Latest Defence Helicopters news
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NewsEDF awards Airbus Helicopters-led consortium €100m for next-gen military rotorcraft research
A 45-member consortium headed by Airbus Helicopters has been selected to share almost €100 million ($113 million) from the European Defence Fund (EDF) to develop the technologies needed for a future military rotorcraft.
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NewsUSA clears possible AW119Kx sale to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The US government has cleared the possible sale of Leonardo Helicopters AW119Kx rotorcraft to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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NewsMalaysian military to field AW149s via major Leonardo/Weststar deal
Leonardo Helicopters is to provide up to 28 new rotorcraft to support a variety of missions for Malaysia’s armed forces and government agencies.
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NewsAirbus still bullish on unmanned UH-72 despite US Army replacement effort
Airbus is competing an unmanned version of its UH-72B light utility helicopter, dubbed the MQ-72, for a US Marine Corps logistics programme designed to support ship-to-shore cargo deliveries.
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NewsBell pitches 505 as simplified trainer solution for US Army
The US Army is seeking a single-engined alternative to its Airbus Helicopters UH-72A basic trainer, with Bell pitching a 505-based package the company says will generate cost savings and better outcomes for trainees.
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NewsUS Army completes first flight with GE Aerospace T901 turboshaft
The army’s head of aviation procurement confirmed the recent milestone, amid ongoing uncertainty around the future of the new GE Aerospace turboshaft engine.
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NewsBoeing on track to deliver first Australian Apaches by end of 2025
Boeing’s head of attack helicopters says Canberra’s first tranche of AH-64Es are working their way through the company’s production line in Mesa, Arizona and will be delivered to Australia later this year.
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NewsRobinson offers R66 to US Army as new trainer
With the announcement that the US Army is seeking a no-frills, single-engined trainer to replace the Airbus UH-72 Lakota, American airframer Robinson sees a major opportunity to expand into the defence business.
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NewsUS Army designates next-generation Bell tiltrotor as MV-75
The army’s number two officer confirms the designation for the developmental Bell rotorcraft while speaking at the service’s annual aviation summit in Nashville, Tennessee.
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In depthWatch: Thales shows off all-phase autopilot for H125 helicopter
After certificating a full-mission autopilot for the Airbus Helicopters AS350 light-single helicopter, French avionics manufacturer Thales leased one of the rotorcraft and converted it into a test asset for developing new military mission systems.
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NewsUAE cleared to buy six CH-47F Block II helicopters
The US government has cleared the possible sale of six Boeing CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters to the United Arab Emirates.
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InterviewLong life ahead for CV-22, but no plans for FLRAA in USAF special operations
In a wide ranging interview with FlightGlobal, the three-star general in charge of US Air Force special operations outlined his long-term plans for the USA’s air commandos, legacy platforms like the CV-22 Osprey and MQ-9 Reaper, and the next-generation tiltrotor Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
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NewsUK MoD takes delivery of lead H145 Jupiter HC2 rotorcraft
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received its first of six Airbus Helicopters H145s acquired under a £122 million ($161 million) deal to support duties in Brunei and Cyprus from 2026.
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NewsUS Army special operations to field T901 engine on MH-60 fleet
As the US Army begins the process of integrating the latest GE Aerospace T901 turboshaft into the fleet of more than 2,300 Sikorsky UH-60 helicopters, the service’s special operations aviators say they plan to also field the new engine for their small fleet of MH-60 Black Hawks.
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NewsDARPA to fund assembly of only one High Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing design
Bell and Aurora Flight Sciences have taken radically different approaches in a Pentagon X-plane contest to develop an experimental aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, while also achieving fixed-wing jet speeds in horizontal flight.
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NewsNew Zealand to replace Seasprites with new naval helicopter
Wellington has allocated funds for the replacement of its Kaman Aerospace SH-2G(I) Seasprite naval helicopters. The New Zealand government has earmarked NZ$2 billion ($1.2 billion) for the helicopter replacement programme as part of a broader NZ$12 billion in funding to upgrade the defence force over the next four years, according ...
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NewsUS Army targets ‘obsolete’ aircraft for cuts, including AH-64D and MQ-1C
In a sweeping overhaul of the service’s force structure, senior Pentagon officials have directed the US Army to end procurement of “obsolete” and “outdated” aircraft platforms, including the Boeing AH-64D and General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle uncrewed aerial vehicle.
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NewsIraq receives first H225M Caracals
Iraq has taken delivery of an initial pair of Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracals dating from a September 2024 order for a dozen units of the heavy-twin.
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NewsNMH acquisition moves forward, as Leonardo Helicopters submits ‘best offer’ to UK MoD
Procurement of a new battlefield transport through the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme continues to progress, with sole bidder Leonardo Helicopters having recently submitted its best and final offer to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
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NewsAutonomy firm Near Earth to develop pilotless capability for US Army UH-60Ls
As part of the US Army’s push to expand automated flight within its existing aviation fleet, autonomy developer Near Earth will retrofit a Sikorsky UH-60L for pilotless operations.