• Digital Battlespace

  South Korea mulls extra AEW&C aircraft

  11th October 2016

  The South Korean air force is planning to add two Boeing E-737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to its fleet. The acquisition of …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mexican Navy receives first MBe

  29th September 2016

  The Mexican Navy became the inaugural customer for the AS565 MBe at Airbus Helicopters’ facilities in Marignane, France on 28 September. The navy has been …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MALE RPAS programme moves ahead

  29th September 2016

  The Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) programme to develop a common European UAS has moved into the definition study phase. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus D&S signs new Skynet partners

  19th September 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space (D&S) has added three more service providers to deliver Skynet military satellite communication services to Australian, New Zealand and US forces. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Spain gets first NH90 helicopters

  16th September 2016

  The Spanish Army has taken the delivery of the first two NH90 tactical transport helicopters from the Airbus Helicopters, it was announced on 14 September. …

• Defence Helicopter

  AAD 2016: Airbus, Denel to cooperate on Rooivalk

  16th September 2016

  Airbus Helicopters and Denel Aviation announced on 15 September that they are entering a cooperative arrangement to enhance and modernise South Africa's Rooivalk attack helicopter. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus opens H215 production in Romania

  16th September 2016

  Airbus Helicopters has opened a production unit for its H215 medium-size utility helicopter in Ghimbav, Romania, it was announced on 13 September. The company plans …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADAS 2016: Royal Thai Navy welcomes new H145Ms

  19th September 2016

  Five H145M light utility helicopters arrived at the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) U-Tapao air base on 8 September. They will enter service in November to …

• Military Logistics

  Renewing RNZAF’s fixed-wing fleet

  21st September 2016

  Responses to two New Zealand RfIs for both transport and maritime patrol aircraft are due on 30 September. The Future Air Mobility Capability (FAMC) requirement …

• Military Logistics

  Spain's first A400M takes off

  7th September 2016

  The first A400M for the Spanish Air Force has completed its first flight, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 6 September. The flight took place …

• Defence Helicopter

  What is going to replace USAF Huey?

  12th September 2016

  The Pentagon has published much anticipated details of its search for a new helicopter under the US Air Force's (USAF) UH-1N Iroquois helicopter replacement programme. …

• Training

  Indonesia gets ex-RAAF simulator

  9th September 2016

  The Indonesian Air Force has taken delivery of a CAE-built C-130H full-mission simulator that was previously in-service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), CAE …

• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2016: Caracal renegotiation lingers on

  7th September 2016

  Airbus Helicopters believes it is near the end of a ‘long and challenging’ renegotiation with the Polish government that will see the H225M Caracal assembled …

• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2016: Polish attack helicopter contenders (video)

  6th September 2016

  Poland has a requirement for a new attack helicopter to replace its ageing Mi-24 Hind fleet. The Kruk (Raven) programme could see as many as …

• Defence Helicopter

  Auditors savagely criticise Australian Tigers

  2nd September 2016

  Australia’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) fleet has come under severe criticism in a report issued by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) on 1 …

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 ...

• 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

  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 ...

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

  Loyal Wingman [Germany]

  Background Need Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, stated in July 2024 that the “German Air Force has expressed a clear need for an ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UH-72 Logistics Connector (LC)

  The UH-72 Logistics Connector (LC), or MQ-72C, is an uncrewed version of Airbus' UH-72B crewed helicopter, a derivative of the H145.  In mid-May 2024, Airbus announced that the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H175M

  The Airbus H175M is the military variant of the H175, a seven-tonne class aircraft powered by twin PT6C 67E engines. The civilian variants produced by Airbus ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Flexrotor

  Flexrotor is a VTOL small tactical UAS manufactured by Aerovel. In a typical operational configuration, it has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than ...

• 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 ...

• 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 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, ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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

  Bo 105

  The Bo 105 is a twin-engine, multipurpose, light helicopter that was developed in 1963-68. Approximately 37% of the more than 1,400 aircraft built before production ...