Airbus Helicopters has revealed two next generation rotorcraft concepts in response to NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study, outlining a twin track approach designed to meet evolving allied operational requirements.
Dual Concept Approach
Developed in partnership with RTX businesses Collins Aerospace and Raytheon, alongside MBDA, the proposal includes a high performance conventional helicopter and a high speed compound rotorcraft. Airbus stated that modularity and simplicity underpin both designs, with a Modular Open System Architecture intended to support ease of manufacture, maintenance and future upgrades.
The two platforms are designed to share commonality in maintenance, training, weapons integration and mission systems, ensuring fleet complementarity while reducing through life cost.
“We want to ensure that Europe is in a position to propose a platform that will best fit our military partners’ needs in terms of affordability, operational efficiency and maximum availability,” said Bruno Even, chief executive of Airbus Helicopters. “These two concepts are a basis to further exchange with our military partners on their vision and need for future military operations.”
High Speed Capability
Airbus was awarded a NATO Support and Procurement Agency contract in July 2024 to lead the NGRC concept study. The advanced compound configuration builds on flight test experience from the X3 and Racer demonstrators, offering significantly higher cruise speeds than conventional helicopters alongside rapid climb and descent performance.
According to Airbus, evaluations conducted with military pilots under the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies programme validated the benefits of the winged, propeller assisted configuration, including extended flight envelope and improved manoeuvrability.
Even added that Airbus is advancing both legacy platform evolution, including the NH90 roadmap, and next generation systems incorporating connectivity, cybersecurity, crewed uncrewed teaming and multi domain collaborative combat.
