Latest news with #AirbusHelicopters
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Airbus offers support in probe of Sungai Pulai police chopper crash
KUALA LUMPUR: Airbus has pledged its full cooperation with the authorities following the crash of one of its AS355N helicopters near Sungai Pulai, Johor. The aircraft manufacturer said that it was ready to support both investigators and its customer in the ongoing probe to determine the cause of the accident. "Airbus is aware of an accident near Sungai Pulai in Malaysia involving an AS355N. Our thoughts are with those affected by the incident. "The Malaysian authorities are currently investigating the precise circumstances of the accident, and Airbus stands ready to support our customer and the authorities as required," an Airbus spokesperson told the New Straits Times. Under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Chicago Convention Annex 13 — which outlines the standards and recommended practices for aircraft accident and incident investigations — aircraft manufacturers may provide technical expertise and data in support of investigations. However, they assist only at the request of the investigating authority and do not lead or control the investigation. It was earlier reported that the wreckage of the police Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) AS355N, which crashed near Sungai Pulai yesterday, has yet to be cleared. A site inspection revealed two black buoys placed as markers at the crash site near the river. According to protocol, investigations must first be carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Transport Ministry, in collaboration with the Police Air Operations Force, before any recovery of the wreckage can begin. The helicopter is expected to be removed once on-site investigations are concluded. The aircraft crashed yesterday near the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) jetty in Gelang Patah during a flypast demonstration for the multilateral MITSATOM 2025 exercise involving Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) confirmed that the crash involved a helicopter bearing the registration number 9M-PHG. The helicopter had departed from the Tanjung Kupang police station at 9.51am with five people on board, including the pilot. Two of the five were reported to be in critical condition.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Airbus Helicopters signs MoUs with key players in Malaysian aerospace and defence sectors
PETALING JAYA: Airbus Helicopters has signed two memorandums of understanding (MoU) with key players in the Malaysian aerospace and defence sectors – one to foster industrial cooperation in aerospace technologies and another to enhance military helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities – underscoring their shared commitment to innovation and regional security. The agreements were signed in Paris in the presence of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, during an official visit to France. Under the first agreement, Airbus Helicopters and the Coalition of Defence Industry Malaysia – CDI (M) – plan to pursue industrial opportunities with the latter's member companies specialising in aerospace and defence development. The MoU marks the first of its kind between Airbus and the Malaysian defence industry, establishing a dedicated framework to drive military helicopter innovations, growth and development in the local defence sector. Under the second agreement, Airbus Helicopters will partner MRO service provider Global Turbine Asia (GTA) to advance in-country helicopter component MRO capabilities. This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen Malaysia's defence ecosystem and accelerate industrial growth in alignment with the nation's plans to acquire new helicopters for its armed forces and related governmental agencies. 'I am looking forward to deepening the collaboration with major European industries, building on the Malaysian aerospace industry's enduring partnerships with leaders like Airbus. We are committed to reinforcing these relationships and exploring new areas of cooperation, ensuring sustained innovation, growth, and long-term value for all stakeholders,' said Global Turbine Asia executive chairman and CDI (M) president Datuk Nonee Ashirin Datuk Mohd Radzi. Airbus Helicopters Asia-Pacific head Vincent Dubrule said, 'These partnerships underscore Airbus' strong commitment to Malaysia's long-term goal of building a resilient, self-reliant defence ecosystem. By deepening local industrial growth and expanding MRO capabilities, we are strengthening the nation's aerospace and defence sectors, supporting technological advancement and enabling greater industrial sovereignty. 'As Malaysia looks to acquire helicopters for key missions like tactical support, combat search-and-rescue, and anti-surface warfare, these partnerships aim to strengthen local expertise, promote technology transfer and build autonomy. Airbus sees CDI (M) and GTA as trusted partners aligned to advance these priorities.'
Borneo Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Airbus Helicopters inks two MoUs with Malaysian aerospace, defence players
(Front) Dubrule and Nonee pose for photographs during the signing ceremony. KUCHING (July 7): Airbus Helicopters is collaborating with key players in the Malaysian aerospace and defence sectors to foster industrial cooperation in aerospace technologies and enhance military helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. This follows two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed during Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin's official visit to France, underscoring shared commitment of both parties to innovation and regional security, said Airbus in a statement today. Under the first MoU, Airbus Helicopters and the Coalition of Defence Industry (CDI) Malaysia plan to pursue industrial opportunities with the latter's member companies specialising in aerospace and defence development. This MoU marks the first of its kind between Airbus and the Malaysian defence industry, establishing a dedicated framework to drive military helicopter innovations, growth, and development in the local defence sector, said Airbus. Under the second MoU, Airbus Helicopters will partner with local MRO service provider Global Turbine Asia (GTA) to advance in-country helicopter component MRO capabilities. This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen Malaysia's defence ecosystem and accelerate industrial growth in alignment with the nation's plans to acquire new helicopters for its armed forces and related governmental agencies. CDI (M) president and GTA executive chair Datuk Nonee Ashirin Mohd Radzi said they look forward to deepening the collaboration with major European industries, building on the Malaysian aerospace industry's enduring partnerships with leaders such as Airbus. 'We are committed to reinforcing these relationships and exploring new areas of cooperation, ensuring sustained innovation, growth, and long-term value for all stakeholders,' she said. Airbus Helicopters head of Asia-Pacific Vincent Dubrule said these partnerships underscore Airbus' strong commitment to Malaysia's long-term goal of building a resilient, self-reliant defence ecosystem. By deepening local industrial growth and expanding MRO capabilities, he said they are strengthening the nation's aerospace and defence sectors, supporting technological advancement, and enabling greater industrial sovereignty. 'As Malaysia looks to acquire helicopters for key missions like tactical support, combat search-and-rescue and anti-surface warfare, these partnerships aim to strengthen local expertise, promote technology transfer and build autonomy. 'Airbus sees CDI (M) and GTA as trusted partners aligned to advance these priorities,' added Dubrule.
Techday NZ
20-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Drone Forge secures record Flexrotor order with Airbus in Asia-Pacific
Drone Forge and Airbus Helicopters have signed an agreement for the purchase of six Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems, totalling 17 aircraft, in the largest single order for the Flexrotor to date. The agreement specifies that the Flexrotor systems will be mission-ready and tailored to support a wide range of operational requirements within the Asia-Pacific region. These include littoral surveillance, high-altitude inland missions, infrastructure monitoring, and maritime environment assessment. Each Flexrotor unit will be equipped with a heavy fuel engine designed for maritime operations. This configuration is intended to enhance safety, ensure widespread fuel availability, and improve interoperability with naval assets in the field. Starlink connectivity will be integrated into the systems to facilitate beyond-line-of-sight operations and enable real-time situational awareness. Furthermore, the Flexrotor will incorporate PT-6 imaging technology. This technology provides stabilised, high-resolution capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, supporting efficient wide-area maritime monitoring. Thomas Symes, Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge, emphasised the anticipated impact of the Flexrotor in new market segments. "We are fully convinced that the Flexrotor, built on a strong engineering heritage, will allow us to tap into new markets with a proven solution where real-time intelligence, mission flexibility and reliability matters," said Thomas Symes, Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge. "We look forward to integrating and commercialising the Flexrotor systems in the region." The agreement is the follow-up to a recent Letter of Intent signed between Drone Forge and Airbus, establishing a framework for collaboration in the deployment and integration of the Flexrotor UAS in Asia-Pacific operations. Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the significance of the order for the company's partnership with Drone Forge. "The landmark order opens a new chapter in our partnership with Drone Forge, reinforcing our shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities to Asia-Pacific operators," said Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters. "With strong confidence in the Flexrotor's efficiency and reliability, this force multiplier will drive operational excellence in defence and security applications." The Flexrotor is the latest addition to the Airbus UAS portfolio. It is a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg. It is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, with an operational endurance of over 12–14 hours under typical configurations. The system supports the integration of varying payloads, including electro-optical systems and advanced sensors that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of individual customers. Its autonomous launch and recovery capability is designed for operation from both land and sea, requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 metre area for deployment, making it suitable for expeditionary missions that demand a minimal logistical footprint. With the agreement now in place, Drone Forge and Airbus Helicopters will move forward with the commercialisation and regional deployment of the Flexrotor systems in the Asia-Pacific market. The order marks a significant commitment to expanding the scope of uncrewed aerial systems in defence, security, and monitoring missions across the region.
Reuters
18-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Australian Drone Forge to buy six Airbus Flexrotors
June 18 (Reuters) - Australian aerospace start-up Drone Forge has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters ( opens new tab to purchase six Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) comprising 17 aircraft. This would be the largest such order for the Flexrotor to date, Drone Forge said in a statement on Wednesday.
