H225 orders a cause for concern, but H160 offers lift for Airbus Helicopters
Relatively strong order intake in previous years should see Airbus Helicopters maintain output levels over the next 12 months, delaying the impact of 2020’s 20% fall in bookings for one or two years, according to the airframer’s chief executive.
US Army touts new rotorcraft in ocean fight with China
China poses several awkward challenges for the US Army. First, the US Army is a land-based military service and China is an ocean away. Second, the wide-open spaces of the Pacific Ocean would seem to make it more difficult to hide in-bound helicopters and tiltrotors from radar.
Sikorsky-Boeing unveil Defiant X for US Army’s FLRAA programme
A Sikorsky-Boeing team has unveiled Defiant X, its design proposal for the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) programme.
Airbus Helicopters touts H175 as Puma replacement for the UK
Airbus Helicopters could offer the H175 super-medium-twin to the UK as a replacement for the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Puma utility helicopters in 2025 – despite the fact that no military variant of the 8t rotorcraft exists.
Airbus Helicopters looks to Leonardo to counter US threat in military sector
Europe’s two rotorcraft manufacturers must come together to develop a next-generation military helicopter or run the risk of losing out to their rivals, an Airbus Helicopters executive has warned.
UK keeps options open for Puma replacement, but deadline will be too early for FVL
The UK is unlikely to replace its fleet of Airbus Helicopters Puma HC2s with a high-speed platform from the USA’s Future Vertical Lift programme due to timing issues, but nonetheless continues to assess that effort – and a separate NATO-led initiative – against its longer-term requirements.
UK eyes wide-ranging Chinook replacement
The UK may replace all of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) current 60-strong fleet of Boeing CH-47 Chinooks with new-build examples to enable the operation of the tandem rotor-type well into the future.
Egyptian AW149 fleet grows with late 2020 deliveries
Egypt is quietly building up its fleet of Leonardo Helicopters AW149s, having now taken delivery of five of an eventual 24 of the super-medium-twins from a 2019 order worth €871 million ($1 billion).
Apache triumphs in Australian attack helicopter competition
Canberra has selected the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian to fulfil its Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) requirement from 2025.
Colombia picks AW139 as presidential transport helicopter
Colombia has selected the Leonardo AW139 intermediate-twin as its new presidential transport helicopter.