• Defence Helicopter

  RAN commissions HMAS Canberra

  28th November 2014

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has commissioned its first Landing Helicopter Dock, HMAS Canberra, in a ceremony held at Garden Island, Sydney, marking the vessel’s …

• Defence Helicopter

  USAF designates Combat Rescue Helicopter HH-60W

  28th November 2014

  The US Air Force has designated the Combat Rescue Helicopter as the HH-60W, it was announced on 25 November. The aircraft will be referred to …

• Defence Helicopter

  RAF receives first A400M at RAF Brize Norton

  28th November 2014

  The first A400M airlifter for the Royal Air Force (RAF) has been officially delivered by Airbus Defence and Space at a ceremony at RAF Brize …

• Defence Helicopter

  EC645 T2 Light Utility Helicopter takes flight

  27th November 2014

  The Airbus Helicopters EC645 T2 Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has completed its first flight at the company’s Donauwörth location in Bavaria. The EC645 T2 is …

• Defence Helicopter

  The Nepalese Army takes delivery of new Dhruv ALH

  27th November 2014

  The Nepali Army took delivery of a Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) built by Hindustan Aeronautics on 25 November, marking the latest success for India’s …

• Digital Battlespace

  Selex ES, Airbus team for UK Mode 5 IFF study

  26th November 2014

  A contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will see Selex ES conduct a 12 month platform integration study into the introduction of a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rolls-Royce awarded V-22 engine support contract

  26th November 2014

  Rolls-Royce will provide aftermarket engine support for the V-22 Osprey helicopters in use with the US Air Force and US Marine Corps under a two-year …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus Defence and Space trials new deployable comms

  26th November 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) has trialled its Deployable Communication Information System (DCIS) in Poland at the Joint Forces Training Centre in Bydgoszcz in Poland, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Ninth RAN LHD landing craft launched

  25th November 2014

  The ninth Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Landing Craft (LLC) to be constructed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) by Navantia was launched on 24 November, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus D&S awarded USAF Eagle Vision contract

  25th November 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) will perform work on the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) five Eagle Vision stations to reduce footprint and antenna dish size, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Kaman signs Peru SH-2G Super Seasprite contract

  24th November 2014

  Kaman will remanufacture and upgrade four Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters for the Peruvian Navy under a contract with programme lead, General Dynamics Canada, announced …

• Military Logistics

  France orders Airbus A330 MRTT refuelling aircraft

  21st November 2014

  The French DGA has confirmed an order for 12 A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) on 20 November. The contract …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus D&S launches border security satellite system

  21st November 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) has developed a new alternative to traditional terrestrial communications transmission for remote border security sensor sites, with the launch of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales to upgrade French military IFF transponders

  20th November 2014

  Thales is to upgrade the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders in use on a number of air and sea platforms of the French armed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands examines SOF Air concept

  19th November 2014

  The Netherlands Defence Helicopter Command (DHC) has begun working up plans to establish a Special Operations Forces (SOF) Air capability, officials have revealed to Shephard. …

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 ...