• Defence Helicopter

  French NH90 Caiman attains initial combat capability

  17th March 2015

  The French Navy's NH90 Caiman anti-submarine warfare helicopter has achieved initial combat capability after being qualified to operate the MU90 lightweight torpedo, the navy announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  AgustaWestland Aberdeen supply centre officially opens

  17th March 2015

  AgustaWestland has officially marked the opening of its new Regional Supply Centre in Aberdeen, Scotland, the company announced on 16 March. The facility has been …

• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands beefs up its Apaches

  17th March 2015

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has developed a new set of modifications and operational techniques to turn its AH-64D Apaches into an ISTAR platform …

• Military Logistics

  Clermont-Ferrand workshop certified for A400M maintenance

  16th March 2015

  The AIA CF industrial aerospace workshop in Clermont-Ferrand, France, was certified for base and on-line maintenance of the Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft on 11 March. …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Airbus Helicopters selected for Korean LCH, LAH programme

  16th March 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has been selected to team with Korea Aerospace Industries for the development of South Korea’s Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter …

• Defence Helicopter

  France receives two upgraded AS532 Cougars

  16th March 2015

  The French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) took delivery of two upgraded AS532 Cougar helicopters for French Army Aviation on 13 March from Airbus Helicopters. …

• Defence Helicopter

  United Technologies explores strategic options for Sikorsky

  16th March 2015

  United Technologies' board of directors has authorised the review of strategic alternatives for its Sikorsky Aircraft business, including a possible spin-off, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Bell aims military and civil helicopters at Malaysia

  16th March 2015

  Bell Helicopter has two static exhibits at LIMA this year – a UH-1Y and a 429 WLG. The former belongs to the United States Marine …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: MBDA pushes Sea Venom and CAMM

  15th March 2015

  The Malaysian Armed Forces currently field a number of MBDA weapon systems and, based on these previous successes, the European missile house is exhibiting a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus to supply satellite airtime to UK

  13th March 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space will supply satellite airtime for air and ground tracking of ground assets and helicopters on a worldwide basis to the UK …

• Defence Helicopter

  Saphir 15 development agreement signed

  13th March 2015

  Microturbo has signed a memorandum with Rostec's Russian Helicopters and Technodinamika to jointly develop and manufacture a new Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) called Saphir 15. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Upgraded RAF Pumas begin Afghan deployment

  13th March 2015

  The Royal Air Force’s upgraded Puma HC Mk2 medium helicopter has achieved initial operating capability (IOC), paving the way for three to be deployed to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales, Airbus to design French SIGINT system

  13th March 2015

  Thales and Airbus Defence and Space have been selected to design and develop the French future military spaced-based signals intelligence (SIGINT) system, as announced by …

• Land Warfare

  Taiwan seeks 120 M1A1 Abrams tanks from US

  13th March 2015

  Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has formally requested 120 second-hand General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) M1A1 Abrams MBTs from the US. This figure is …

• Military Logistics

  LIMA 2015: Debut for RMAF A400M

  13th March 2015

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF’s) first A400M transport aircraft, known as MSN22, will be on display at LIMA 2015. The aircraft was officially handed …

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 ...