Reflections on 25 Years of International Military Helicopter and Looking Ahead to IMH 2026
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Reflections on 25 Years of International Military Helicopter and Looking Ahead to IMH 2026
This year, as IMH prepares for its 25th edition, it feels like the right moment to pause and share some reflections. A quarter of a century in this community shows how technologies rise and fall, priorities shift, sometimes gradually, sometimes overnight, and how allied militaries and industry grow together through sustained collaboration.
Over time, rotary aviation has evolved from platform-centric thinking to a domain defined by integration, data, and survivability. Aircrews now operate in contested environments that their predecessors could scarcely have imagined. Militaries worldwide continue to ask: How do we prepare rotary forces for a future arriving faster than expected? These questions have shaped the planning and focus of IMH 2026.
This year’s conference has been redesigned to reflect operational realities and deliver maximum value to attendees. Delegates will gain insight into how uncrewed systems are being integrated into rotary operations, from manned-unmanned teaming and air-launched effects to unmanned aerial systems enhancing lift, attack, and reconnaissance missions. These sessions provide practical intelligence on how nations are adapting training, tactics, and fleet planning to meet current and future challenges.
IMH 2026 also brings a broader, cross-domain perspective, with naval aviators from the Royal Navy, US Navy, and other services sharing how air-sea integration is shaping modern operational effectiveness. Attendees will understand how militaries maintain fleet readiness through sustainment, upgrades, and modernisation, all of which are critical in periods of heightened risk.
Industry Morning returns, offering lightning briefs, open roundtable discussions, and forward-looking insights into rotary capability development through 2040 and beyond. The expanded exhibition space encourages deeper dialogue, fosters new partnerships, and supports the informal exchanges, the coffee-break conversations, that often lead to tangible progress.
Reaching the 25-year milestone is a chance to recognise the people who operate, support, and innovate in this domain. IMH 2026 is designed to reflect the community’s evolution while equipping delegates with the insights, connections, and strategic understanding needed to influence capability, accelerate innovation, and prepare for the future of rotary and uncrewed aviation.
If you’d like to explore what IMH 2026 has in store, you can dive deeper into the programme, speak with the team, or secure your place using the links below:
