• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Hot off the press (video)

  23rd June 2017

  Despite this year's Paris Air Show being a scorcher, with temperatures unseasonably high, the Shephard team worked to provide all the aviation news from the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Analysis: New Indian naval helicopters dashed again

  26th June 2017

  An Indian Navy (IN) deal valued at over $1 billion for 16 Multirole Helicopters (MRH) was given a quiet burial after being scrapped by the …

• Military Logistics

  Nepal orders single CN235

  21st June 2017

  PT Dirgantara (PTDI), the Indonesian aerospace company, has sold its first transport aircraft to Nepal in a deal for a solitary CN235-220M that was signed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mexican Navy receives new Panthers

  13th June 2017

  The Mexican Navy has received a further two AS565MBe helicopters bringing the total of aircraft it now has in service to six. The two helicopters …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia to host Zephyr trials in 2018

  13th June 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space will conduct a series of trials in Australia next year with its Zephyr high-altitude pseudo satellite system, the company revealed. Tony …

• Digital Battlespace

  Connect-D for German troops in Lithuania

  12th June 2017

  Airbus has rolled out Connect-D support communications to German military bases in Lithuania, the company announced on 7 June. Through Connect-D, Airbus now supplies internet, telephone …

• Digital Battlespace

  Australia to improve space-based ISR capabilities

  20th June 2017

  The Australian government is investing A$500 million ($380.78 million) to improve the country’s space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, the Department of Defence announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Chinese Rainbow goes stratospheric

  15th June 2017

  China's first solar-powered Caihong (Rainbow) UAS successfully flew at an altitude of 20,000m on 13 June, an altitude that is well within the stratosphere, the country’s …

• Naval Warfare

  RCAF examines C295W cockpit

  6th June 2017

  The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has conducted a preliminary anthropometric examination of the Airbus C295W cockpit that has been selected for Canada's Fixed-Wing Search …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT Europe 2017: Hensoldt sells upgraded optronic mast

  31st May 2017

  Maritime optronics systems company, Hensoldt, is present at UDT for the first time under its new identity. In February Airbus completed the divestment of its …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus selects new Skynet 5 channel partner

  30th May 2017

  Airbus Defence and Space has selected Planet Communications Asia Public (PlanetComm) as its newest channel partner for Skynet 5 military satellite communication services, the company announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  Pakistan receiving extra Saab Erieyes

  2nd June 2017

  An undisclosed customer who bought three airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft from Saab is confirmed to be the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Saab made an …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe: SMART-L MM radar family expanded

  30th May 2017

  Dutch radar specialists Thales Nederland has unveiled a land-based, mobile tactical variant of its new SMART-L MM long-range multi-mission radar system. The new radar designated …

• Digital Battlespace

  RAN MASTIS terminals set for upgrade

  30th May 2017

  BAE Systems Australia has received a four-year contract worth $30 million to upgrade maritime satellite communications terminals for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  ​Brazilian Navy details Super Cougar delivery

  23rd May 2017

  The Brazilian Navy has received seven H225M in UH-15 configuration from Airbus Helicopters subsidiary Helibras, with the first of two UH-15A CSAR aircraft to be delivered this year out …

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 ...