• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2015: Vector Aerospace details recent contracts

  3rd March 2015

  Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services – North America (HS-NA) is to refurbish the airframe of a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter for the Royal Thai Navy under a …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2015: Bell ‘concerned’ over surplus helicopters

  2nd March 2015

  The US Army’s decision to retire nearly 800 helicopters and potentially sell them on to foreign customers remains a concern for Bell Helicopter, the manufacturer’s …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon 2015: RAAF to trial tanker with allied aircraft

  27th February 2015

  Following a successful remediation program, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) expects to conduct boom refuelling trials with its Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) …

• Defence Helicopter

  Australian DSTO, AGAP form strategic alliance

  27th February 2015

  The Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and Airbus Group Australia Pacific (AGAP) have formed a new strategic alliance, as announced by the DSTO …

• Defence Helicopter

  Royal Thai Army orders Airbus EC145 T2

  25th February 2015

  The Royal Thai Army has ordered six Airbus EC145 T2 light-utility, twin-engine helicopters, as announced by the company on 23 February. The six EC145 T2 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aero India: Lightweight helicopter armour showcased

  23rd February 2015

  A ‘6th-generation’ helicopter armour technology, which reduces weight by 40%, was showcased at Aero India.  The Polyshield V6 was highlighted by India-based manufacturer of protection …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters opens Poland engineering office

  23rd February 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has opened an engineering design office at Łódź, expanding its presence in Poland, the company announced on 19 February. A wide range of …

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2015: CAE eyes Gulf opportunities

  22nd February 2015

  CAE wants to increase its share of training for local armed forces in the GCC area as they modernise their equipment and look to enhance …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sagem, HAL sign Sigma 95 technology transfer

  20th February 2015

  Sagem and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a technology transfer agreement for Sagem's Sigma 95 laser gyro navigation systems, as announced on 18 February. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aero India: The Eagle has landed

  19th February 2015

  Closer US-India military cooperation in the UAV field kicked up a gear when AeroVironment and Bangalore-based Dynamatic Technologies inaugurated a production facility on 17 February.  The …

• Military Logistics

  A400M simultaneously refuels two F-18s

  19th February 2015

  The A400M airlifter has successfully demonstrated simultaneous air-to-air refuelling of two F/A-18 fighter jets, Airbus announced on 18 February. The new-generation airlifter performed 74 contacts …

• Defence Helicopter

  Chinook may be destined for Indonesia

  17th February 2015

  Boeing has held high level cooperation discussions with Indonesian defence officials in a move that may pave the way for procurement of the CH-47 Chinook …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indian helicopter RfI closes, again

  16th February 2015

  After three false starts, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) will close an RfI for domestically-built single-engine reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (RSH) on 17 February.  Both …

• Military Logistics

  German Air Force receives A400M simulator

  10th February 2015

  The German Air Force has received an A400M aircraft full flight simulator from Airbus Defence and Space, the company announced on 9 February. The simulator …

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian M-36 Caracal undergoes performance tests

  9th February 2015

  The Brazilian Air Force and Helibras has evaluated the performance of the air force's Falcon Squadron M-36 Caracal helicopter, the air force announced on 4 …

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, ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

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 - 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...