• Defence Helicopter

  Mahindra to build AS565 MBe Panther parts

  14th July 2016

  Airbus Helicopters is positioning itself to target India’s Naval Utility Helicopter programme with the selection of Mahindra Aerostructures to manufacture airframe parts for the AS565 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thailand using H155 for mapping

  12th July 2016

  The Royal Thai Armed Forces acquired two new H155 rotorcraft from Airbus Helicopters for €32.6 million (US$36 million), these helicopters entering service late last year …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2016: Airbus provides UK F-35 crypto keys

  11th July 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has added three aircraft to its portfolio of cryptographic key management systems, the UK F-35B, Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) …

• Training

  CAE details Lockheed Martin contracts

  8th July 2016

  CAE has received contracts worth over $77 (USD) million to provide a range of simulation products and training support services to military customers, it announced …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus to continue UK WelComE

  8th July 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space has received a £15.7 million contract renewal from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the supply of core WelComE welfare …

• Land Warfare

  QinetiQ to evaluate APS for Dstl

  6th July 2016

  QinetiQ has been awarded a £7.6 million contract by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) to evaluate an active protection system (APS) for …

• Military Logistics

  Farnborough 2016: KC-390 arrives with new avionics suite

  5th July 2016

  The Embraer KC-390 will début at the Farnborough international air show equipped with Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion avionics system.  The aircraft will be part …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: NH90 Sea Lion roaring to go

  4th July 2016

  The first of 18 NH90 NTH Sea Lions destined for the German armed forces is in the final stages of production at Airbus Helicopters’ facility …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2016: BIRD Aerosystems to showcase AMPS-MV

  4th July 2016

  BIRD Aerosystems will present its latest Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS) configuration, the AMPS-MV, on an MI-8 helicopter at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA 2016). …

• Military Logistics

  C295W enlists in Thai army

  1st July 2016

  Thailand has taken receipt of a single Airbus Defence & Space C295W medium transport aircraft. While Bangkok did not publicise this acquisition,  Airbus Defence & …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: MGB failure ‘likely’ cause of H225 crash

  29th June 2016

  The investigation into the 29 April crash of an Airbus Helicopters H225 has taken a fresh twist, after it was discovered the aircraft’s main gearbox …

• Defence Notes

  Europe braces for defence impact of Brexit

  27th June 2016

  Among the still-to-be-determined effects of the UK referendum vote in favour of leaving the EU are its impact on the European Common Security and Defence …

• Training

  Airbus D&S orders MRTT FFS

  24th June 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract with Indra for the development and supply of a Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for the A330 Multi Role …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory: CAESAR 8x8 howitzer to qualify

  21st June 2016

  Nexter Systems is ready to begin qualification trials of its new CAESAR (CAmion équipé d'un système d'artillerie) 8x8 155mm/52cal self-propelled howitzer (SPH) immediately after Eurosatory.  …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus eyes growing UAV market

  20th June 2016

  As the UAV industry continues its apparent exponential growth and new applications appear in the commercial sector, Airbus Defence & Space will look to explore …

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 ...