Airbus Helicopters backs composite design for NATO NGRC V/STOL program

Airbus Helicopters says it has identified the right solution and is confident in its compound approach derived from the X3 and Racer demonstrators, while the NATO NGRC program seeks a medium‑sized, multi‑mission V/STOL aircraft to replace around 900 platforms, mainly NH90 and AW101, from 2035‑2040 across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency raised the cruise speed target above 250 knots (about 463 km/h) from an initial minimum of 180‑220 knots, issued the RFP for the concept design phase in July‑August 2026, set a proposal deadline for August 2027, expects a solution selection by the end of 2027, a development contract toward 2030 and first deliveries around 2035‑2038; the program requires a modular open systems architecture, optionally crewed capability, MUM‑T integration and an operational radius of at least 400 nautical miles, and Airbus is open to a partnership with Leonardo, while Leonardo proposes a large tiltrotor, Sikorsky a coaxial compound design and Boeing withdrew.