• Military Logistics

  KC-46A gains first export customer

  29th October 2015

  Japan’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 23 October it had adopted a US government proposal for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force’s (JASDF) next aerial …

• Defence Helicopter

  Lite Flite becomes EN9100 certified

  29th October 2015

  Lite Flite has been issued EN9100:2009 certification for its quality management system, the company announced on 27 October.  Lite Flite is a Danish manufacturer of …

• Defence Helicopter

  New H145 for German police force

  21st October 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H145 helicopter in police configuration to the federal-state police of Baden-Württemberg at the company’s industrial site in Donauwörth, it …

• Defence Helicopter

  ADEX 2015: LCH/LAH to help Airbus penetration

  21st October 2015

  Airbus Helicopters sees the Light Civil Helicopter/Light Attack Helicopter (LCH/LAH) programme in South Korea as an avenue to deepen penetration of the country’s rotorcraft market. …

• Military Logistics

  Spain’s first A400M takes shape

  19th October 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space is approaching final assembly on the first A400M aircraft to be delivered to the Spanish Air Force, the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thai army buys more AW139s

  14th October 2015

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is expanding the size of its AgustaWestland fleet after signing up for eight twin-engine AW139 helicopters. The latest deal, announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  CAE’s H225 FFS ready for training

  7th October 2015

  CAE’s H225 full-flight simulator (FFS) located at its Olso, Norway, training centre has been qualified to Level D by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus A330 MRTT refuels F-35 fighter

  30th September 2015

  The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT) has successfully refuelled the US Air Force's F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, …

• Defence Helicopter

  NHI delivers more NH90 NFH

  23rd September 2015

  The 15th NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) has been officially handed over to the French defence procurement agency (DGA) for the French Navy, Airbus Helicopters …

• Military Logistics

  Japan's tanker bid goes solo

  23rd September 2015

  In its quest to obtain four aerial tankers via its KC-X competition launched in June, the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) has been left with …

• Military Logistics

  Cobham develops aerial refuelling coupling

  22nd September 2015

  Cobham Mission Systems has developed a new aerial refuelling reception coupling for new tanker aircraft platforms, the company announced on 16 September. The coupling is …

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2015: Turboprops better option for UK

  18th September 2015

  While many are placing their bets on the Boeing P-8 Poseidon as the future UK maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), others are calling for a competition …

• Military Logistics

  DSEI 2015: Milestone reached by UK A400M

  15th September 2015

  The Royal Air Force (RAF) has announced the in-service delivery of its seventh Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas, it was revealed at DSEI in …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2015: Crypto tech for A400M

  14th September 2015

  A cryptographic key management system will be developed for the UK’s A400M aircraft that will procted data communications on the platforms. It was announced on 14 September that …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2015: Next-gen Zephyr in the making

  10th September 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space is making its next-generation version of high altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) Zephyr.  The new UAV will have a 35m wingspan in comparison to …

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 ...