• Defence Helicopter

  First CH-53K prototype prepares for ground tests

  5th December 2012

  The first prototype aircraft of the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter being developed by Sikorsky for the US Marine Corps (USMC) has been delivered to the …

• Military Logistics

  Final A330 MRTT delivered to RAAF

  4th December 2012

  The fifth and final A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been delivered by Airbus Military. Designated the …

• Defence Helicopter

  General Dynamics reaches OH-58D component delivery milestone

  28th November 2012

  General Dynamics has announced that its Global Imaging Technologies business has delivered the 1,000th precision-machined beryllium sensor housing to DRS Technologies for the US Army's …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pratt & Whitney wins US Army rotorcraft R&D award

  28th November 2012

  Pratt & Whitney will carry out work to research and develop an Advanced Variable-Speed Power Turbine (AVSPOT) to meet the range and lift requirements for …

• Defence Helicopter

  EDA takes helicopter pooling to the next level

  27th November 2012

  The European Defence Agency (EDA) Helicopter Training Programme (HTP) will organise military rotary wing exercises over a ten year period, following the signing of a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing and MDHI on collision course over AAS contenders

  27th November 2012

  Boeing is in dispute with MD Helicopters (MDHI) over the latter’s development of the MD 540F as a militarised aircraft, it has emerged. A Boeing …

• Defence Helicopter

  Selex Galileo announces new simulation contracts

  26th November 2012

  A number of new contracts have been issued to Selex Galileo worth a combined €8 million, according to a 23 November company statement. The contracts, …

• Defence Helicopter

  NAVAIR launches Presidential helicopter replacement

  26th November 2012

  US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has begun a fresh effort to find a new Presidential helicopter, with the release of a draft RfP to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Germany nears first Tiger operational deployment

  22nd November 2012

  After much delay, Germany’s Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter will now deploy to Afghanistan for its first operational mission in early December. Four ASGARD-F Tigers will …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky MH-60R wins Danish Maritime Helicopter competition

  21st November 2012

  The Danish Ministry of Defence has announced that it will acquire the Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk as its new maritime helicopter.  The Romeo has beaten …

• Military Logistics

  First A400M aircraft take shape

  21st November 2012

  The first three production A400M new generation airlifters are taking shape at the Airbus Military final assembly line (FAL) at Seville, Spain. Airbus Military gave …

• Land Warfare

  Thales to supply STARStreak to Royal Thai Army

  16th November 2012

  Thales UK will supply the STARStreak air defence missile system to the Royal Thai Army under a contract announced on 15 November. According to the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airshow China 2012: Avicopter displays concept rotorcraft

  15th November 2012

  Chinese helicopter manufacturer Avicopter gave a glimpse into its level of ambition this week with the unveiling of three high-speed rotorcraft designs at Airshow China. …

• Land Warfare

  Airshow China: CASIC showcases air defence weapons

  15th November 2012

  The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) used Airshow China to trumpet its air defence credentials, displaying a range of systems, including the FD-2000 …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin to upgrade US Navy C-130T avionics

  14th November 2012

  Lockheed Martin will carry out work to upgrade the avionics and software on multiple US Navy C-130T aircraft under a contract announced on 14 November. …

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 ...