• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A: AVX confident about JMR/FVL

  5th May 2014

  AVX Aircraft has revealed more details about the Coaxial Compound Helicopter (CCH) it is developing for the US Department of Defense’s Joint Multirole (JMR) next-generation …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A: First armed 407s delivered to UAE

  5th May 2014

  The UAE’s fledgling Joint Aviation Command (JAC) has taken delivery of its first two 407MRH light attack helicopters modified by NorthStar Aviation, it has been …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky continues to next stage of CH-53K testing

  2nd May 2014

  The CH-53K heavy lift helicopter programme continues to progress, with the aircraft’s seven main rotor blades and four tail rotor blades attached for the first …

• Defence Helicopter

  AH-6i helicopter flies in production configuration

  2nd May 2014

  The AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter in development with Boeing has taken its first flight in production configuration, the company announced on 1 May. The flight …

• Defence Helicopter

  AW completes autorotation tests for AW609 tiltrotor

  1st May 2014

  AgustaWestland has successfully completed autorotation trials for its AW609 tiltrotor programme at the Arlington facility in Texas, it has been announced. The tests were carried …

• Defence Helicopter

  Northrop Grumman to supply FlightPro Gen III for H-1 programme

  28th April 2014

  Northrop Grumman will deliver FlightPro Gen III mission computers for H-1 helicopter programme flight tests, system integration laboratories and training. The company has received a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aerotec eyes Moroccan with Gazelle upgrade

  28th April 2014

  French company Aerotec Group unveiled an upgraded SA341F Gazelle with a new arrangement of modern weapons at the Marrakesh Air Show. With the Royal Moroccan …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Industry stands by for next ASTRAEA phase

  28th April 2014

  Industry bids are being prepared for the next phase of a UK effort to ease the validation and certification of UAS in national airspace, an …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus pushes on with airborne data transfer solution

  25th April 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space has started the second development stage of its Dazzle laser beam data transferral system following an initial phase that exceeded expectations, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Turkish Army inducts first nine T-129As

  25th April 2014

  The Turkish Army has formally taken delivery of its first nine T-129A attack helicopters, as Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) completes the early-delivery (EDH) phase of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Experts highlight increased cyber threat over Crimea

  25th April 2014

  Territorial disputes between Russian and Ukraine over Crimea have led to an increase in cyber terrorism in the region and sparked debate on the ownership …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus launches Zephyr 8 project

  25th April 2014

  Airbus Defence and Space announced on 23 April that it had launched the Zephyr 8 programme to develop the next generation of the world record …

• Military Logistics

  General Dynamics awarded US Navy sealift contract

  24th April 2014

  General Dynamics American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) will continue to operate and maintain seven large, medium-speed, roll-on / roll-off ships (LMSR) for the Military Sealift Command …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky reports sales and profit growth

  24th April 2014

  Increased international and commercial sales have led to overall sales growth for Sikorsky after declining revenues for the division had a negative impact on parent …

• Defence Helicopter

  Optionally Piloted Black Hawk takes off

  23rd April 2014

  The Optionally Piloted Black Hawk (OPBH) demonstrator currently in development between Sikorsky and the US Army has completed a successful first flight at Sikorsky’s Development …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 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 ...