Sabah

  18th March 2015

  Speaking aboard the frigate KD Jebat on the eve of LIMA 2015, Malaysian defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein told Shephard, ‘I am concerned,’ …

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 ...