27/06/2022
In the margins of the NATO Defence Ministry this month, the Ministers of France, Germany, Greece, Italy the Netherlands and the UK made an important step towards developing the next generation of . In dedicating 26.7 million EUR to NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project, the six countries reaffirmed their commitment to equipping their helicopter fleets with the capabilities needed to maintain their technological edge.
Medium multi-role helicopters play a key role across a wide range of military and civilian areas. They are critical to carrying out search and rescue missions, medical evacuations, and transporting equipment and people. The NGRC project aims to design, develop and field a medium-lift rotorcraft to replace Allies’ existing fleets – a significant portion of which will reach the end of their lifecycle in the coming years.
In support of the NGRC project, the NATO STO Applied Vehicle Technology (AVT) Panel is conducting a study on the impact that next generation rotorcraft could have on military operations. Through supporting and synchronizing with other NATO efforts, such as the Joint Capability Group Vertical Lift (JCVGL) and NIAG Study Groups, the team is working to more quickly make this new capability a reality. This work, together with previous rotorcraft research carried out by the AVT Panel, provide the NGRC project team with a greater understanding of possible enhanced capabilities and where new technologies may lead.
With last week’s announcement, the project now moves into the Concept Stage, which will be executed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). NGRC participants, together with industry, will begin exploring new technologies that could meet Allies’ operational needs, including hybrid and electric propulsion, and open system architecture. The results from the AVT Panel’s work will also provide an accelerated starting point for multiple NGRC studies to be conducted during the Concept Stage, allowing the project to focus its resources on enhancing the overall quality of information that will carry forward into the Development Stage.
Learn more about the NGRC project: https://bit.ly/3A9WrQm
And read about the AVT research project here: https://bit.ly/3OzbBmi