• Defence Helicopter

  S-97 Raider prototype helicopter enters final assembly

  27th September 2013

  The prototype S-97 Raider helicopter has reached the final stages of assembly at Sikorsky's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, following the delivery of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Kongsberg, AgustaWestland team for Norwegian SAR

  26th September 2013

  AugustaWestland has signed an agreement to collaborate with Kongsberg Defence Systems if the AW101 is selected for the Norwegian Search and Rescue (SAR) competition to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky S-76D helicopter flight simulator launched

  25th September 2013

  The first full flight simulator for Sikorsky's S-76D helicopter has been launched at FlightSafety's Learning Center in West Palm Beach. The new simulator replicates the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helitech 2013: Eurocopter looks to consolidate US position

  25th September 2013

  The establishment of an AS350 Ecureuil line at its Columbus, Mississippi, facility will help strengthen Eurocopter’s position in the US, according to a key executive. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Turbomeca signs UK RTM 322 engine service contract

  24th September 2013

  The RTM 322 engines powering Merlin and Apache helicopters in the UK military’s fleet are to be supported by Turbomeca under a new arrangement announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sagem to develop new MPME version for French Army

  24th September 2013

  Sagem will supply a new version of the MPME (Module de Préparation de Missions) mission planning system for the French military’s Tiger HAD (support & …

• Defence Helicopter

  Saab receives IDAS order for Indian ALH

  20th September 2013

  Saab will commence serial production of an integrated electronic warfare self-protection system for installation on the Indian Army’s and Air force’s Advanced Light Helicopter. The …

• Defence Notes

  Dutch MoD announces sale of Joint Support Ship

  18th September 2013

  The Royal Netherlands Navy’s Joint Support Ship (JSS) Karel Doorman will be sold before commissioning and replaced by a smaller and cheaper supply ship as …

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian EC725 integrated with self-protection system

  17th September 2013

  A chaff and flare countermeasures dispensing system developed by Helibras’ Engineering Center has been integrated onto an EC725 helicopter as part of Eurocopter’s programme to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australian Army Chinooks complete Afghanistan operations

  16th September 2013

  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has announced that Rotary Wing Group – Eight (RWG-8), the Australian Army Aviation Detachment, has officially completed its mission …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: UK Chinook upgrade brings export potential

  13th September 2013

  Thales is pitching its avionics upgrade developed for the UK under Project Julius to existing CH-47 Chinook users around the world. At the DSEI exhibition …

• Defence Helicopter

  Patria, NH Industries sign NH90 service agreement

  13th September 2013

  Patria will act as an NH Industries (NHI) authorised service centre in Finland, Sweden and Norway for the Nordic NH90 helicopter. The two companies announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: Thales chases HMD contract

  13th September 2013

  Thales used the DSEI exhibition in London to display its new Scorpion helmet-mounted display (HMD), which it acquired earlier in 2013 by purchasing the HMD …

• Defence Helicopter

  Longbow receives ROK AH-64E Apache radar order

  13th September 2013

  Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman joint venture, Longbow, will supply the Republic of Korea (ROK) with Longbow Fire Control Radars (FCRs) for the AH-64E Apache …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: Minister reveals new contracts

  12th September 2013

  Three new contracts for military vehicles, helicopter support and the creation of a new armour facility were announced by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support …

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 ...