Designing Reliability in Times of Crisis
Airbus Helicopters is positioning its dual‑use, modular rotorcraft to meet the growing demand for adaptable assets in a world where the line between war and peace is blurring. Vice‑President William Sampson highlights how the H140, H145 and H160 families integrate operator feedback, advanced avionics and mission‑system flexibility to support both civil and military tasks. The company also pairs crewed helicopters with sophisticated uncrewed aerial systems through its HTeaming platform, expanding situational awareness and disaster‑response capabilities. Sampson stresses that reliability, safety and rapid adaptability are now core to Airbus’ innovation roadmap.
Over 10k Flight Hours: ADAS Delivers Turnkey Heron 1 UAS Services for Frontex/Malta
Airbus DS Airborne Solutions (ADAS) celebrated a key milestone as its Heron 1 medium‑altitude long‑endurance UAS logged 10,000 flight hours supporting Frontex’s maritime surveillance over Malta. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency awarded ADAS a second four‑year contract in 2025,...
Japan’s National Police Agency Bolsters Law Enforcement Fleet with Order for Three Airbus H135 Helicopters
Japan’s National Police Agency has placed a follow‑on order for three Airbus H135 helicopters, expanding its law‑enforcement fleet. The aircraft will be stationed with the Hokkaido, Shimane and Miyagi prefectural police, enhancing patrol, search‑and‑rescue and tactical transport capabilities. This purchase...
Flight Safety Statistics: Understanding 2025 Aviation Accidents and Safety Trends
In 2025 commercial aviation transported over five billion passengers on 35.2 million flights, marking a modest rise from the previous year. The sector recorded six hull‑loss accidents, three of which were fatal, compared with four fatal accidents and twelve hull losses in...
ÖAMTC Flugrettung and Airbus Sign Long-Term Framework Contract for H135, H140 and H145 Helicopters
ÖAMTC Flugrettung and Airbus Helicopters have signed a long‑term framework contract covering the H135, H140 and H145 models. The deal builds on ÖAMTC’s role as launch customer for the H140, which will enter EMS service in 2028. ÖAMTC currently operates...
Air Transport Europe Orders Airbus H135 and H140 Helicopters
Air Transport Europe (ATE), a Slovak‑Czech HEMS operator, has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for one H135 and one H140. The H135 will join ATE’s existing fleet equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite and a 4‑axis autopilot, while...
DRF Luftrettung Expands Fleet with Order for Four Additional Airbus H145 Helicopters
German HEMS provider DRF Luftrettung announced an order for four additional Airbus H145 helicopters, expanding its fleet to become one of the largest H145 operators in Europe. The new aircraft complement the existing 50‑plus H135 and H145 helicopters deployed across...
ADAC Luftrettung and Airbus Sign Framework Contract for H135, H140 and H145 Helicopters
ADAC Luftrettung and Airbus Helicopters have signed a long‑term framework agreement covering the H135, H140 and H145 models. The deal expands ADAC's fleet, which already includes 60 Airbus helicopters operating from 37 stations and handling roughly 50,000 missions annually. The...
Bristow Receives First Airbus H160s From Milestone for Offshore Transportation in Nigeria
Bristow Group has taken delivery of the first two Airbus H160 medium‑twin helicopters leased from Milestone Aviation, marking the aircraft’s debut on the African continent. The helicopters are undergoing final preparations in Nigeria ahead of entry into offshore oil‑and‑gas transport...
Pioneering Global Connectivity Through Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks
Airbus is building an integrated connectivity platform that merges terrestrial mobile infrastructure with low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellations to deliver uninterrupted, gate‑to‑gate broadband for aircraft. The initiative includes a successful 5G non‑terrestrial network trial with Eutelsat’s OneWeb and the launch of the...
Airbus Scales up ‘Make in India’ with New 5,000-Seater Technology Centre in Bengaluru
Airbus inaugurated an 880,000‑sq‑ft technology centre in Bengaluru, expanding its ‘Make in India’ footprint. The campus, designed for up to 5,000 staff, consolidates engineering, digital, customer services and procurement functions under one roof. Indian engineers will now support the full...
Winter Wonder: Sweden’s Helicopter Emergency Medical Services
Sweden’s archipelagos and severe winter weather make helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) exceptionally challenging, requiring pilots to navigate low clouds, ice, and sudden wind shifts. Avincis Sweden operates 13 H145 helicopters from ten bases, handling 124 missions over a three‑day...
Quantum Navigation: The Magnetic Secret for Precisely Determining Aircraft Location
Airbus is actively testing quantum navigation, known as MagNav, which leverages the Earth’s magnetic field and quantum sensors to pinpoint aircraft location. The approach matches real‑time magnetic readings against a pre‑built magnetic anomaly map, offering centimeter‑level accuracy without satellite reliance....
Airbus Super Puma: Power and Precision for Airtelis
Airbus’s H225 Super Puma, operated by Airtelis, proved pivotal in July 2025 when it fought the Les Pennes‑Mirabeau and Marseille wildfires, dropping roughly 500,000 litres of water with a 30‑metre sling. The same platform was later dispatched to La Réunion after a March...
GEESE and ATM: Wake Energy Retrieval Collaboration Achieves New Milestones
Airbus and a coalition of airlines completed the GEESE wake‑energy retrieval trials, demonstrating that two A350s can rendez‑vous over the North Atlantic while maintaining vertical separation. The Pairing Assistance Tool coordinated flight paths in real time, achieving a 75% success...
Airbus Granted Transport Canada Type Certification for the H175
Airbus Helicopters received Transport Canada type certification for its H175, clearing the path for Canadian market entry. The super‑medium rotorcraft is positioned for diverse roles such as energy, search‑and‑rescue, EMS, and defence. With the Helionix avionics suite, the H175 offers...
Beyond the Cockpit: How Virtual Reality Is Redefining Pilot Training for the H125
Airbus Helicopters and Loft Dynamics have launched a high‑fidelity virtual‑reality (VR) flight simulator for the H125, featuring a 3‑D headset, full‑scale cockpit replica, and motion‑vibration feedback. The portable system can be installed at operator sites, expanding access beyond the Marignane...
Airbus Reports Full-Year (FY) 2025 Results
Airbus announced FY2025 results, delivering 793 commercial jets and generating €73.4 billion in revenue, a 6% year‑on‑year increase. Adjusted EBIT rose 33% to €7.1 billion, while net income grew 23% to €5.2 billion and EPS to €6.61. The order backlog hit a record...
Tata Advanced Systems Inaugurates Airbus H125 Helicopter Production Line to Boost India’s Vertical-Lift Capabilities
Tata Advanced Systems has opened India’s first private‑sector final assembly line for the Airbus H125 helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The facility will produce both civil H125 and its military...
Savoie Hélicoptères and the Airbus H125: Precision in Avalanche Control
Savoie Hélicoptères relies on the Airbus H125 to conduct precision avalanche‑control missions across the French Alps. The crew follows a rigorous pre‑flight briefing, uses 2 kg explosive‑emulsion charges and a slow‑burn fuse, then flies the helicopter away before detonation. Pilots highlight...
Qanot Sharq Takes Delivery of Its First Airbus A321XLR Aircraft
Qanot Sharq, a leading private carrier in Uzbekistan, received its first Airbus A321XLR under a long‑term lease from Air Lease, marking the first delivery of this model in Central Asia and the CIS. The airline plans to operate the 190‑seat,...
European Maritime Safety Agency Selects Airbus Flexrotor Drone for Maritime Surveillance Missions
Airbus secured a €30 million framework contract from the European Maritime Safety Agency to provide Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems for maritime surveillance. The VTOL drone delivers up to 12‑hour endurance and can carry EO/IR and radar payloads, streaming live data to...
German Navy Takes over First NH90 Sea Tiger
The German Navy accepted the first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, marking the start of a 31‑aircraft delivery programme slated for completion by 2030. The Sea Tiger will replace the decades‑old Mk88A Sea Lynx fleet and expands Germany’s anti‑surface and anti‑submarine...
Airbus Delivers First H160 for the Gendarmerie Nationale
Airbus Helicopters handed over the first H160 to the French Gendarmerie Nationale, marking the start of a ten‑aircraft order placed in December 2021. The delivery, made to the Defence Procurement Agency, complements the Gendarmerie's earlier H145 acquisition and shares the...
Airbus, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya Forge Agreement to Pioneer Waste-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel R&D in India
Airbus and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya have signed a Joint Study Agreement to develop waste‑to‑Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology in India. The partnership will use municipal solid‑waste and other feedstocks to create a locally sourced SAF supply chain, leveraging Airbus’s industry expertise and...
Airbus to Lead Spain's New Combat Training System
Airbus Defence and Space has been appointed to lead Spain’s Integrated Training System‑Combat (ITS‑C), partnering with Turkish Aerospace to supply 30 HÜRJET jet trainers that will replace the ageing F‑5 fleet. The programme splits into two simultaneous phases: initial delivery...
CALC Orders 30 Additional Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft
China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) placed a firm order for 30 additional Airbus A320neo Family jets, marking its fifth deal with the manufacturer. The new order brings CALC’s total Airbus fleet to 282 aircraft, including 203 A320neo family types. CALC...
Spain Orders 18 C295 Transport Aircraft
Spain’s Ministry of Defence has placed an order for 18 Airbus C295 transport aircraft, slated to replace the ageing CN235 and C212 fleets used for pilot and paratrooper training. The acquisition is split into two batches, with the first arriving...
Derazona Helicopters Becomes Southeast Asia's First Energy Operator of the Airbus H160
Derazona Helicopters received the first Airbus H160 delivered to Southeast Asia, becoming the region’s inaugural energy operator of the next‑generation rotorcraft. The multi‑mission aircraft will augment Derazona’s fleet for offshore energy transport, utility work and commercial passenger services. Airbus highlighted...
Airbus Reports Share Buybacks for Week Starting 15 December 2025
Airbus announced the completion of the second tranche of its share‑buyback programme for the week beginning 15 December 2025, repurchasing 325,217 shares. The transactions were executed on the Paris (XPAR) and Euronext Amsterdam (XETA) markets at an average price of €192.19 per...
Airbus and Indra Selected to Conduct Definition Study on Future Spanish Intelligence Aircraft
Airbus Defence and Space and Indra Group have been chosen by Spain's Ministry of Defence to lead an 18‑month definition study for a new signals‑intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft fleet. The study will evaluate platform options and the integration of electronic and...
Airbus Awarded Eutelsat Contract for Further 340 Low Earth Orbit OneWeb Satellites
Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to manufacture an additional 340 low‑Earth‑orbit OneWeb satellites, bringing the total order to 440 units after a 100‑satellite batch in 2024. Production will run on a new line at Airbus’s...
Driving Innovation at Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters is rolling out a multi‑phase innovation roadmap that emphasizes automation, crewed‑uncrewed teaming, and energy‑efficient performance. In the short term it is introducing new flight‑control laws and avionics to lessen pilot workload, while medium‑term projects target disruptive features for...
Expanding 5G Connectivity with the Airbus UpNext SpaceRAN Demonstrator
Airbus’s UpNext SpaceRAN demonstrator will showcase a software‑defined satellite that processes 5G signals on‑board, cutting latency and boosting throughput. The program includes a ground‑based LEO constellation simulation and an in‑orbit payload slated for launch in 2027 with testing in 2028....
Airbus Helicopters Proactively Releases an EASB in Response to H160 Ditching in Brazil
Airbus Helicopters issued an Emergency Alert Service Bulletin after a H160 helicopter ditched in Brazil on 2 January 2026 due to severe vibrations. The controlled water landing saved all eight occupants, but post‑recovery inspection revealed damage to the tail‑rotor drive line and...
Airbus Launches Demonstrator to Test Global 5G Connectivity in Orbit
Airbus UpNext has launched the SpaceRAN demonstrator, a software-defined satellite payload that will test 5G non-terrestrial network capabilities in low-Earth orbit. The system processes data onboard, aiming to reduce latency, increase throughput and enable direct user-to-user connectivity for commercial, defence...
Airbus Reports 793 Commercial Aircraft Deliveries in 2025
Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, a 4 % increase over 2024, and recorded 1,000 gross orders from 57 customers. The order backlog rose to a record 8,754 aircraft, with wide‑body backlog reaching 1,124 units. Deliveries spanned the A220, A320,...
Ghana Places First Order for Multi-Mission Airbus Helicopters
Ghana's Ministry of Defence has placed its first Airbus Helicopters order, acquiring two H175M multi‑mission aircraft, one ACH175 and one ACH160. The H175Ms will handle transport, search‑and‑rescue, emergency medical services and disaster‑relief tasks, while the ACH models focus on transport...
Matthieu Louvot Appointed Airbus Helicopters CEO
Airbus Helicopters announced that Matthieu Louvot will become chief executive on April 1, 2026, succeeding Bruno Even after an eight‑year tenure. Louvot currently serves as Airbus’s Executive Vice‑President Strategy and will join the Group’s Executive Committee, reporting to CEO Guillaume Faury. The...
France Orders Airbus VSR700 Uncrewed Aerial System
The French DGA awarded Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group a contract for six VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems, slated for delivery to the French Navy by 2028. Built on the Cabri G2 airframe, the VSR700 enters serial production after its debut at...
Air Policing in Romania: “With the Eurofighter We Can Respond at a Moment's Notice”
Since August 2025 Germany has deployed five Eurofighter jets and roughly 170 personnel to Romania’s Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base to back NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing South. The detachment runs Quick Reaction Alert missions, scrambling aircraft within minutes to intercept unauthorized planes...
How Airbus Is Pioneering Aircraft Manufacturing with Titanium 3D Printing
Airbus has introduced wire‑Directed Energy Deposition (w‑DED), a large‑scale titanium 3D‑printing process that can produce structural components up to seven metres long. The technique uses a multi‑axis robot to melt titanium wire with a laser, plasma or electron beam, creating...
Delta Air Lines Grows Airbus Fleet with Order for 31 Additional Widebody Aircraft
Delta Air Lines announced a firm order for 31 new wide‑body Airbus jets, comprising 16 A330‑900neo and 15 A350‑900 aircraft. The purchase will raise Delta’s A330neo fleet to 55 and its A350 fleet to 79, strengthening its long‑haul capacity. Executives...
From the Plus Ultra to the Airbus A400M: A Century of Transatlantic Pioneers
Airbus is partnering with the Spanish Air and Space Force to mark the 100‑year anniversary of the Plus Ultra’s historic South Atlantic crossing. On 24 January 2026, two A400M transport aircraft, escorted by six H120 Colibrí helicopters, will fly from Palos de la...
The First Airbus Pléiades Neo Next Satellite Will Be Launched Early 2028
Airbus Defence and Space will launch the first Pléiades Neo Next satellite in early 2028 from Kourou on a Vega C rocket. The new platform adds 20‑cm native resolution and higher revisit rates to the existing Pléiades Neo constellation. Enhanced ground‑segment tools, including Direct...
Airbus Reports Strong Helicopter Orders in 2025
Airbus Helicopters recorded 544 gross orders (net 536) and delivered 392 units in 2025, boosting its civil market share to 51% and military share to 28%. The order book was driven by major sovereign deals, notably Spain’s 100‑helicopter contract and...
From A220 to H160, Airbus to Display Multiple Jets, Helicopters and Immersive Rotary Simulator at Wings India 2026
Airbus will showcase a broad lineup of fixed‑wing and rotary aircraft at Wings India 2026, including the A321neo, A220, H160, and H125, alongside scale models of the H145 and A321XLR. The company will also debut an immersive H125 VR simulator...
An Iconic Airbus BelugaST Readies for New Mission in the UK
Airbus has retired its iconic BelugaST and relocated the aircraft to Broughton, North Wales, to serve as a STEM education facility. The super‑jumbo completed its last logistics mission from Bordeaux, ending a 30‑year career transporting UK‑built wings across Europe. Airbus...
Airbus and Hisdesat Sign a Commercialisation Agreement for PAZ-2 Satellite Imagery
Airbus Defence and Space and Hisdesat have signed a commercialisation agreement to market imagery from the upcoming PAZ‑2 radar satellites, extending their partnership that already includes TerraSAR‑X/TanDEM‑X. PAZ‑2 will consist of twin satellites delivering up to 10 cm resolution, 6.7 million km²...
Airbus, Singapore Achieve World-First on A330 MRTT Auto-Refuelling Full Certification
Airbus and Singapore have secured full certification for the Automatic Air‑to‑Air Refuelling (A3R) system on the A330 MRTT, granted by Spain's INTA after extensive flight testing. The RSAF becomes the world’s first air force to operate A3R, enabling automated refuelling...
