• Digital Battlespace

  India to order two Phalcon AWACS

  7th September 2020

  As military tensions with China in eastern Ladakh show no sign of easing, India is looking to accelerate its long-delayed acquisition of two Phalcon ELW-2090 …

• Military Logistics

  Philippines pursues new transport aircraft

  12th September 2020

  The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is looking to purchase five Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft to bolster its inadequate transport fleet, according to the head …

• Military Logistics

  Belgium builds hangar for A400Ms

  28th August 2020

  A new hangar to accommodate Airbus A400M military transport aircraft is being built at Melsbroek Air Base near Brussels, Belgium. Laying the foundation stone on 24 …

• Air Warfare

  Canadian FWSAR programme progresses

  13th August 2020

  The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has accepted its second and third CC-295 aircraft in Spain under its  Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) programme. …

• Military Logistics

  Second A330 MRTT arrives at main base

  12th August 2020

  The second A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the NATO Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) has been delivered to its main operating base in Eindhoven on …

• Special Operations

  US Army picks Airbus to modernise special operations aircraft

  10th August 2020

  Airbus DS Military Aircraft Inc has received a maximum $10 million contract for sustainment and modernisation of five C-212-200 aircraft operated by US Army Special Operations …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus delays UK Zephyr HAPS flight tests

  7th August 2020

  COVID-19 restrictions have forced Airbus Defence and Space to postpone Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) flight trials, which were originally scheduled for summer …

• Training

  Indian homegrown basic trainers cleared for take-off

  13th August 2020

  India is relying on homegrown expertise to produce its HTT-40 aircraft to address basic training of Indian Air Force (IAF) rookie pilots.  With prototypes ready …

• Air Warfare

  Indra confirms equal status with Airbus and Dassault on NGWS/FCAS

  28th July 2020

  Indra has confirmed that it is participating in the New Generation Weapon System/Future Combat Air System (NGWS/FCAS) Joint Concept Study as the national co-ordinator for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus VSR700 prototype completes first autonomous free flight

  28th July 2020

  The prototype of the VSR700 UAS has carried out its first free flight, manufacturer Airbus Helicopters announced on 28 July. The geofenced VSR700 performed a ten-minute …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus DS gains Skynet 6A contract

  22nd July 2020

  The UK MoD on 19 July confirmed a £500 million ($637.34 million) contract with Airbus Defence and Space (DS) for the Skynet 6A SATCOM platform. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heron TP for Germany takes to the skies

  27th July 2020

  The Israeli MoD on 26 July claimed a ‘significant milestone’ in the German programme to lease and operate the Heron TP UAS, when the first …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus to make more Lakotas for US Army​​

  24th July 2020

  Airbus Helicopters Inc (AHI) has received a $74 million contract modification from the US Army to produce 15 UH-72A Lakota helicopters, with the option for …

• Digital Battlespace

  TCG-HUNTR bridges data links in German Air Force exercise

  29th July 2020

  The fourth annual Timber Express tactical data link (TDL) exercise, held last month by the German Air Force, included a successful demonstration of the TCG-HUNTR …

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia bewilders yet again with Typhoon request

  27th July 2020

  Indonesia continues to surprise in its aircraft acquisition efforts. Earlier this month it was the proposed purchase of eight Bell-Boeing MV-22B Ospreys that raised eyebrows, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Data links

  Data links | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• 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 - 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 UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain and Colombia were jointly developing a MALE UAV to meet the ISR requirements of both countries’ ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | VSR-700: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  The French Navy required a ship-based rotary-wing UAV as part of its Navy Aerial Drone System programme, known in French as Systèmes de Drone Aérien de la ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | VSR-700: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  The French Navy required a ship-based rotary-wing UAV as part of its Navy Aerial Drone System programme, known in French as Systèmes de Drone Aérien de la ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  Background IDEX 2025 At IDEX 2025, two Airbus representatives shared insights into a possible offer from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  A400M (Kazakhstan)

  Programme Background In September 2021, it was announced that Kazakhstan ordered two Airbus A400M aircraft. According to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, ‘The A400M ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT [Singapore]

  In February 2020, Airbus and the Singapore government announced an agreement to collaborate on the development of an A330 Smart Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). One Singaporean ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  H225M [France]

  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 Puma ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-72C Lakota Connector

  The MQ-72C Lakota Connector is an uncrewed version of Airbus' UH-72B, primarily designed to provide contested logistics in austere expeditionary environments. Airbus has partnered with L3Harris, Shield AI, ...

• 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 UAS - MALE

  Wingman

  The Wingman is an Airbus concept drone unveiled at ILA Berlin in June 2024. The loyal-wingman-type fixed-wing UAV was explicitly aimed to accompany and augment ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAS

  The Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAV, or cargo copter, is a rotary-wing cargo-carrying platform that Airbus is developing. The platform has yet to be formally named. The ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  C295

  The C295 is the largest member of Airbus Defence and Space’s family of medium tactical airlifters and surveillance aircraft. It is a development of the ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A400M Training

  Thales is the principal training provider for the Airbus A400M with a contract to provide FFSs and flat-panel trainers. Four A400M FFS and two flat-panel ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...