• Defence Notes

  ADAS: Philippines president sets out military priorities

  18th July 2014

  The Philippines current bout of military modernisation is meant to improve the country’s disaster response and territorial defence, and should be viewed in that light …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters embarks on Clean Sky 2 programme

  17th July 2014

  Airbus Helicopters will lead the design of a large-scale compound rotorcraft demonstrator dubbed LifeRCraft (Low Impact Fast & Efficient RotorCraft) as part of Europe’s Clean …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough: Interest grows in APKWS

  17th July 2014

  BAE Systems plans to expand its APKWS market into the US Army and US Navy rotary and fixed wing fleets as well as overseas to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough: AW149 ready for global market

  17th July 2014

  AgustaWestland is confident its AW149 multi-role helicopter is ready for the international market, after announcing Italian military certification of the platform during the Farnborough International …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough: Selex ES advances BriteCloud decoy

  17th July 2014

  Selex ES has announced imminent field trials of its BriteCloud Expendable Active Decoy (EAD) technology at the Farnborough International Airshow this week. Flight tests of …

• Naval Warfare

  ADAS: Manila boosts maritime defences

  17th July 2014

  The Philippines has established a National Coast Watch System (NCWS) as part of its 18-year Capability Upgrade Program (CUP) aimed at defeating domestic rebels and …

• Land Warfare

  ADAS: Saab looks to fill Philippine air defence requirements

  17th July 2014

  As part of its presence at ADAS 2014, Saab is showing the capabilities of its RBS 70 air defence system, which it hopes will suit …

• Defence Helicopter

  AgustaWestland announces new orders from Farnborough

  16th July 2014

  AgustaWestland has kicked off the Farnborough International Airshow with the signing of a number of new contracts with military and civil customers. The Bangladesh Air …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough: AgustaWestland awarded FASGW integration contract

  16th July 2014

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a £90 million contract to AgustaWestland to integrate the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) onto the Royal …

• Military Logistics

  Farnborough: A400M refuelled in flight by RAF A330 MRTT

  16th July 2014

  Airbus Defence & Space has completed its first refuelling operation between a company-owned A400M and a UK RAF Voyager variant of the A330 Multi-Role Tanker …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough: Tornado will go out in style

  16th July 2014

  UK RAF Tornado aircraft will receive further upgrade packages to provide additional capabilities up until their scheduled retirement in 2019, it has been confirmed. Speaking …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough: Aero Sekur advances helicopter survivability range

  16th July 2014

  Aero Sekur has used the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) to launch a new lightweight crash-worthy fuel tank, and showcase its range of emergency flotation and …

• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk2 helicopters complete Exercise Deep Blue

  15th July 2014

  Nine Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopters have taken part in Exercise Deep Blue in the Atlantic Ocean, simulating their anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol and casualty …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough: Airbus chooses Scorpion (video)

  15th July 2014

  The Thales Scorpion helmet mounted sight and display (HMSD) system has been selected by Airbus Helicopters for integration with its future helicopter weapons systems, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough: Sentinel advances to 2018

  15th July 2014

  Raytheon has outlined its planned investment in the UK RAF’s Sentinel R1 long-range surveillance aircraft following Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement yesterday to extend its …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow On

  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 - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System - AHTS (TH-57 Replacement)

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

• 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 - 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 - multirole

  H145M [Spain]

  Programme Background  In May 2025, Spain announced the National Helicopter Plan as part of the country's wider effort to rearm in response to American pressure. ...

• 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 ...

• Model 301 Fire Attack

  The Model 301 is a belly tank/refill hose system for Airbus Helicopters AS365-series helicopters.

• 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

  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 ...

• Model 316 Fire Attack

  The Model 316 is a belly tank/refill hose system for Airbus Helicopters H225 and AS332 L-series helicopters.

• AC67 Airbus Helicopters H135 interior

  Bucher has developed the AC67 medical interior for the Airbus Helicopters H135 in cooperation with ADAC Luftrettung.The lightweight, modular design features a floor with integrated ...

• 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 ...

• H160

  Airbus Helicopters unveiled a full-scale model of the H160 medium twin rotorcraft on 3 March 2015 at Heli-Expo. The utility helicopter, the first to be ...