Airbus Helicopters

What Airbus Helicopters does

Airbus Helicopters is a division of Airbus SE headquartered in Marignane, France, that designs, manufactures, and supports civil and military rotorcraft. The company has delivered approximately 19,000 helicopters to customers in approximately 150 countries, representing roughly one-third of the global rotorcraft in-service fleet. Its product portfolio spans light twin helicopters (H145), medium-class platforms (H160, H215), the newly launched H140, and the RACER compound rotorcraft demonstrator, alongside emerging unmanned aerial systems following the Aerovel acquisition.

The division operates within Airbus SE, which employs approximately 157,000-160,000 people globally, and serves a diverse customer base spanning government and military operators, commercial airlines, civil helicopter operators, and satellite services clients. Revenue is generated through aircraft sales, multi-year support and aftermarket services, and military procurement contracts. The company is deepening its role in the broader aerospace ecosystem through partnerships with SkyFall, Diehl Defence, MTU Aero Engines, Loft Orbital, and Air Canada, as well as strategic acquisitions in cybersecurity (infodas) and unmanned systems (Aerovel).

Business model mechanics center on high-margin aftermarket services tied to the installed base, long-cycle military contracts, and incremental growth from new platform introductions and vertical expansion into UAS and satellite-enabled services. The integration of AI capabilities — including computer vision for automated landing, autonomous flight functions, and predictive analytics — supports the company's modernization roadmap but remains a product feature rather than a standalone revenue stream.

Name

Airbus Helicopters

Legal name

Airbus SE

Website

https://airbus.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Airbus Helicopters is a France-headquartered division of Airbus SE that designs, manufactures, and supports civil and military rotorcraft. It has delivered approximately 19,000 helicopters across roughly 150 countries and serves government, military, commercial, and satellite services customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil and Military Helicopters (Rotorcraft Manufacturing)

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (3364)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil/Commercial Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Military/Defense Helicopter Manufacturing (IMABABAB)

Keywords

• Civil helicopters
• Military rotorcraft
• Helicopter maintenance services
• Uncrewed aerial systems
• Corporate helicopters

Headquarters

HQ city

Blagnac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Commercial Aircraft Sales: Sale of passenger and freighter aircraft including A220, A320, A330, A350 families, and A380
2. Helicopter Sales and Services: Civil and military helicopters including H125, H130, H135, H145, H160, H215, plus HCare services and support
3. Defence and Space: Military aircraft, satellites, space systems, defence communications, and security solutions
4. Services and Support: Aircraft maintenance, pilot training, spare parts, digital services, and customer support across all product lines

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Airbus Helicopters, the rotorcraft division of Airbus SE, designs, manufactures, and supports a comprehensive range of civil and military helicopters (including the H125, H130, H135, H145, H160, H215 Super Puma, and military variants), uncrewed aerial systems, and corporate helicopters. The company also delivers lifecycle services through its HCare program, covering maintenance, spare parts, pilot training, and technical support, and supplies nearly one-third of the world's rotorcraft fleet across 150 countries.

Product overview

Airbus Helicopters, a division of Airbus, offers a comprehensive portfolio of rotorcraft solutions including civil helicopters (H160, H145, H140, H215 Super Puma), military helicopters, corporate helicopters (ACH), and uncrewed aerial systems. The product lineup also includes support services through HCare and a pre-owned helicopter program. The RACER high-speed demonstrator showcases innovation toward next-generation helicopter technology with speeds up to 440 km/h. With approximately 19,000 helicopters delivered in 150 countries, Airbus Helicopters supplies nearly one-third of the world's rotorcraft fleet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ): Corporate jet aircraft brand offering custom cabin configurations for VIP and corporate transport.
• Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH)
• HCare
• Airbus UpNext
• ZEROe
• Airbus Flightlab

Products and services

• H160 Helicopter Medium-lift civil helicopter designed for offshore transfers, emergency medical services, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions.
• H145 Helicopter Lightweight twin-engine civil helicopter known for versatility, used extensively in emergency medical services, police operations, and tourism.
• H140 Helicopter Lightweight helicopter designed for emergency medical services and public services missions.
• H215 Super Puma Helicopter Heavy twin-engine helicopter used for firefighting, search and rescue, and construction missions, powered by powerful engines for critical operations.
• RACER High-Speed Helicopter Demonstrator High-speed helicopter demonstrator achieving optimal balance of speed, cost-efficiency, and environmental performance, reaching speeds up to 440 km/h with fuel savings of around 20% compared to conventional helicopters, integrating over 90 patented technologies.
• Military Helicopters Military rotorcraft for defence operations including combat, transport, reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions.
• Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) Corporate helicopter brand offering bespoke helicopter solutions for executive and VIP transport.
• Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Uncrewed aerial systems including surveillance drones, maritime patrol aircraft, and autonomous platforms for military and commercial missions, including the Flexrotor and Eurodrone.
• HCare Services Comprehensive support and maintenance services for helicopter operators including spare parts, training, and technical support across a global service centre network.
• Pre-Owned Helicopters Certified pre-owned helicopter programme offering inspected and maintained aircraft with warranty support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,000 helicopters delivered in 150 countries, supplying almost one-third of the world's rotorcraft
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MTU Aero EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Joint venture to develop a fully electric hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system for aircraft. Combines Airbus' aircraft integration expertise with MTU's propulsion technology.
• Air CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Joint initiative to scale domestic Canadian sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and usage, supporting aviation decarbonization efforts.
• SkyFallcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Strategic alliance to advance European and Ukrainian defence innovation. Combines Airbus' aerospace capabilities with SkyFall's defence technology expertise for next-generation defence solutions.
• Diehl DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Agreement to intensify cooperation in integrated air and missile defence systems. Deepens existing partnership for joint defence technology development.
• Airbus UpNextcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirbus' innovation subsidiary focused on developing breakthrough technologies for future aircraft, including hydrogen propulsion, autonomous flight, and advanced materials.
• AcubedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirbus' innovation center in Silicon Valley focused on exploring emerging technologies and startup partnerships for aerospace applications.
• 40 European Partners (Racer Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-national European consortium of 40 partners developing the Racer high-speed helicopter demonstrator, showcasing pan-European aerospace cooperation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MD Helicopters: MD Helicopters is a smaller US-based rotorcraft OEM producing the MD 500/530/600 series and next-generation MD 902, competing in the light single/twin civil helicopter market against Airbus' H125 and H130.
• Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company): Sikorsky is a direct competitor primarily in military rotorcraft with the UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-53K King Stallion and S-97 Raider, competing for the same heavy-lift and utility military helicopter contracts that Airbus Helicopters targets with its H225M Caracal and NH90 offerings.
• Leonardo S.p.A. (Helicopters Division): Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland) is a direct European rival producing the AW109, AW139, AW189 and AW249 that compete in the same EMS, SAR, offshore and military transport segments as Airbus Helicopters' H145/H160/H215 and Tiger platforms.
• Robinson Helicopter Company: Robinson is a direct competitor in the light civil helicopter segment with the R22, R44 and R66 piston helicopters, primarily competing on price and simplicity in private/utility/training markets that overlap with the entry-level H125.
• Bell Textron: Bell is a direct competitor in civil and military rotorcraft, producing the 505, 407, 412, 525, V-22 Osprey and AH-1Z Viper that compete head-to-head with the H125/H130, H145, H160 and Tiger families across commercial, EMS and military markets.

Broad incumbents

• Textron Inc. Textron is the parent of Bell Textron and a broad aerospace/defence incumbent; it competes with Airbus Helicopters through Bell in civil and military rotorcraft and offers comparable aftermarket services and defence electronics support.
• Boeing Defense, Space & Security: Boeing is a broad aerospace and defence incumbent that produces the AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook and V-22 Osprey (jointly with Bell), competing against Airbus Helicopters in heavy military rotorcraft and providing comparable scale in defence and government programmes.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation: Lockheed Martin is the parent of Sikorsky and a broad defence incumbent; it competes with Airbus Helicopters via Sikorsky in military rotorcraft and provides comparable large-scale defence programme management, systems integration and sustainment capabilities.

Emerging players

• Joby Aviation: Joby is an eVTOL emerging player developing electric vertical takeoff aircraft for urban air mobility; it does not directly compete today but represents a potential long-term substitute for short-range civil helicopters in passenger transport and corporate aviation segments Airbus Helicopters serves.
• Embraer Defense & Security: Embraer is an emerging player in defence and special-mission aircraft (Super Tucano, KC-390), with growing overlap into helicopter-adjacent markets such as light attack, SAR and ISR, making it a partial competitor as it expands its rotorcraft-adjacent portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/airbus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/airbus
• Facebookfacebook.com/airbus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airbusgroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/airbus
• TikToktiktok.com/@airbus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airbus Helicopters