• 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 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indian MoD moves naval heli programme forward

  7th November 2017

  Heralding one of the biggest helicopter programmes in South Asia, the Indian Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accorded 'acceptance of necessity' …

• Naval Warfare

  IAI to supply radars for Canadian C295s

  25th October 2017

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been contracted by Airbus Defence and Space for the ELM-2022A maritime patrol radar, the company announced on 23 October. The …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: Malaysian budget promises new equipment

  30th October 2017

  The Malaysian government has given the go-ahead for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) to purchase four maritime patrol aircraft and the Malaysian Army to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Cobham Helicopter Academy has first customer

  25th October 2017

  Cobham is set to launch its new helicopter academy by the end of the year, and already has an undisclosed launch customer. Based at Newquay …

• Defence Helicopter

  Czech Air Force seals delivery of two BIRD AMPS

  24th October 2017

  The Czech Air Force has received delivery of two additional Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) from BIRD Aerosystems.  The deal, sealed in Q3, is further …

• Training

  Indra developing A330 refuelling simulator

  20th October 2017

  Indra has been contracted by Airbus Defence and Space to develop a tactical integrated procedures trainer (IPT) for pilots who will operate the A330 Multi …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2017: Surion uncoils its wings

  18th October 2017

  Representing the gradual expansion of its KUH-1 Surion helicopter range, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) demonstrated a new version for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps …

• Military Logistics

  Second Twin Otter 400 bound for Panama

  19th October 2017

  The Panamanian Naval Air Service (SENAN) has ordered a new Twin Otter 400 twin engine light transport aircraft from Viking Air. The purchase, announced 11 …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAAF trials Honeywell’s JetWave satellite communications hardware

  16th October 2017

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is in the process of testing Honeywell’s JetWave Ka-band satellite communications hardware and Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite network, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2017: Lakota readies for training takeover

  11th October 2017

  As another UH-72A Lakota is delivered to the US Army, the platform is now entering the final stages of fully replacing the TH-67 Creek as the service's principal …

• Defence Helicopter

  Guimbal lays out lofty autonomous ambitions

  11th October 2017

  The VSR700, an autonomous military helicopter jointly developed by Hélicoptères Guimbal and Airbus Helicopters, is gathering momentum towards certification.Derived from Guimbal’s successful light helicopter, the …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus receives order for five A330 MRTTs

  28th September 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space has received an order for five A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT) that will be operated as part of the …

• Defence Helicopter

  H145M flies with HForce

  12th September 2017

  Airbus Helicopters’ H145M has performed its first flight with a complete HForce weapon system, the company announced on 8 September.HForce is a modular weapon system …

• Military Logistics

  First French A330 MRTT flies

  13th September 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space has successfully completed the maiden flight of the first A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for France, the company announced on 7 …

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 - 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’ ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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/tanker aircraft

  Tanker replacement [Turkey]

  Background Requirement The Turkish Air Force currently operates a fleet of seven KC-135R tanker aircraft that it has operated since 1995.  Bids and competitors Boeing ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [France]

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

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an initial ...

• 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 UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [Spain]

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

• Military UAS - MALE

  Eurodrone [Germany]

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

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 ...