• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helis wins H145M services

  3rd June 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has won a full-service contract from the German armed forces for the H145M helicopter, due to enter service with the German Air Force …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus launches RedKite camera

  1st June 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has launched RedKite, a new short-wave infrared technology (SWIR) camera, designed to give a clear view in spite of mist, fog …

• Military Logistics

  India clears C295 buy

  28th May 2015

  India's Defence Acquisition Council has approved the Indian Air Force bid for the supply and production of 56 C295 transport aircraft.The new aircraft will replace …

• Land Warfare

  Airbus develops Multirole Jammer protection system

  27th May 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space has developed a new Multirole Jammer system designed to monitor the signal spectrum and jam tactical communications to counter the threat …

• Military Logistics

  Honeywell to supply engines for Indonesian NC212 aircraft

  25th May 2015

  Honeywell is supplying 11 TPE331 turboprop engines to PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for use on domestically-built Indonesian military transport aircraft. The engines will be fitted …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus, Dassault, Finmeccanica welcome MALE UAS next steps

  20th May 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation and Finmeccanica have welcomed an agreement between France, Germany and Italy to conduct a definition study of a European …

• Defence Helicopter

  IMDEX Asia: Airbus helps helicopters hit the deck

  20th May 2015

  Airbus Defence and Space is using the IMDEX Asia exhibition to promote the virtues of its DeckFinder positioning system, which helps maritime helicopters and UAVs …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus H145M receives EASA certification

  19th May 2015

  Airbus Helicopters announced the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification of its H145M helicopter on 15 May, paving the way for military type approval and …

• Defence Helicopter

  India selects Kamov Ka-226T for recce role

  14th May 2015

  India has opted for the Kamov Ka-226T for its long-running requirement for a reconnaissance helicopter, in an indication the Modi government is doing all it …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus team to help A400M crash investigation

  11th May 2015

  Following the crash of a test A400M aircraft near Seville in Spain on 9 May, manufacturer Airbus Defence and Security has flown in an investigation …

• Military Logistics

  Thales TopShield-400 selected for French A330 MRTT

  11th May 2015

  Thales has been awarded a contract to provide its TopShield-400 Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) system for the future French A330 tanker, the company announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAV Vision gimbal selected for Airbus Zephyr 8

  8th May 2015

  The solar-powered Zephyr 8 is part of the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) programme being conducted by Airbus Defence and Space, and in early May the company …

• Defence Notes

  IDEF 2015: First sight of SOM-J cruise missile

  7th May 2015

  The new SOM-J (stand-off missile) cruise missile destined for the F-35 aircraft is about to begin Phase IIB risk reduction studies. According to Roketsan, which …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australia commissions first pair of CH-47F Chinooks

  6th May 2015

  The Australian Army commissioned its first pair of Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters at RAAF Base Townsville on 5 May. They will be operated by the …

• Defence Helicopter

  IDEF 2015: TAI position for Polish Kruk attack helicopter

  6th May 2015

  TAI has signed two MoUs with Polish defence companies at the IDEF exhibition as it builds up to compete for Poland’s attack helicopter programme – …

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 ...