• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: Air chief looks to increased synthetic training

  11th September 2013

  For the RAF to retain the current level of capability in the face of lower budgeted flying hours, it will need to increase its reliance …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: Kelvin Hughes advance Sharpeye solid state radar

  11th September 2013

  Kelvin Hughes has introduced a new GaN (gallium nitrite) transistor into its Sharpeye radar system to enhance its power output and detection capabilities. Speaking to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell, Lockheed Martin team for V-280 Valor

  10th September 2013

  Bell Helicopter has announced Lockheed Martin as the first of its tier one team members for the V-280 programme. Additional team members for the programme …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: DARPA expands PCAS focus

  9th September 2013

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has re-scoped the work being carried out under its Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) programme, it has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell Boeing initiates V-22 aerial refueling tests

  6th September 2013

  A V-22 Osprey helicopter has successfully completed a test flight in which it used a prototype aerial refueling system to demonstrate its potential to perform …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Camcopter S-100 integrated with Corona 350 sensor

  5th September 2013

  The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been successfully integrated with the FLIR Corona 350 airborne sensor for a series of evaluation flights …

• Defence Helicopter

  French Army Pumas to be fitted with SN4500 display

  4th September 2013

  Sandel Avionics will supply its SN4500 Primary Navigation Display for the French Army’s Puma helicopters under an agreement announced on 4 September. The installation work …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurocopter pushes EC725 Caracal helicopter for Poland

  3rd September 2013

  Eurocopter is using the MSPO exhibition in Kielce to advance efforts to offer its EC725 Caracal helicopter as a solution for the Polish Ministry of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australian Army accepts MRH90 FFMS into service

  2nd September 2013

  The Australian Army has accepted an MRH90 full-flight and mission simulator (FFMS) into service at the Army Aviation Training Centre Oakey in Queensland. This is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rolls-Royce sells RTM322 interest to Turbomeca

  2nd September 2013

  Rolls-Royce has announced that it has completed the sale of its interest in the RTM322 helicopter engine programme to Turbomeca. Rolls-Royce had a 50 per …

• Land Warfare

  Upgraded Arjun MBT begins user trials

  30th August 2013

  A fully-upgraded model of India's indigenously-designed Arjun Mk2 main battle tank (MBT) began its final round of user trials in August. The trials in the …

• Defence Helicopter

  FLIR Systems awarded BRITE Star contract

  30th August 2013

  FLIR Systems will supply BRITE Star Block II Systems for the Naval Air Systems Command’s UH-1 programme and the Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle programme …

• Defence Helicopter

  Global decline of military aircraft market forecast

  30th August 2013

  The production of military aircraft will decline over the next decade due to shrinking defence budgets, according to projections by Forecast International. Around 11,940 military …

• Defence Helicopter

  MAKS 2013: Ekran's DIRCM available for export

  30th August 2013

  The President-S laser directed IR counter measure system for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft was displayed for the first time at the MAKS airshow near Moscow. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Kamov, Sagem team for Ka-52 attack helicopter

  29th August 2013

  Sagem and Kamov have announced at the MAKS aviation and space salon that they will work together to develop an enhanced version of the Kamov-52 …

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 ...