• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ONR awards autonomous unmanned aerial cargo prototype contracts

  5th October 2012

  The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has announced the awarding of two contracts for its Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) programme. Two industry teams …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helibras to build indigenous aircraft in mid-2020s

  3rd October 2012

  Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling has confirmed that Helibras will design and develop an indigenous helicopter in the mid 2020s. Speaking at the opening ceremony of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helibras and Lider sign MoU for Brazilian EC225 production

  3rd October 2012

  Oil and gas helicopter operator Lider Aviacao has signed an MoU with Helibras to become the first operator of Brazilian-built Eurocopter EC225s. The deal, announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  Helidax reaches 40,000 flight hour mark

  1st October 2012

  DCI and INAER subsidiary Helidax has announced that it has exceeded 40,000 flight hours on EC120 Colibri aircraft, in their Calliope configuration, after 2 years …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Helicopters expands after-sales service offerings

  28th September 2012

  Russian Helicopters has announced that its customers in the CIS and Europe will soon have access to an advanced after-sales service system built on integrated …

• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk2 puts to sea for the first time

  28th September 2012

  The Royal Navy's new upgraded Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine warfare helicopter has conducted its first shipborne operations, it has been revealed. Members of the Merlin Capability …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAS-72X+ Armed Aerial Scout voluntary flight demos begin

  27th September 2012

  EADS North America announced on 26 September that it has begun its voluntary flight demonstration (VFD) for the US Army’s Armed Aerial Scout helicopter programme. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed Martin conducts ground-launched DAGR tests

  26th September 2012

  Lockheed Martin has carried out new DAGR missile flight tests, during which the missile was successfully fired from a prototype pedestal launcher. The tests, which …

• Defence Helicopter

  South Korea requests Apaches and 'Zulu' Cobras

  26th September 2012

  The Republic of Korea RoK has requested possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases for the AH-64D Apache and the AH-1Z 'Zulu' Cobra as part of …

• Land Warfare

  Modern Day Marine 2012: HDT unveils Storm SRTV

  25th September 2012

  HDT Global used this year's Modern Day Marine exhibition to publicly display its Storm SRTV tactical all terrain vehicle for the first time. Developed with …

• Defence Helicopter

  First updated Cougar delivered back to the French Army

  25th September 2012

  The first prototype upgraded AS532 Cougar transport helicopter has been delivered back to the French Army Air Corps, it has been revealed. The aircraft was …

• Defence Helicopter

  General Dynamics Canada wins CH-147F support award

  24th September 2012

  General Dynamics Canada announced on 21 September that it has been selected by Boeing to provide engineering support services on the CH-147F in-service support programme. …

• Defence Helicopter

  AgustaWestland to support SAAF AW109LUH fleet

  24th September 2012

  AgustaWestland has announced that it has signed a comprehensive service support contract for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fleet of AW109LUH helicopters. The annual …

• Digital Battlespace

  L-3 wins US Navy CDL Hawklink contract

  24th September 2012

  L-3 Communications Communication Systems-West (CS-West) has been selected for the 2012 to 2017 full-rate production contract of CDL Hawklink. L-3’s Ku-Band CDL Hawklink system is …

• Defence Helicopter

  US to sell Apaches to Indonesia

  21st September 2012

  US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, has revealed the United States is working on the potential sale of eight Boeing AH-64D Apaches to Indonesia. The …

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 ...