• Defence Helicopter

  GE's GE38 Engine Initiates First Full Engine Testing

  7th July 2009

  GE ushered in a new era of helicopter propulsion on June 24 when the GE38 engine began its first full engine test at GE Aviation's …

• Defence Helicopter

  NH90 carries out French Frigate tests

  6th July 2009

  Eurocopter and DCNS have been carrying out compatibility tests with the NH90 aboard a French Navy air defence frigate. The tests were carried out on …

• Defence Helicopter

  HSM-71 Completes Maiden Deployment

  6th July 2009

  The "Raptors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 will complete their maiden deployment when the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) …

• Defence Helicopter

  424 Squadron goes to the Netherlands

  6th July 2009

  Our squadron recently took part in an international search and rescue (SAR) competition that also celebrated 50 years of SAR by The Royal Netherlands Air …

• Defence Helicopter

  X2 picks up speed

  2nd July 2009

  The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's X2 Technology demonstrator achieved another milestone with the completion of two test flights that included full engagement of the distinctive propeller …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia flags Tiger progressive upgrade

  1st July 2009

  The Australian Department of Defence is flagging emerging plans for a progressive upgrade to its Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters. Australia’s latest defence capability plan …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia reveals slower CH-47F acquisition plan

  1st July 2009

  Australia does not expect to achieve initial operational capability with this proposed fleet of seven new Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters before 2016 and is planning …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia eyes 2014-2016 IOC for Seahawk replacements

  1st July 2009

  Australia wants to achieve an initial operating capability with its replacement naval tactical helicopter between 2014 and 2016, but the project may not receive initial …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed Martin Delivers First Target Sight System Production Unit to the US Marine Corps

  30th June 2009

  Lockheed Martin marked the delivery of the first Target Sight System (TSS) production unit at a ceremony held at its Orlando, FL, facility today. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pave Hawk rescue mission revealed

  30th June 2009

  The United States Air Force (USAF) has revealed more details about a long-range Search and Rescue mission it conducted last week. As previously reported on …

• Defence Helicopter

  MV-22 Ospreys Conduct Medical Evacuation

  30th June 2009

  The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) made history by using two MV-22B Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), to conduct a …

• Defence Helicopter

  FN Herstal reveals 'armed' AW101

  29th June 2009

  Belgian weapons specialist FN Herstal has revealed pictures of an armed AW101 Merlin undergoing weapons integration testing. It is understood AgustaWestland borrowed an Italian Navy …

• Defence Helicopter

  SNC awarded contract for 200 TactiLink Eagle video point to point data communications system for LUH

  29th June 2009

  Sierra Nevada Corporation announced today that it has received a competitive contract award from American Eurocopter, a business unit of EADS North America, to produce …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pave Hawks rescue 'unwell' sailor

  26th June 2009

  Crews onboard a pair of United States Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters have successfully rescued an ill sailor off the coast of Ireland. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pave Hawks en route to Atlantic rescue rendezvous

  26th June 2009

  An international rescue effort is currently en route to a ship in the Atlantic approximately 700 miles off the west coast of Ireland. A crew …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow On

  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 - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System - AHTS (TH-57 Replacement)

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

• 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 - 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 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 - 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 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 ...