Airbus Helicopters has unveiled two next-generation military helicopter concepts developed to address the requirements of NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study.
The proposals, developed in collaboration with RTX businesses Collins Aerospace and Raytheon, and EU missile-maker MBDA, comprise a high-performance conventional helicopter and a high-speed compound design. The Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities (NGRC) concepts are intended to ensure operational efficiency and fleet complementarity for military partners.
Modularity and simplicity underpin both designs, with the platforms built around a Modular Open System Architecture approach to ensure long-term affordability. The two concepts will share commonalities in maintenance, training, weapons and systems, delivering platforms that are straightforward to manufacture, maintain and upgrade.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, said, “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 for both the conventional helicopter and for the high speed rotorcraft.
“These two concepts are a basis to further exchange with our military partners on their vision and need for future military operations.”
The high-speed compound concept draws on Airbus’s extensive experience with compound configuration demonstrators, including its X3 and the Racer technology demonstrator. The design offers higher speeds than conventional helicopters, along with an extended flight envelope enabling rapid acceleration and deceleration, and fast climb and descent capabilities.
Military pilots have conducted flight evaluations of the Racer under the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies program, confirming the performance benefits of the compound configuration’s added wings and propellers. Airbus said this flight test data, combined with operational feedback from customers, forms the foundation for the proposed next-generation capability.
In July 2024, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) awarded Airbus Helicopters a contract to lead a concept study under the NGRC project. The study brought participants together to work on the design, development, delivery and support of a medium multi-role helicopter.
Even said, “We are working on the next generation of rotorcraft systems, leveraging modular multi-platform technologies such as connectivity, cybersecurity, crewed-uncrewed teaming, multi-domain collaborative combat, survivability and battle damage repair.”
