• Land Warfare

  Specialist enhancements for new Arquus Scarabee

  26th June 2019

  Vehicle manufacturer Arquus is developing specialist trailer technology to enhance the capability of the Scarabee 4x4 light armoured vehicle (LAV) to support airborne operations, company …

• Defence Notes

  Philippine Air Force anticipates new assets

  4th July 2019

  The Philippine Air Force (PAF) celebrated its 72nd anniversary at the Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base on 2 July, and its commanding general Lt Gen …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: FCAS takes centre stage as fighter talk peaks

  17th June 2019

  As with the last edition of the Farnborough Air Show where former UK defence secretary Gavin Willamson presented the UK’s future fighter Tempest concept, France …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Airbus eyes up maiden VSR700 prototype flight

  10th June 2019

  Airbus is building towards its first flight of the VSR700 rotary-wing TUAS prototype this year - an occasion that will see the vehicle tested without a …

• Defence Notes

  Malaysian MPA and UAV programmes approved

  21st June 2019

  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare for the acquisition of …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus looks to UAS and AI aircraft maintenance

  4th June 2019

  Airbus has partnered with the Spanish Air Force to develop UAS and augmented reality-based maintenance inspection services for military aircraft, the company announced on 29 …

• Training

  UK MFTS to get more aircraft and sims

  18th June 2019

  Ascent Flight Training, the company running the UK’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is to ‘increase the output and the capacity’ of the project …

• Defence Notes

  Saab forced to ditch Swiss flight tests

  13th June 2019

  Saab has announced that the company’s in-development Gripen E will not take part in forthcoming flight tests in Switzerland, but will continue its participation in …

• Defence Helicopter

  France brings launch of HIL programme forward

  29th May 2019

  The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French armed forces’ Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme forward to …

• Military Logistics

  NZ replaces Hercules with....

  11th June 2019

  The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has selected Lockheed Martin’s C-130J-30 Super Hercules as the preferred option to replace its incumbent fleet of C-130H tactical …

• Defence Notes

  Raytheon and United Technologies announce merger

  10th June 2019

  Raytheon and United Technologies announced on 9 June that they will merge, creating a behemoth American aeronautics and defence company.  The new company, Raytheon Technologies …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK MoD signs off on Gazelle support contract

  21st May 2019

  The UK MoD has issued Airbus Helicopters UK (AHUK) with a new £6.1 million three-year support contract covering its fleet of 24 Gazelle AH Mk1 …

• Training

  TRU unveils Canadian FAcT strategy

  31st May 2019

  TRU Simulation + Training has announced that it is offering aircraft and synthetic training equipment to a number of the bidders on the Royal Canadian …

• Training

  A rocky road ahead for Canada's future aircrew trainer

  30th May 2019

  Since starting discussions with industry in 2013 concerning its Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) requirement, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has now selected five companies …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Preliminary safety assessments for European MALE RPAS completed

  15th May 2019

  The European MALE RPAS Programme Division (MRPD) has completed a contract with Germany’s DFS Aviation Services (DAS) on a preliminary safety assessment, the Organisation for …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Data links

  Data links | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  At IDEX 2025, two representatives from Airbus discussed the details behind a potential bid from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The A-400M ...

• 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 - multirole

  H145M [Spain]

  Programme Background  In May 2025, Spain announced the National Helicopter Plan as part of the country's wider effort to rearm in response to American pressure. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain and Colombia were jointly developing a MALE UAV to meet the ISR requirements of both countries’ ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | VSR-700: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  The French Navy required a ship-based rotary-wing UAV as part of its Navy Aerial Drone System programme, known in French as Systèmes de Drone Aérien de la ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | VSR-700: Navy Aerial Drone System (SDAM) [France]

  The French Navy required a ship-based rotary-wing UAV as part of its Navy Aerial Drone System programme, known in French as Systèmes de Drone Aérien de la ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

  Background IDEX 2025 At IDEX 2025, two Airbus representatives shared insights into a possible offer from the United Arab Emirates for the A-400M aircraft. The ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  A400M (Kazakhstan)

  Programme Background In September 2021, it was announced that Kazakhstan ordered two Airbus A400M aircraft. According to Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, ‘The A400M ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT [Singapore]

  In February 2020, Airbus and the Singapore government announced an agreement to collaborate on the development of an A330 Smart Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). One Singaporean ...

• 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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-72C Lakota Connector

  The MQ-72C Lakota Connector is an uncrewed version of Airbus' UH-72B, primarily designed to provide contested logistics in austere expeditionary environments. Airbus has partnered with L3Harris, Shield AI, ...

• 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 UAS - MALE

  Wingman

  The Wingman is an Airbus concept drone unveiled at ILA Berlin in June 2024. The loyal-wingman-type fixed-wing UAV was explicitly aimed to accompany and augment ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAS

  The Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAV, or cargo copter, is a rotary-wing cargo-carrying platform that Airbus is developing. The platform has yet to be formally named. The ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  C295

  The C295 is the largest member of Airbus Defence and Space’s family of medium tactical airlifters and surveillance aircraft. It is a development of the ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A400M Training

  Thales is the principal training provider for the Airbus A400M with a contract to provide FFSs and flat-panel trainers. Four A400M FFS and two flat-panel ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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 ...