NSPA progresses NGRC future rotorcraft effort with MOU

As one of the chief industrial participants in the NGRC programme, Airbus Helicopters is leveraging its RACER compound helicopter technologies to meet NATO's future rotorcraft needs. (Airbus Helicopters)

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has advanced the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme, with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the five participating countries on 17 October.

With the NGRC concept phase due to launch in 2026, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom each signed the MOU to identify a single preferred solution by the end of 2027, thereby enabling the development of this solution in 2030.

NGRC studies

“Launched in 2020 and managed by [the] NSPA through its Support Partnership (SP), the NGRC programme aims to replace medium multirole capabilities, ending their life cycle in 2035 and beyond,” the NSPA said.

“The agency is currently managing the initial concept studies for the programme. In July 2024 [the] NSPA awarded contracts to rotorcraft manufacturers Airbus, Leonardo, and Sikorsky to carry out integrated platform concept studies – also known as Study 5. These studies – each comprising up to two concepts – will be delivered in October 2025, enabling [the] NSPA to prepare its report to the nations,” it added.

NGRC aims to develop a new medium-lift rotorcraft to replace more than 900 medium platforms that will reach the end of their life cycles in the 2035–40 timeframe, and with a required cruise speed of 220 kt, speed is the defining objective of the effort.