• Defence Helicopter

  Italy receives first NH90 TTH in FOC configuration

  3rd May 2013

  The Italian Army has taken delivery of the first NH90 tactical transport helicopter (TTH) in Final Operational Capability configuration at an official ceremony at AgustaWestland’s …

• Defence Helicopter

  US furthers next-generation helicopter studies

  30th April 2013

  Plans for a next generation US helicopter to replace the AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk have moved forward with three different configurations under evaluation. …

• Defence Helicopter

  GKN chases JMR involvement

  30th April 2013

  GKN Aerospace is in talks with Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky about possible involvement in their bids for the US Joint Multirole (JMR) next-generation helicopter project. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Rotem develops hyper-hemispherical sapphire domes

  26th April 2013

  The Crystals Division of Israeli manufacturer Rotem Industries announced today that it had manufactured the first production series of hyper-hemispherical (240 degrees or more) sapphire …

• Military Logistics

  First A400M nears IOC

  26th April 2013

  The first production A400M is expected to be delivered to the French Air Force and achieve military initial operation capability (IOC) in the second quarter …

• Defence Helicopter

  NAVAIR looks to future Seahawk replacement

  26th April 2013

  The US Navy is starting to look at replacement options for its MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, with fleet retirement expected to commence in 2028. The US …

• Defence Helicopter

  Eurocopter reveals optionally piloted EC145

  25th April 2013

  Eurocopter has validated its EC145 helicopter in an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) role following a successful series of flight tests using its testbed demonstrator. Demonstrated …

• Defence Helicopter

  Serco Sea King maintenance contract extended

  24th April 2013

  Serco will continue to assist AgustaWestland in the maintenance of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Sea King helicopter aircraft, following the extension of its Integrated …

• Defence Helicopter

  ATK to provide GATR to USSOCOM

  24th April 2013

  ATK has announced a $3.2 million contract to provide a precision guided rocket for evaluation by US Special Operation Command (USSOCOM). Awarded through the Defence …

• Defence Helicopter

  US confirms V-22 sale to Israel

  23rd April 2013

  The US has confirmed its intention to sell the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor to Israel as part of a comprehensive defence package, in what will be the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rolls-Royce sells helicopter engine share to Safran

  23rd April 2013

  Safran has reached an agreement with Rolls-Royce to acquire its 50% share in their joint RTM322 helicopter engine programme, the company announced on 23 April. …

• Defence Helicopter

  NAVAIR poised to issue final RfP for presidential helicopter

  23rd April 2013

  US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has signaled its intent to enter the final phase of a strategy to source a new presidential helicopter.  In …

• Defence Helicopter

  Wescam proves capability of MX series of turrets

  22nd April 2013

  In an effort to demonstrate the operational capability of its MX series of designator systems, L-3 Wescam has successfully completed a series of testing of …

• Defence Helicopter

  French DGA takes delivery of first Tiger HAD

  22nd April 2013

  The first production Tiger helicopter in the HAD attack configuration built by Eurocopter has been delivered to the French GDA for the French Army Aviation …

• Defence Helicopter

  New Zealand signs for Australia’s cast-off Seasprites

  19th April 2013

  Kaman Aerospace has announced a contract to provide ten ex-Australian Super Seasprite helicopters to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD), in a deal worth …

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]

  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 ...

• 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 - multirole

  H135 [UK]

  Programme Background Airbus Helicopters UK announced on 2 February 2022 that it has won an order to provide five additional H135 twin-engine helicopters for the ...

• 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 - multirole

  H145M [Ireland]

  Background On 30 December 2024 Ireland announced a contract with Airbus for four new H145M helicopters to replace the Air Corps existing fleet of light ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  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 are ...

• 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 - 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 - 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]

  Bids and suppliers Airbus Helicopters Though not involved in the final bid stage, Airbus Helicopters had originally put the H225M forward to meet the Polish ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW169M [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopters had all put in bids for ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149 [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Bell Helicopters had all put bids in for ...

• 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 ...

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 ...