• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK invests in UAS swarm technology

  3rd April 2019

  The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator has awarded a £2.5 million contract to a Blue Bear Systems Research-led consortium to develop UAS swarm technology. Acting …

• Defence Helicopter

  Hensoldt, Airbus Helicopters sign agreement for AMPS

  21st March 2019

  Hensoldt has signed a framework agreement with Airbus Helicopters for of its Airborne Missile Protection System (AMPS), the company announced on 15 March.  The agreement …

• Military Logistics

  Kazakhstan’s Border Service orders C295

  25th March 2019

  Airbus has received an order to deliver one C295 medium transport aircraft to the Border Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned Systems Asia 2019: Airbus’ Skyways delivers

  19th March 2019

  A year on from its first flight, Airbus Helicopters’ Skyway UAV has demonstrated shore to ship trials at Singapore’s Marina South Pier. The occasion also …

• Land Warfare

  Thai army unveils VL MICA air defence system

  28th March 2019

  At the end of last year, the Royal Thai Army’s (RTA) Air Defence Command replaced its Spada surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which had been in service …

• Training

  Airbus selects PW206B3 engine for H135 trainer proposal

  12th March 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has selected Pratt & Whitney’s PW206B3 engine to power the Airbus H135 IFR-certified helicopter it is proposing for the US Navy’s helicopter trainer …

• Military Logistics

  LIMA 2019: RMAF focuses on MRO out of necessity

  1st April 2019

  The Malaysian government put a positive gloss on LIMA 2019 in Langkawi, stating that MYR3.67 billion’s ($913.8 million) worth of deals was concluded. These included …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus-led team wins RIFAN 2.1 contract

  6th March 2019

  An Airbus-led industrial consortium has received the RIFAN 2.1 contract from the French defence procurement agency, the company announced on 4 March. The €150 million …

• Defence Helicopter

  Poland plans to modernise its combat helicopter fleet

  21st March 2019

  Warsaw’s Armament Inspectorate will launch a technical dialogue to determine a preferred scope and timeline for the planned modernisation of a fleet of Polish Mi-24 …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK MoD stands by decision to buy E-7 fleet

  22nd March 2019

  The practices and decision-making processes that led to an announcement made on 22 March by the UK MoD to acquire five Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early …

• Military Logistics

  Avalon 2019: Malaysian A400M makes Avalon debut

  1st March 2019

  An Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) debuted at the Avalon Air Show near Melbourne, even though the type has …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2019: Airbus pleads autorotation defence ahead of US Navy trainer award

  26th February 2019

  The upcoming US Navy Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) contract is one that Airbus is confident it can win, despite suggestions that expected costs of …

• Military Logistics

  Airbus certifies A400M CHT refuelling unit

  26th February 2019

  Airbus, together with the Spanish Air Force Test Centre, has successfully completed the certification flight tests for the A400M Cargo Hold Tanks (CHT) refuelling unit, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian Navy orders three H135s

  26th February 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has received a contract to deliver three Airbus H135 helicopters to the Brazilian Navy to be operated by the 1st General Purpose Helicopter …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus confirms FARA proposal but keeps platform under wrap

  20th February 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has confirmed its involvement in the US Army’s FARA (Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft) programme, having formally filed a proposal in December 2018 to meet …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Loyal Wingman (Forecast) [Germany]

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

• 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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Programme Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

• 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. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) (FCAS) [France]

  Programme Background FCAS Project As noted by Airbus, the FCAS project is a tri-nation effort which will be centred around a core Next-Generation Weapon System ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) (FCAS) [Spain]

  Programme Background FCAS Project As noted by Airbus, the FCAS project is a tri-nation effort which will be centred around a core Next-Generation Weapon System ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Programme Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System - AHTS (TH-57 Replacement)

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

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

  Eurodrone [France]

  Programme Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France and Italy had negotiated and agreed, in ...

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

  Eurodrone [Germany]

  Programme Background Inception (Stage One) The European MALE RPAS programme was launched in September 2016. Germany, Spain, France and Italy had negotiated and agreed, in ...

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

  Eurodrone (Forecast) [Czechia]

  Programme Background Eurodrone Programme For context, the European MALE RPAS, or Eurodrone, is a quad-nation effort from some of Europe's most prominent defence manufacturers to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UH-72 Logistics Connector (LC)

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

• 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, ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - 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: 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 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 ...

• Air: AEW/fire control radar

  Captor-E Radar

  Captor-E is a multi-mode AESA pulse-Doppler radar upgrade to the Captor-M, designed for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Captor-E is being developed under a Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH ...

• 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 ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  Cargo Hold Trainer - Enhanced

  Rheinmetall provides technology in rear crew training aids for air transport platforms. This includes the Load Master Work Station Trainer (LMWST) and Cargo Hold Trainer ...