• Defence Helicopter

  Second NH90 Sea Lion flies

  30th November 2017

  The second prototype of Germany’s NH90 Sea Lion helicopter has completed its maiden flight, Airbus announced on 28 November.  The aircraft flew from the Airbus …

• Land Warfare

  GDA 2017: Kuwait National Guard modernisation continues

  15th December 2017

  The Kuwait National Guard is pushing forward with an extensive modernisation agenda with ground vehicles, command and control (C2) infrastructure and airborne assets at the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Active digital map contract for Airbus D&S team

  27th November 2017

  A team led by Airbus Defence and Space has received a ten-year contract from the French Armament Procurement Agency for the production of the SI …

• Defence Helicopter

  HForce to test Thales laser guided rockets

  27th November 2017

  Following on from successful ballistic development testing of its HForce weapon system on a H145M helicopter at Pápa Airbase in Hungary, Airbus Helicopters is to begin a similar operation …

• Military Logistics

  Five C295 aircraft ordered by UAE

  20th November 2017

  The United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence has ordered five Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 15 November.The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mexican Navy roaring to go with more Panther deliveries

  22nd November 2017

  The Mexican Navy received its seventh and eighth Airbus Helicopters AS565MBe Panther aircraft on 13 November at Naval Air Base Minatitlán, Veracruz. The aircraft was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zephyr soars into the commercial market

  16th November 2017

  The Zephyr UAS is set to enter the commercial market at the end of 2018 as Airbus Aerial touts the platform as part of its commercial …

• Defence Helicopter

  HForce-equipped H145M tested

  14th November 2017

  Airbus Helicopters has completed a ballistic development test of an HForce weapon system on the H145M helicopter at Pápa Airbase in Hungary, the company announced …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2017: DiSTI launches GL Studio v.6.1

  23rd November 2017

  Visualisation and 3D virtual maintenance trainer (VMT) specialists, Orlando-based DiSTI Corporation has released v.6.1 of its GL Studio product, the first major iteration of v.6 that …

• Digital Battlespace

  Laser communications the solution to SATCOM woes

  15th November 2017

  Laser communications technology is rapidly being developed as a means of enhancing the resilience of satellite communications and providing global, on-demand data to ever-more connected …

• Special Operations

  Dubai Airshow 2017: Not SOFt on C-130J

  21st November 2017

  Lockheed Martin is positioning its C-130J-SOF export variant as the go-to aircraft for special operation forces helicopter and fixed-wing refuelling needs. Pushing hard on the …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: UK foresees growth in Asia-Pacific

  6th November 2017

  The Defence and Security Organisation (DSO), under the UK’s Department for International Trade, promoted broader opportunities in defence sales and technology transfers at the Defence …

• Military Logistics

  ​Dubai Airshow 2017: Atlas Aerospace expects opportunity from French focus

  12th November 2017

  France’s interest in developing its civil and military markets in the UAE is helping companies like Abu Dhabi-based Atlas Aerospace explore new business opportunities in …

• Training

  Polish C295 FFS enters service

  2nd November 2017

  The Polish Air Force has accepted into service a CAE-built C295 full-flight simulator (FFS) at the 8th Air Base Krakow-Balice in Poland, CAE announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Japan now to donate TC-90s to Philippines

  30th October 2017

  After a recent change made to Japanese laws, Tokyo will now donate five second-hand TC-90 (a Beechcraft King Air variant) aircraft to the Philippines.  Under …

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

  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, ...

• Transport

  A-400M [United Arab Emirates]

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

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

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

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Data links

  Data links | 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 ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | 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 ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [Spain]

  Programme Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France, and Italy negotiated and agreed, in collaboration ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  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 - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor

  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 customers’ ...

• 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 ...

• 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 UAS - rotary-wing, 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 ...

• 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 UAS - fixed-wing, 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 is designed to accompany crewed fighters, ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Transport

  A400M Atlas

  Developed to meet European military airlift requirements, the A400M Atlas combines tactical and strategic/logistic mission capabilities. The platform's cargo hold is designed to carry outsize ...

• 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 ...