The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Leonardo a £1.6 billion contract to produce 23 AW149 helicopters, providing clarity over the manufacturer's production line in Yeovil, England. The deal comes after a dispute between the MoD and the Treasury, which was resolved by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The British government has awarded a $1.3 billion contract to Leonardo UK for medium-lift helicopters, with the Yeovil facility becoming the global center for production and exports. This deal secures thousands of jobs and sets up export opportunities, while also supporting the UK's Defence Industrial Strategy.
A video surfaced claiming to show a Ukrainian and UN pilot appealing to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the UN for help after being captured by Al-Shabaab in January 2024. Oleynik Aleksandra, a helicopter pilot working on a medical evacuation mission, was reportedly held captive along with his crew since then.
The Spanish navy has outlined plans for a second batch of NH90 helicopters, which are expected to feature modern modifications including a French electro-optical targeting system. The new aircraft will be tailored to a special forces design and deliveries are planned between 2030 and 2032.
Spain has formalized four contracts for 100 Airbus helicopters under the National Helicopter Plan announced in May 2025. The deal covers four different models intended for all three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces.
Spain has agreed to purchase 100 Airbus helicopters worth an estimated €4.5 billion, including 50 new H145M aircraft for its army. The order is part of a national helicopter plan aimed at modernizing local defense assets.
Østnes Helicopters, the official distributor for Airbus Helicopters in the Nordic region, has placed an order for 10 H125 helicopters. This brings the total number of H125s ordered this year to 14 aircraft.
The Netherlands has signed a contract to acquire three additional NH90 naval helicopters through the NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA). The agreement includes an option for two additional aircraft.
The Kingdom of Morocco has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to purchase 10 H225M helicopters and replace its Puma fleet. The new aircraft will be used for combat search and rescue operations by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) has ordered a single Airbus H225 multirole helicopter to bolster its security and emergency response capabilities. Announced on November 24, 2025, the aircraft will primarily serve law enforcement and counter-terrorism operations while also supporting search and rescue, humanitarian relief, and disaster response missions.
Israel has announced plans to purchase 30 new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters worth an estimated $3.8 billion. The decision comes after lessons learned from recent multi-front wars, Breaking Defense reports.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has completed the first flight of its Dhruv New Generation (NG) multi-role helicopter, marking a key step in the Indian manufacturer's push into the civil helicopter market. The helicopter features advanced technology and is intended for various roles including passenger transport and emergency medical services.
The H160M Guépard prototype has made its first contact with a French Navy surface ship, according to AeroTime reports. The helicopter conducted an 'interaction of opportunity' with the fleet replenishment tanker BRF Jacques Stosskopf, testing electromagnetic environment capabilities.
Airbus Helicopters has secured a contract from the Ministry of Defense of Ghana for four helicopters, including two H175M multi-mission platforms and two corporate models. The H175Ms will be employed across transport, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and disaster relief tasks.
Germany is set to acquire 20 additional Airbus H145M helicopters worth €931 million ($1 billion) as part of its military modernization efforts. The funding proposal will be presented to the Bundestag's budget committee in 2026.
The German Navy has welcomed its first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter delivery at Nordholz air station, marking a significant upgrade in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability. Airbus Helicopters handed over the aircraft on behalf of joint venture NH Industries (NHI), manufacturer of the rotorcraft.
The German Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, marking an important milestone in the country's efforts to modernize its rotary-wing capabilities. According to AeroTime, Airbus Helicopters announced the handover on December 16, 2025.
French Army Aviation leadership argues that the war in Ukraine is pushing armed forces to adjust helicopter tactics rather than abandon crewed rotorcraft. General David Cruzille and his deputy, General Hubert Doutaud, spoke to French weekly Le Point about the lessons learned from Ukraine.
A fatal helicopter crash in central Arizona has renewed concerns about the effectiveness of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system. The accident occurred January 2, 2026, near Telegraph Canyon, east of Phoenix, when an MD Helicopters MD530F carrying four people crashed in rugged terrain.
Transport Canada Civil Aviation has awarded Airbus Helicopters type certification for its super-medium H175 helicopter, allowing it to enter the Canadian market. According to Transport Canada, the aircraft is capable of supporting various operations including search and rescue, emergency medical services, private aviation, and defense.
The British Ministry of Defence has invited seven firms to pitch their ideas for 'futuristic' drone helicopters to fly alongside Apaches into combat. Project NYX, announced on Saturday, aims to create Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) with AI-powered capabilities.
The US Army has selected three major defense contractors to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky will advance to the next phase of competition, Breaking Defense reports.
The US Army has selected three major defense contractors to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky will advance to the next phase of competition, Breaking Defense reports.
The US Army has selected three companies to move on to the next phase of its Flight School Next competition, which aims to train 900-1,500 rotary wing pilots per year with a period of performance of 26 years. Lockheed Martin will partner with Robinson for the program, while Bell and M1 are competing as their own entities.
The Army has selected three companies - Bell, M1, and Lockheed Martin - to move on to the next phase of the Flight School Next program. The companies will provide more information about their proposals and illustrate their full-scale solutions.
Airbus Helicopters has unveiled its proposed rotorcraft designs for NATO's Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) initiative. The company's submission comprises two distinct concepts developed in collaboration with RTX's Collins Aerospace and Raytheon businesses, and MBDA.
Airbus Helicopters has inaugurated a new logistics hub in Singapore, positioning the city-state at the heart of its global support network. The facility serves customers across 21 countries and territories in Asia-Pacific, with an initial inventory worth €10 million.
Airbus Helicopters saw a significant increase in orders in 2025, with 544 gross orders (net: 536) secured compared to 455 in 2024. The surge was driven largely by the Spanish government's order for 100 helicopters through the Directorate General for Armament and Material (DGAM).