European Airbus's Helicopter segment announced main 2025 achievements preceding full annual report publication scheduled for February 19.
Last year Airbus Helicopters received firm orders totaling 536 helicopters for civilian, government, and military purposes (544 gross with options). This is 20% more than in 2024 when Airbus received 450 firm orders overall (455 gross), which was also 10% growth from 2023.
Read more: Why Would France Block Storm Shadow Missile Orders for Ukraine If It Produces Them, What Are Nuances of This Case?
Delivery volumes also increased: in 2025 the company transferred 392 helicopters to customers versus 361 aircraft in 2024. Currently Airbus Helicopters has 51% share of civilian and government segment order volume, while military market share grew to 28%. Meanwhile in 2024, civilian and government order share at Airbus Helicopters was at 57% level. So overall order growth occurred precisely thanks to military sector.
Overall contracts (gross, together with options) distributed by helicopter models as follows:
- H125 - 129
- H130 - 47
- H135 - 45
- H140 - 61
- H145 - 149
- H160 - 30
- H175 - 15
- Super Puma - 34
- NH90 - 34
Very significant contribution to expanding Airbus portfolio for military helicopters was made by Spain, which made large-scale order for 100 helicopters. Of these, 50 are very pragmatic light combat H145Ms.
Germany ordered another 20 H145Ms. Overall, H145 in all versions became the bestseller 149 of all orders.
Additionally, Airbus continues believing in scandal-plagued NH90 helicopter, which although manufactured by NH Industries, appeared in Airbus report because this company owns 62.5% of joint venture (another 32% to Italian Leonardo and 5.5% to Dutch GKN Fokker).
Airbus Helicopters emphasized that Netherlands ordered three additional NH90s, and already-mentioned Spain 31 helicopters. Greece also continued operation, signing a contract to extend technical maintenance of these helicopters.
Worth noting: for NH90, 2025 wasn't entirely cloudless. Particularly in July, Belgium announced it would write off its NH90s only 11 years old becoming the fourth country refusing these machines. In November, a dispute with Norway's government was settled, which although demanding €2.8 billion, agreed to a significantly smaller sum.
Read more: Why China Is Building USV Twice Size of Ukraine's Sea Baby — Despite Similar Armament
