Airbus to define next generation of European military helicopters
Airbus Helicopters will lead a study on European military rotorcraft needs beyond 2030. (Photo: Airbus Helicopters)
Airbus Helicopters has been selected to coordinate a European R&D programme looking at military rotorcraft operational needs post-2030, and is also leading on a study for a defence collaborative cloud.
Airbus has been contracted to coordinate two defence R&D projects under the European Defence Fund (EDF) initiative's 2021 funding round.
Among the 61 collaborative defence R&T and R&D projects that were selected last year and funded with €1.2 billion, Airbus Helicopters is coordinating the EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT), while Airbus Defence and Space is leading the European Defence Operational Collaborative Cloud (EDOCC) effort.
Contracts for these projects were signed in December 2022.
ENGRT will focus on analysing and understanding needs of European armed forces for rotorcraft operations after 2030. The project's partners will study concepts of operations and define technologies needed for future military rotorcraft. Alternative aircraft concepts and architectures will be explored, and this project will 'pave the way for the next generation of military rotorcraft in Europe', according to Airbus.
The EDOCC meanwhile will create a virtual platform to increase interoperability, efficiency and resiliency of military operations, strengthening collaborative services on the battlefield. The project will study, design and validate a virtual platform and develop a services catalogue while identifying standards and technologies for greater interoperability.
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