NATO awards NGRC Concept Study 5 next-generation rotorcraft contracts

As one of the three primes for the Concept Study 5 awards, Airbus released imagery showing a rotorcraft operating alongside a swarm of unmanned aircraft to conceptualise the future operating environment. (Airbus)

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded the fifth tranche of study contracts related to the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme.

Announced on 26 July, the contracts will see Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, and Lockheed Martin lead three teams for a 13-month study into future concepts for the next generation of military rotorcraft.

“France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland [not part of the programme but will host some industrial activities via RTX Collins], and Italy are involved in the project via the different partner companies,” the NSPA said. “Each partner will contribute to the study in its area of expertise: helicopter design, systems integration, connectivity, weapons and effectors, avionics, and sensors. The study will focus on high-performance rotorcraft. The concepts will be modular and multimission, and fully interoperable with NATO standards, with a high degree of connectivity and resilient communication system.”

As per the NSPA announcement, the first contract will see Airbus Helicopters lead a team alongside RTX Raytheon, RTX Collins Aerospace, and MBDA. For the second contract, Leonardo will lead Bell. For the third, Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky will lead BAE Systems, ELT Group, ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH, GE Aerospace, Hellenic Aerospace Industry, Kongsberg, Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH, MAgroup, Malloy Aeronautics, Safran, Rheinmetall, and Terma.