Yes it the bad guys were a big step ahead aerospace innovation. Always (still) an issue in public communication.
On the X3 I saw it at the Paris Airshow this week. The program is winding down. Only 10 flight hours left. Eurocopter kept un usually secret on the X3 project before roll out. Apparently they modified the main rotor for better aerodynamics recently.
It's not like Eurocopter is now sitting on their hands as the article suggests. Contrary. Again in unusual secrecy Eurocopter is working on no less then 4 new generation platforms and they are not far away. Also a medium helicopter for which the X3 seems to have been the technology development platform..
X4 - 4-5t helicopter, first flight 2015
X6 - 11 t helicopter, first flight 2017
X9 - light twin, first flight 2019
X? - medium helicopter using X3 technology (militairy?) first flight 2017-2020
All will be significantly quieter, faster and fully fly by wire.