Major European Powers Like The UK, France, Italy And Germany Remain Key Markets Despite Frozen Or Reduced Overall Defence Budgets

A new market study "The Military Helicopter Market 2011-2021" finds helicopters certainly play key roles and are expected to remain doing so in the foreseeable future. Thus, programs related to their development and acquisition remains remarkably resilient to cuts in defence spending. Although there have been fears helicopter spending would be scaled back, after recent announcements in major markets, helicopter programs have mainly survived or even thrived, enjoying the support of government budgets. Consequently, countries are expected to continue making military helicopter a priority. Based on the study, global spending on military helicopters amounted to $12.6 billion in 2010.

Not surprisingly, the report finds that the US spends the most on military helicopters, as these aircraft are in great demand in its military operations, increasingly so in the vast spaces of Afghanistan. Major European powers like the UK, France, Italy and Germany remain key markets despite frozen or reduced overall defence budgets. Countries such as India, South Korea and Turkey are also embarking on major helicopter development and acquisition programs.

Helicopters have time and again proven to be essential to the majority of 21st century military operations in both conventional wars and counter-insurgency-type campaigns. Helicopters, the report says, can provide a means for moving personnel and cargo even in areas where prepared airfields and even roads are poor or do not exist. The ability of these rotorcraft to hover or to fly slower than fixed-wing aircraft also make them invaluable in surveillance and providing air support. Helicopters embarked on naval vessels also significantly extend the reach and capabilities of these ships. Helicopters have further been useful in humanitarian operations where they are often the best, or even the only, means of transport in disaster-stricken areas.

FMI: www.ASDReports.com