Helicopters and Rotorcraft: Latest News
Helicopters do the flying that fixed-wing aircraft cannot: offshore energy, emergency medical services, search and rescue, firefighting, utility and police work, corporate transport, and the bulk of military tactical airlift.
The market is dominated by four civil manufacturers — Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, Bell and Sikorsky — with Robinson in the light segment, and by the same names plus Boeing on the military side. This page gathers every AirPro News story on rotorcraft, newest first.
What we watch
- Civil programmes and orders. The Airbus H125, H145, H160 and H175; Leonardo’s AW139, AW169 and AW189; Bell’s 407, 429 and 525; Sikorsky’s S-92 and S-76 — and the offshore, EMS and VIP operators who order them.
- Military rotorcraft. The US Army’s future vertical lift programmes, Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook production and upgrades, NH90 and Tiger fleets in Europe, and the export campaigns for each.
- Certification and safety. New type and variant certifications, airworthiness directives and the safety programmes run by operators and regulators.
- MRO and support. Engine and dynamic-component support, PBH contracts, and the independent maintainers that keep offshore and utility fleets flying.
- What replaces the helicopter. Tiltrotors, compound designs and the eVTOL aircraft that aim at helicopter missions in cities and offshore.
Latest helicopter coverage
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Collins Aerospace Supplies Five Systems for US Army MV-75 FLRAA Rotorcraft
Collins Aerospace contracts with Bell to provide five critical systems for the US Army’s MV-75 FLRAA, enhancing speed, range, and sustainment.
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NHV Group Adds Airbus H160 Helicopters to Offshore Fleet in 2026
NHV Group expands its offshore fleet with two Airbus H160 helicopters leased from GDHF, starting operations in May 2026 across Northern Europe…
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Enstrom 480B Helicopter Gains FAA and EASA Approval for Global Delivery
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation receives FAA and EASA certification for its 480B turbine helicopter, enabling worldwide deliveries and upcoming avionics upgrades.
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Weststar Aviation Secures RM2 Billion Financing from AmBank for Fleet Expansion
Weststar Aviation obtains RM2 billion from AmBank to double its fleet, supporting offshore oil and gas, defense, and emergency services expansion.
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Morocco Receives Second Batch of AH-64E Apache Helicopters
Morocco’s Royal Air Force expands its AH-64E Apache fleet with a second delivery under a 2020 US Foreign Military Sales agreement.
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Vietnam Helicopter Corporation Orders Airbus H225 to Support Offshore Energy
Vietnam Helicopter Corporation orders three Airbus H225 helicopters to modernize its fleet and support expanding offshore energy operations under revised PDP8 plan.
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Airbus Celebrates 25 Years of Operations and Growth in Chile
Airbus marks 25 years in Chile with a consolidated Santiago hub and 140 helicopters supporting critical aerospace missions across the Andes and…
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Minas Gerais Upgrades Aeromedical Rescue with Airbus H145 Helicopters
Minas Gerais Military Fire Corps enhances rescue operations with two Airbus H145 helicopters for medical transport and emergency response.
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Indian Air Force Launches Vayu Baan Helicopter-Launched Drone Project
The Indian Air Force starts Vayu Baan, its first indigenous helicopter-launched drone system for ISR and precision strikes with over 50 km…
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NTSB Preliminary Report on Boynton Beach Robinson R44 Helicopter Crash
NTSB releases preliminary findings on the fatal March 2026 Boynton Beach helicopter crash involving a Robinson R44 during a training flight.
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Airbus Racer Demonstrator Shows High Speed and Efficiency in Tests
Airbus Helicopters’ Racer demonstrator achieves 440 km/h cruise speed with 25% fuel savings and advanced agility in latest test campaign.
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KULR and Robinson Collaborate on Battery System for eR66 Electric Helicopter
KULR Technology Group and Robinson Helicopter Company partner to develop a next-gen battery system for the eR66 electric helicopter, targeting late 2026…
Related topics
Airbus · eVTOL & AAM · Military aircraft · Air forces · MRO · Certification · Engines
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