The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has granted Airbus Helicopters a contract to conduct a concept study within the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project. This project is a collaborative effort among participants to develop, design, and deliver a medium multi-role helicopter. To evaluate two integrated conceptions of next-generation military rotorcraft, Airbus is collaborating with MBDA, RTX’s Collins Aerospace, and Raytheon businesses, and MBDA for a 13-month study.
The importance of Concept Study #5’s launch as a significant milestone in the NGRC concept stage activities was emphasized by Ms. Stacy A. Cummings, the General Manager of NSPA. She emphasized that this launch serves as a testament to NSPA’s dedication to addressing the issue of next-generation medium-lift capabilities for the participating nations. According to Ms. Cummings, launching three parallel contracts through a competitive process is consistent with their commitment to optimize industry expertise, opportunities, and engagement in the program. She observed that this method would lead to the presentation of a diverse range of prospective concepts in the study outcomes for their multinational customers.
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, and Italy are all involved in the endeavor through their respective partner companies. Each collaborator will contribute to the study in their respective areas of expertise, including helicopter design, systems integration, connectivity, weapons and effectors, avionics, and sensors. High-performance rotorcraft will be the primary focus of the investigation. The concepts will be completely interoperable with NATO standards, modular, and multi-mission, with a resilient communication system and a high degree of connectivity.
NATO has emphasized that Concept Study 5 will not investigate existing aircraft “designs or solutions” but will instead focus on how various concepts can support NGRC “attributes.”
In a broader sense, the NGRC requirements primarily pertain to a prospective medium-lift helicopter that is expected to enter service between 2035 and 2040 and cost no more than $38.2 million per aircraft. During that period, approximately 900 medium-lift rotorcraft are anticipated to be retired throughout the alliance.
According to NATO Support and Procurement Agency documents, the new helicopters are expected to have a cost-per-flight hour of no more than $10,920, an availability rate exceeding 75%, an unrefueled range of 1,650 kilometers, an optimal cruise speed of 220 knots (253 miles per hour), the capacity to transport between 12 and 16 combat-equipped troops, and a load-lifting capacity exceeding 4,000 kilograms.
